Brother DCP-J1050DW: Setup, Drivers, Ink and Common Problems

Is the Brother DCP-J1050DW right for you?

The DCP-J1050DW is Brother's small UK home inkjet for printing, copying and scanning with automatic duplex and Wi-Fi, but no ADF or fax. It uses the LC424 cartridges, which are modest in yield, so it suits homes printing a few dozen pages a month. It is compact enough for a bookshelf and works well with phones through Brother Mobile Connect. Regular use keeps the printhead healthy.

Best for: UK homes that print occasionally and want a tiny all-in-one

Setting up the Brother DCP-J1050DW

Use Brother Mobile Connect to join a 2.4 GHz network and to scan from a phone. On Windows, install the Full Driver & Software Package for the scanner driver; AirPrint handles Apple devices. Run a Print Quality Check from the LCD if colors go missing.

1. Unbox and prepare. Remove every piece of shipping tape and packing material, install the ink cartridges, and load paper in the tray.
2. Join your Wi-Fi. Keep the printer close to the router for setup. Most printers only connect to the 2.4GHz band, so if your router broadcasts one merged network name you may need to split the bands temporarily. See our Wi-Fi guide if it will not join.
3. Install the setup app. Use Brother's official app rather than a driver you found on a search result — third-party driver sites are the most common source of printer malware.
4. Add the printer. On Windows 11: Settings › Bluetooth & devices › Printers & scanners › Add device. On macOS: System Settings › Printers & Scanners › Add Printer.
5. Print a test page and run a scan if this is an all-in-one, so you find any problem now rather than when you are in a hurry.

Ink, toner and supplies

The Brother DCP-J1050DW uses the following consumables. Match the number exactly when you buy: the same printer family often uses several different cartridge numbers by region.

• LC424BK black ink (750 pages)
• LC424C/M/Y color ink (750 pages each)

High-yield (XL) versions almost always cost less per page if you print regularly. On third-party ink and toner, read our honest assessment first, and note that some manufacturers push firmware that rejects non-original chips.

Full specifications