Canon imageCLASS LBP172dw: Setup, Drivers, Ink and Common Problems

Is the Canon imageCLASS LBP172dw right for you?

The imageCLASS LBP172dw is the print-only mono laser Canon USA introduced in September 2024 at $199, alongside the MF280 series all-in-ones. It most likely replaces the imageCLASS LBP162dw and is a frequent buy at Amazon and Best Buy for people who want dependable black text without ink that dries out. As a print-only model it has no scanner, so pair it with a phone scanning app if you occasionally need to digitize paper. Canon's naming uses dw for duplex and wireless, but check the spec sheet for exact speed and tray capacity, which were not confirmed here. Canon also sells the LBP171dn in India and Asia. It suits students, home offices and small businesses printing in black only.

Best for: Black-and-white printing for students and home offices on a budget

Setting up the Canon imageCLASS LBP172dw

Pull out every strip of orange packing tape and remove the toner cartridge's seal before powering on. Join Wi-Fi from the control panel, or plug in USB for a single computer. Windows 11 and macOS usually find the printer automatically; install Canon's full driver from the support site if you need advanced settings such as toner-saving modes. Set two-sided printing as the default in the driver to save paper. Confirm the toner cartridge number printed on the installed cartridge before buying a spare.

1. Unbox and prepare. Remove every piece of shipping tape and packing material, install the toner cartridge and drum unit, 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 Canon'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 Canon imageCLASS LBP172dw uses the following consumables. Match the number exactly when you buy: the same printer family often uses several different cartridge numbers by region.

• Canon toner cartridge for the LBP170 series (confirm the number on the installed cartridge)

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