HP LaserJet 1320: Setup, Drivers, Ink and Common Problems

Is the HP LaserJet 1320 right for you?

The LaserJet 1320 is the one older personal laser that IT people still recommend keeping, because it speaks real PCL and PostScript and therefore works with the HP Universal Print Driver, macOS and Linux without any special software. It prints double-sided automatically and the 49X cartridge runs to around six thousand pages. Worn pickup rollers and the occasional solenoid click on the paper path are the age-related faults, both cheap to fix.

Best for: Anyone who wants a driver-agnostic, auto-duplex mono laser

Setting up the HP LaserJet 1320

Add the 1320 with the HP Universal Print Driver (PCL 6) on Windows or the built-in Generic PostScript driver on macOS; no HP app is needed. For the 1320n, set a static IP and add it as a TCP/IP printer. If duplex printing stops working, check the rear duplex door is closed and the duplex option is enabled in the driver's Device Settings tab.

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 HP'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 HP LaserJet 1320 uses the following consumables. Match the number exactly when you buy: the same printer family often uses several different cartridge numbers by region.

• HP 49A (Q5949A) toner
• HP 49X (Q5949X) high-yield toner

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