HP LaserJet Pro M118dw: Setup, Drivers, Ink and Common Problems

Is the HP LaserJet Pro M118dw right for you?

The LaserJet Pro M118dw was the value duplex laser of the late 2010s and is unusual in this class for using a separate imaging drum, which keeps the 94A toner cartridges cheap. It prints quickly, supports Ethernet and Wi-Fi, and has been a reliable home-office printer. Owners should know the drum is a consumable that eventually needs replacing, usually signalled by grey backgrounds or repeating marks, and that HP's firmware checks toner chips.

Best for: Home offices wanting cheap duplex mono printing with low toner cost

Setting up the HP LaserJet Pro M118dw

Use HP Smart or the HP Easy Start installer on a 2.4 GHz network, or simply connect Ethernet and add it by IP. Replace the 32A drum when prints show repeating defects every few inches after a toner change. Turn off automatic firmware updates in the embedded web server if you use compatible 94A cartridges.

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 Pro M118dw uses the following consumables. Match the number exactly when you buy: the same printer family often uses several different cartridge numbers by region.

• HP 94A (CF294A) toner
• HP 94X (CF294X) high-yield toner
• HP 32A (CF232A) imaging drum

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