HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101fdw: Setup, Drivers, Ink and Common Problems

Is the HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101fdw right for you?

The LaserJet Pro MFP 3101fdw is the all-in-one partner to the 3001dw, giving a home office or small business a 35 ppm duplex laser with a 50-sheet duplexing document feeder, fax and a touchscreen for under the price of the 4101. It is well suited to scanning contracts and invoices in bulk, and the 138X toner keeps costs modest. As with the rest of HP's 2023 line, the fdwe variant carries HP+, so buyers who want compatible toner should pick the plain fdw.

Best for: Small offices wanting duplex ADF scanning and fax at a mid-range price

Setting up the HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101fdw

Use HP Smart for wireless setup or connect Ethernet and configure scan destinations in the embedded web server. The touchscreen's scan menu offers 2-sided original for duplex scanning through the ADF. Fax setup runs from the touchscreen wizard with the phone line in the Line port.

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 MFP 3101fdw uses the following consumables. Match the number exactly when you buy: the same printer family often uses several different cartridge numbers by region.

• HP 138A (W1380A) toner
• HP 138X (W1380X) 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