HP LaserJet Pro MFP M426fdw: Setup, Drivers, Ink and Common Problems

Is the HP LaserJet Pro MFP M426fdw right for you?

The LaserJet Pro MFP M426fdw is the 2016 predecessor of the M428fdw and still one of the most common small-office mono MFPs in use, running on the widely available 26A and 26X cartridges. It offers the same 40 ppm duplex engine, 50-sheet duplex ADF, fax and a touchscreen, and it was built before HP's stricter toner chip enforcement, so compatibles are plentiful. Worn ADF rollers and the occasional scanner error 22 are the faults that appear after several years.

Best for: Small offices keeping a proven mono MFP running on cheap toner

Setting up the HP LaserJet Pro MFP M426fdw

Use Ethernet or the touchscreen's Wireless menu on 2.4 GHz, then install HP Smart or the full driver for scanning and fax. Scan-to-email and network folders are configured in the embedded web server. Replace the ADF roller kit when multi-page scans begin to skew or double-feed.

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 M426fdw uses the following consumables. Match the number exactly when you buy: the same printer family often uses several different cartridge numbers by region.

• HP 26A (CF226A) toner
• HP 26X (CF226X) 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