Lexmark CS521dn: Setup, Drivers, Ink and Common Problems

Is the Lexmark CS521dn right for you?

The CS521dn is a 35 ppm wired colour laser for workgroups, sharing its 78C cartridge platform with the CS622 and CX522 MFPs so a single office can pool supplies. It prints colour at the same speed as mono, which matters for marketing-heavy teams. The colour imaging kit covers cyan, magenta and yellow together, so replacing it is a bigger expense than on machines with individual drums.

Best for: Workgroups that print colour regularly and want low per-page costs

Setting up the Lexmark CS521dn

Connect via Ethernet, read the IP from Network/Ports and use the Embedded Web Server to set a static address and supplies alerts. Install the Lexmark Universal Print Driver (PCL or PostScript); print a Color Samples page from the Quality menu to check registration after installation. Optional trays need enabling in the driver's configuration 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 Lexmark'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 Lexmark CS521dn uses the following consumables. Match the number exactly when you buy: the same printer family often uses several different cartridge numbers by region.

• 78C10K0 black toner (2,000 pages)
• 78C10C0 / 78C10M0 / 78C10Y0 color toner (1,400 pages each)
• 78C1XK0 extra high-yield black toner (8,500 pages)
• 78C1XC0 / 78C1XM0 / 78C1XY0 extra high-yield color toner (5,000 pages each)
• 78C0ZK0 black imaging kit
• 78C0ZV0 color imaging kit

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