Lexmark MB2236adw: Setup, Drivers, Ink and Common Problems

Is the Lexmark MB2236adw right for you?

The MB2236adw packs print, copy, scan and fax with a 50-sheet ADF into a box small enough for a desk, which is why it is one of Lexmark's best-selling home-office MFPs. Scanning over Wi-Fi works through the Lexmark Mobile Print app or the ScanBack utility, though the ADF is simplex only. Expect the imaging unit to need replacing after roughly ten cartridges, and keep firmware current because some early releases broke scan-to-PC on Windows 11.

Best for: Home offices wanting an affordable all-in-one mono laser with fax

Setting up the Lexmark MB2236adw

Connect to Wi-Fi through the panel wizard or WPS, then install the full Lexmark driver package on Windows so both the print driver and the scan driver are present. The Lexmark Mobile Print app handles phone setup and scanning; macOS can scan from Image Capture once the printer is added via AirPrint. Fax setup is in the Settings > Fax menu and needs 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 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 MB2236adw uses the following consumables. Match the number exactly when you buy: the same printer family often uses several different cartridge numbers by region.

• B221000 Return Program toner (1,200 pages)
• B221H00 high-yield toner (3,000 pages)
• B220Z00 imaging unit (12,000 pages)

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