Lexmark MS310dn: Setup, Drivers, Ink and Common Problems

Is the Lexmark MS310dn right for you?

The MS310dn was Lexmark's best-selling budget mono laser of the mid-2010s and thousands remain in service. It introduced the 501-series cartridge and the separate 60,000-page imaging unit that later models copied. The weak points on ageing units are the pick roller and the toner-sensing chip contacts; a persistent 31.xx code with a good cartridge usually means dirty contacts rather than a bad cartridge.

Best for: Home offices keeping an older but reliable mono laser running

Setting up the Lexmark MS310dn

Windows 11 still installs the MS310 through the Lexmark Universal Print Driver or the built-in Microsoft driver; download the PCL XL package from Lexmark support if the built-in one prints garbage. Set the IP from the Network/Ports menu or leave DHCP and print a setup page to find the address. There is no Wi-Fi; use Ethernet.

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 MS310dn uses the following consumables. Match the number exactly when you buy: the same printer family often uses several different cartridge numbers by region.

• 50F1000 (501) Return Program toner (1,500 pages)
• 50F1H00 (501H) high-yield toner (5,000 pages)
• 50F1X00 (501X) extra high-yield toner (10,000 pages)
• 50F0Z00 (500Z) imaging unit (60,000 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