Lexmark MS521dn: Setup, Drivers, Ink and Common Problems

Is the Lexmark MS521dn right for you?

The MS521dn sits in the middle of Lexmark's mono range, adding a sturdier 550-sheet-capable chassis, a colour status screen and the 25,000-page ultra cartridge. It is a common choice for departments that print invoices and reports all day. Watch the fuser and pick rollers after 200,000 pages or so, as worn rollers produce the tray jams that owners often blame on paper.

Best for: Departments needing a durable wired mono printer with big trays

Setting up the Lexmark MS521dn

Plug into the network, read the IP from the Network/Ports menu and use the Embedded Web Server to lock down admin access and set supplies alerts. The Lexmark Universal Print Driver handles PCL and PostScript; for large fleets the Lexmark Cloud Print Management agent can be loaded later. Optional trays are detected automatically but must be enabled in the driver's Installed Options 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 MS521dn uses the following consumables. Match the number exactly when you buy: the same printer family often uses several different cartridge numbers by region.

• 56F1000 Return Program toner (6,000 pages)
• 56F1H00 high-yield toner (15,000 pages)
• 56F1X00 extra high-yield toner (20,000 pages)
• 56F1U00 ultra high-yield toner (25,000 pages)
• 56F0Z00 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