OKI MC853dn: Setup, Drivers, Ink and Common Problems

Is the OKI MC853dn right for you?

An A3 colour LED multifunction aimed at schools, architects and small print rooms, the MC853dn adds copying and scanning to the C824-class engine and keeps OKI's banner and heavy-media strengths. At 23 ppm it is not fast, but the ability to copy and scan A3 in colour without a floor-standing copier is the selling point. Its five-part consumable set is the main thing to understand before buying used.

Best for: Schools and small print rooms needing A3 colour copying and scanning

Setting up the OKI MC853dn

Configure the panel's one-touch scan buttons for your common destinations, and set the default scan format to searchable PDF at 300 dpi to keep A3 scans a sensible size. Load A3 in the main tray and reserve the multipurpose tray for card and banner work with media weights set accordingly. Because the machine is deep, leave clearance at the back for the duplex unit to be pulled out when clearing 372 jams.

1. Unbox and prepare. Remove every piece of shipping tape and packing material, install the ink cartridges, 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 OKI'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 OKI MC853dn uses the following consumables. Match the number exactly when you buy: the same printer family often uses several different cartridge numbers by region.

• OKI MC853 black toner (7,000 pages)
• MC853 colour toners (7,000 pages each)
• MC853 image drums (30,000 pages)
• Belt unit
• Fuser unit

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