OKI MC873dn: Setup, Drivers, Ink and Common Problems

Is the OKI MC873dn right for you?

The MC873dn is the fast version of OKI's A3 colour MFP, running 35 ppm with much higher toner yields than the MC853dn, which makes it far better value per page for busy sites. Schools and marketing departments used them heavily for posters, displays and A3 handouts. As a discontinued model, availability of the belt and fuser is the main long-term consideration, since these determine how much life a used machine has left.

Best for: Schools and marketing teams producing A3 colour output at volume

Setting up the OKI MC873dn

Add by IP and install both PCL6 and PostScript drivers so design users get accurate colour handling. Configure the sXP platform apps or scan shortcuts on the 7-inch panel to reduce training. For posters, define the custom banner size in the driver and feed sheets one at a time from the multipurpose tray with the media weight set to heavy.

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 MC873dn uses the following consumables. Match the number exactly when you buy: the same printer family often uses several different cartridge numbers by region.

• OKI MC873 black toner (15,000 pages)
• MC873 colour toners (10,000 pages each)
• MC873 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