Pantum CP1100DW: Setup, Drivers, Ink and Common Problems

Is the Pantum CP1100DW right for you?

The CP1100DW is Pantum's first colour laser sold widely in the West and goes up against the Brother HL-L3270CDW and Canon LBP632 class. It delivers 18 ppm duplex colour with a 250-sheet tray at a price that undercuts the established brands, though colour accuracy is office-grade rather than photo-grade. Toner costs are the thing to watch: the starter cartridges are small and four colours add up quickly.

Best for: Small offices wanting cheap duplex colour laser printing

Setting up the Pantum CP1100DW

Network the printer through the LCD menu, then install the CP1100 driver bundle on each PC; choose the PCL driver for everyday use. Run the colour calibration from the maintenance menu after installing new cartridges to correct registration shifts. For the lowest cost per page, move to the CTL-1100X high-yield cartridges once the starters run out.

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 Pantum'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 Pantum CP1100DW uses the following consumables. Match the number exactly when you buy: the same printer family often uses several different cartridge numbers by region.

• Pantum CTL-1100 toner set (K, C, M, Y)
• CTL-1100H / CTL-1100X high-yield toner
• Waste toner box

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