Ricoh IM 550F: Setup, Drivers, Ink and Common Problems

Is the Ricoh IM 550F right for you?

At 52 ppm the IM 550F is the fastest A4 mono MFP Ricoh makes, effectively a departmental copier in a desktop shell. With three optional cassettes and an internal stapling finisher it can replace a small A3 machine for offices that never print larger than letter or A4. The high duty cycle means running costs stay sensible even at 20,000 pages a month, but plan for annual maintenance kits in heavy environments.

Best for: Departments replacing an A3 copier with a fast A4-only machine

Setting up the Ricoh IM 550F

Assign a static IP or DHCP reservation before enrolling the machine in any print-management platform, since pull-printing servers key on the address. Enable HTTPS and change the supervisor and administrator passwords in Web Image Monitor as the first configuration step. When adding the finisher, set the correct finisher type in the driver's Accessories tab or stapling options will be greyed out on client PCs.

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 Ricoh'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 Ricoh IM 550F uses the following consumables. Match the number exactly when you buy: the same printer family often uses several different cartridge numbers by region.

• Ricoh IM 550 toner (17,000 pages)
• IM 550 photoconductor 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