Sharp BP-50M36: Setup, Drivers, Ink and Common Problems

Is the Sharp BP-50M36 right for you?

A 36 ppm A3 mono MFP for offices whose volume has outgrown the BP-50M31 but that do not need colour. It takes the optional 300-sheet feeder, which turns it into a serious document-capture machine for archive scanning projects. Streaking on this engine is almost always a dirty scan glass or ADF strip rather than a print fault, so check copies against a PC-sent print before calling service.

Best for: High-volume mono offices with archive scanning projects

Setting up the Sharp BP-50M36

After setting the IP, use the web page to build the address book from LDAP and enable searchable PDF output for scanning. Where several departments share the machine, set up user authentication with department codes so meter reads can be split for recharging. When a job prints correctly from the PC but copies show lines, clean the long thin scanning strip beside the main glass before assuming a hardware fault.

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 Sharp'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 Sharp BP-50M36 uses the following consumables. Match the number exactly when you buy: the same printer family often uses several different cartridge numbers by region.

• Sharp BP-AT30 series black toner
• BP-CD10 black drum unit
• Waste toner container

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