What Ink Does the Brother MFC-490CW Use?
Last Updated:Quick answer: The Brother MFC-490CW uses four separate LC61 cartridges: black, cyan, magenta and yellow. Brother doesn't list a high-yield cartridge for it, so LC61 is the one to buy. Castle Ink stocks remanufactured LC61 Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and a 4-pack.
LC61 also fits a long list of Brother printers from the same era, including the MFC-495CW, MFC-790CW, MFC-990CW and MFC-J615W. Some sellers market high-yield LC65 cartridges for the MFC-490CW, but Brother's LC65 pages don't list it. In the UK and Europe this printer takes LC1100 cartridges, which won't fit a U.S. model.
CastleScore · October 2026
69/100 — Situational
Brother MFC-490CW
| Pillar (weight) | Score | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Owner ratings (28%) | — | No retailer rating with enough reviews to use. |
| Expert reviews (18%) | — | Reviewed by Trusted Reviews and The Register, without numeric scores we could verify. |
| Cost per page (24%) | 89 | About 3.0¢ per page blended (black + color) with our remanufactured LC61 cartridges (450 black / 325 color pages). |
| Reliability (13%) | 70 | Most-reported problems: 'Unable to Clean 46' or 'Ink Absorber Full' stopping the printer; 'Unable to Clean 5A' and 'Unable to Init 50' carriage errors; false paper jams and misfeeds; a color not printing after new cartridges; printers that won't power on |
| Features (12%) | 80 | Print, copy, scan, fax, document feeder, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, 3.3-inch color screen, memory card slots, USB drive port. No auto two-sided printing, no touchscreen. |
| Value (5%) | — | Running cost and owner satisfaction |
Limited data: We could not find enough owner ratings or published expert scores for this printer, so those weights are spread across the other pillars. With neither owner ratings nor a published expert score, we cap this printer at 69 (Situational) until better data is available.
Discontinued. Brother Canada lists the MFC-490CW as discontinued, and we found no named replacement. Brother USA also shows its own LC61 black as discontinued, though Staples still sells LC61 cartridges.
CastleScore is Castle Ink’s own editorial rating, built from retailer star ratings, expert reviews, real cost per page and owner complaint patterns, checked October 16, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.
The cartridges, pictured
LC61 4-packBlack + Cyan/Magenta/Yellow
LC61 BlackLC61BK · ~450 pages
LC61 CyanLC61C · ~325 pages
LC61 MagentaLC61M · ~325 pages
LC61 YellowLC61Y · ~325 pages
LC61 4-pack
LC61 Black
LC61 Cyan
LC61 Magenta
LC61 YellowOur own remanufactured cartridges, photographed in-house.
What Ink Cartridges Does the Brother MFC-490CW Take?
| Cartridge | Brother part no. | Approx. yield | Castle Ink option |
|---|---|---|---|
| LC61 Black | LC61BK | ~450 pages | Remanufactured LC61 Black |
| LC61 Cyan | LC61C | ~325 pages | Remanufactured LC61 Cyan |
| LC61 Magenta | LC61M | ~325 pages | Remanufactured LC61 Magenta |
| LC61 Yellow | LC61Y | ~325 pages | Remanufactured LC61 Yellow |
| LC61 4-pack (black + 3 colors) | — | As above | Remanufactured LC61 4-pack |
The black yield is Brother's ISO figure. Retail boxes add an S to the part number, such as LC61BKS. Brother also sells a black two-pack (LC612PKS) and a color three-pack (LC613PKS).
Is There a High-Yield LC61?
No. LC61 is the only yield Brother supports for this printer. On October 16, 2026, Staples listed Brother's LC61 black at $32.99 (about 7.3¢ a page), the LC61 cyan at $14.19 and a black two-pack at $58.79. Brother's own store listed the black at $32.99 but showed it as discontinued. Our remanufactured LC61 black is $6.95 (about 1.5¢ a page), each color is $6.95, and the LC61 4-pack is $26.99.
How Do I Replace the Ink in the Brother MFC-490CW?
- With the printer on, open the ink cartridge cover on the front right of the machine.
- Push the lock-release lever for the color shown on the screen and lift out the empty cartridge.
- Unpack the new LC61 cartridge and remove its protective cap. Don't touch the ink outlet.
- Match the cartridge to the lever color, slide it in the direction of the arrow and press until it clicks.
- Close the cover. The machine resets its ink counter for that color. Answer the print-quality check on the screen if it asks.
Which Other Printers Use LC61?
The DCP-165C, DCP-255CW, DCP-295CN, DCP-375CW, DCP-385C, DCP-395CN, DCP-585CW, DCP-J125, DCP-J140W, MFC-250C, MFC-255CW, MFC-290C, MFC-295CN, MFC-495CW, MFC-5490CN, MFC-5890CN, MFC-5895CW, MFC-6490CW, MFC-6890CDW, MFC-790CW, MFC-795CW, MFC-990CW, MFC-J220, MFC-J265W, MFC-J270W, MFC-J410W, MFC-J415W, MFC-J615W and MFC-J630W.
What MFC-490CW owners ask
These are the questions that come up most for this printer in iFixit's owner Q&A and Brother support pages, answered in our words.
Can I use high-yield LC65 cartridges?
Brother doesn't list it. Its LC65 high-yield pages name only the MFC-5890CN, MFC-5895CW, MFC-6490CW and MFC-6890CDW, and Trusted Reviews says the 490CW takes standard-yield cartridges only. Stick with LC61.
It says 'Unable to Clean 46' or 'Ink Absorber Full'.
The printer's waste-ink counter thinks the absorber pad is full. The counter is an estimate, so it can trip early. Out of warranty, some owners reset it through a hidden maintenance menu. If the pad really is soaked, Brother service is needed, and that often costs more than the printer is worth.
It shows 'Unable to Clean 5A' or 'Unable to Init 50'.
These are usually mechanical. Check the carriage path for paper scraps, then unplug the printer for at least 10 minutes. If the error comes back, the maintenance unit or print head likely needs service.
It says Paper Jam, but there's no paper in it.
Move the print head aside, unplug the printer and look for torn bits with a flashlight. If the error stays, clean the encoder strip. Worn pickup rollers cause misfeeds.
MFC-490CW quirks worth knowing
- Brother rated it at up to 33 pages a minute in black and 27 in color in its fastest mode. The Register measured about 3 pages a minute in normal mode.
- It prints, copies, scans and faxes, with a 15-sheet document feeder. There's no automatic two-sided printing.
- It connects over Wi-Fi, Ethernet or USB, and has a 3.3-inch color screen, memory card slots and a USB drive port.
- The Register called it 'small, neat and cheap to buy,' but slow and very expensive to run on Brother ink.
Frequently Asked Questions
What ink does the Brother MFC-490CW use?
LC61 cartridges in black, cyan, magenta and yellow.
Do I have to replace all four cartridges at once?
No. Each color is a separate cartridge, so replace only the one that's empty.
Will UK LC1100 cartridges fit?
No. LC1100 is the UK and European version. U.S. printers take LC61.
More Brother ink guides: Brother MFC-J1360DW · Brother MFC-J4355DW · Brother MFC-J6555DW · find any printer
Replacing it? Our highest-rated alternatives
- Brother MFC-T780DW — CastleScore 90
- Epson EcoTank ET-2980 (cheapest to run) — CastleScore 90
- Brother MFC-J4335DW — CastleScore 89
Sources
Ratings and prices were checked on October 16, 2026 and will change over time.
Need replacement Brother ink cartridges? Shop Brother ink cartridges at Castle Ink. Remanufactured, up to 70% less than OEM, and shipped the same day when you order by 4 PM ET.