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What Ink Does the Brother MFC-J1010DW Use?

by William Elward Last Updated:

Quick answer: The Brother MFC-J1010DW uses Brother LC3013 high-yield or LC3011 standard-yield ink cartridges in four colors: black, cyan, magenta, and yellow.

Brother MFC-J1010DW Ink Cartridges at a Glance

  • LC3011 Black — ~200 pages
  • LC3011 Cyan / Magenta / Yellow — ~200 pages each
  • LC3013 Black (high-yield) — ~400 pages
  • LC3013 Cyan / Magenta / Yellow (high-yield) — ~400 pages each

The MFC-J1010DW uses four individual ink tanks, so you only replace the color that runs out. The LC3013 high-yield cartridges deliver double the pages of the standard LC3011 and are almost always the better value.

Save on Brother LC3013 Ink with Compatible Cartridges

Brother's genuine LC3013 4-packs can cost well over $80. Castle Ink's lineup of compatible Brother ink cartridges can cut that cost dramatically while matching OEM print quality, and every order ships same-day from the U.S. with a full satisfaction guarantee.

How to Replace Ink in the Brother MFC-J1010DW

  1. Open the ink cartridge cover on the front of the printer.
  2. Press the purple lock-release lever above the empty cartridge and lift the cartridge out.
  3. Unwrap the new cartridge and remove the orange protective cap — do not shake it.
  4. Insert the cartridge into the correct color-coded slot following the arrow on the label.
  5. Push until it clicks into place, then close the ink cover.
  6. The printer will automatically prime the ink lines.

Troubleshooting Tips

  • "Cannot detect" error: Remove and reinsert the cartridge, making sure the lock lever snaps down.
  • Faded output: Run the Print Quality Check from the printer's Maintenance menu, then a Head Cleaning if needed.
  • Low-ink warning on new ink: Normal for aftermarket cartridges — the printer will reset on its own after a few prints.

Official Brother MFC-J1010DW Resources

For drivers, firmware, and the user guide, see the Brother MFC-J1010DW support page.

Bottom Line

The Brother MFC-J1010DW takes LC3011 or LC3013 cartridges in black, cyan, magenta, and yellow. Go with the LC3013 high-yield version when possible, and shop Castle Ink's compatible Brother cartridges to save against Brother retail pricing.

About William Elward

Founder of Castle Ink, William Elward has 20 years experience in the printer industry. He's been featured on CNN Money, Yahoo, PC World, Computer World, and other top publications and frequently blogs about printers and ink cartridges. He's an expert at diagnosing printer issues and has published guides to fixing common printer issues across the internet. A graduate of Bryant University and Columbia's Sulzberger Executive Leadership Program, he's held various leadership positions at The College Board, Bankrate, Zocdoc, and Everyday Health. Follow him on Twitter at William Elward's Twitter Profile


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