What Ink Does the Brother MFC-J491DW Use?

The Brother MFC-J491DW uses LC3013 high-yield ink cartridges (Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow). It also accepts the standard-yield LC3011 cartridges. LC3013 delivers roughly double the page yield, so it's the better value for most users.

Ink Cartridges at a Glance

The LC3013 cartridge family fits the Brother MFC-J491DW, MFC-J497DW, MFC-J690DW, and MFC-J895DW — making it easy to stock one set across multiple Brother inkjet printers.

Save on LC3013 Ink

Compatible LC3013 cartridges work in the MFC-J491DW at a fraction of OEM pricing. Shop LC3013 cartridges at Castle Ink and save.

How to Replace Ink in the Brother MFC-J491DW

1. Open the ink cartridge cover at the front of the printer.
2. Press the release lever to free the empty cartridge and remove it.
3. Unbox the new LC3013 cartridge and peel off the orange seal.
4. Insert the new cartridge in its matching slot until it clicks.
5. Close the cover — the printer will run a brief priming cycle.

Troubleshooting Tips

Cartridge not detected: Wipe the gold chip with a dry cloth and reseat firmly.

Faded or streaky prints: Run Maintenance > Print Quality Check > Cleaning.

New cartridge not recognized: Confirm the orange seal was removed.

Low ink warning is wrong: Compatible cartridges may show estimated levels — go by print quality.

Official Brother Resources

Brother MFC-J491DW product page · Brother support

Bottom Line

The Brother MFC-J491DW uses LC3013 high-yield ink (or LC3011 standard). Choose LC3013 for the best cost-per-page and shop LC3013 at Castle Ink for deeper savings.

Frequently Asked Questions

LC3013 or LC3011? Both fit; LC3013 prints about twice as many pages.

Yield per cartridge? Around 400 pages per LC3013 color.

Can I mix LC3011 and LC3013? Yes — install any combination.

Will compatible LC3013 cartridges work? Yes — quality compatibles fit the MFC-J491DW.

Why isn't my cartridge recognized? Clean the chip contacts and reseat.

— William Elward