What Ink Does the Brother MFC-J690DW Use?
Last Updated:CastleScore · October 2026
78/100 — Recommended
Brother MFC-J690DW
| Pillar (weight) | Score | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Owner ratings (28%) | 78 | 4.00★ average across 616 ratings at Amazon (4.0) |
| Expert reviews (18%) | 60 | PCMag 3.0/5 |
| Cost per page (24%) | 82 | About 5.2¢ per page blended (black + color) with our remanufactured LC3013 high-yield cartridges (about 400 pages each). |
| Reliability (13%) | 87 | Most-reported problems: 'Ink Absorber Full' requires service-center replacement, not covered by warranty |
| Features (12%) | 83 | Print, copy, scan, document feeder, auto two-sided printing, fax, Wi-Fi, touchscreen. |
| Value (5%) | 80 | Running cost and owner satisfaction |
Discontinued. Brother USA and Brother Canada both list the MFC-J690DW as discontinued (last U.S. list price $119.99). This score rates it for current owners.
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 10, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.
The cartridges, pictured
LC3013 BlackLC3013BK · ~400 pages
LC3013 CyanLC3013C · ~400 pages
LC3013 MagentaLC3013M · ~400 pages
LC3013 YellowLC3013Y · ~400 pages
LC3013 Black
LC3013 Cyan
LC3013 Magenta
LC3013 YellowOur own remanufactured cartridges, photographed in-house.
Quick answer: what ink does the Brother MFC-J690DW use?
The Brother MFC-J690DW uses 4 Brother LC3011/LC3013 cartridges: black, cyan, magenta, and yellow. Standard LC3011 and higher-yield LC3013 cartridges fit the same slots. LC3013 high-yield cartridges print about twice as many pages as LC3011. Each color is a separate cartridge, so you only replace the one that runs out.
Cartridge options at a glance
| Cartridge | Part numbers | Approx. yield* |
|---|---|---|
| Brother LC3011 (standard yield) | LC3011BK / LC3011C / LC3011M / LC3011Y | ~200 pages each |
| Brother LC3013 (high yield) | LC3013BK / LC3013C / LC3013M / LC3013Y | ~400 pages each |
*Approximate ISO yields from published cartridge specifications. Real-world results depend on coverage, photo printing, and cleaning cycles.
Common questions about Brother MFC-J690DW ink
Should I buy LC3011 or LC3013 for the MFC-J690DW?
LC3013 for most people. LC3013 high-yield cartridges print about twice as many pages as LC3011. See Is XL ink actually worth it? Standard vs. XL with real numbers.
Can I mix standard and high-yield cartridges?
Yes. Each cartridge is read separately, so any mix of LC3011 and LC3013 works.
What other printers use Brother LC3013 ink?
LC3011/LC3013 also fits the MFC-J491DW, MFC-J497DW, and MFC-J895DW. If you own more than one, a single stock of cartridges covers them all.
Will other Brother cartridges fit the MFC-J690DW?
No. Brother LC3017/LC3019 (MFC-J5330DW, MFC-J6930DW) and LC3033/LC3035 (MFC-J995DW) look similar but won't fit. Always match the number on your current cartridge.
Do remanufactured LC3013 cartridges work in the MFC-J690DW?
They should. LC3011 and LC3013 cartridges carry a chip, and Brother's manual names non-genuine ink as one possible cause of a “Cannot Detect” message, but we found no sign of a firmware lockout on this model. Using non-Brother ink doesn't void your warranty under U.S. law. If the printer shows “Cannot Detect” with a new cartridge, reseat it and check that the orange cap is removed. More: Compatible vs. remanufactured vs. OEM ink, Does compatible ink void your printer warranty? and The best compatible ink for Brother printers.
How do I replace the ink in the MFC-J690DW?
Open the ink cartridge cover on the front of the printer. Push the lock-release lever for the empty color and pull the cartridge out. Unpack the new cartridge, remove the orange protective cap, and push it in until it locks. Close the cover; the printer resets that color's ink counter automatically.
Why does the MFC-J690DW say “Cannot Detect” or “Cannot Print”?
Remove and reseat the cartridge until it locks, make sure the orange protective cap is off, and wipe the cartridge's contacts with a dry lint-free cloth. Turn the printer off for a minute. Brother also lists inserting the cartridge too fast and an air bubble in a new cartridge as causes: take it out, hold it with the ink port facing down for a moment, and push it back in slowly. A used cartridge, the wrong model or non-Brother ink can trigger the message too. An empty color is a different case: the MFC-J690DW keeps printing in black for about four weeks before it stops. More fixes: Printer says ink cartridge not recognized: how to fix it.
Why are prints from my MFC-J690DW faded or streaky?
From the control panel, run Ink (or Maintenance) > Improve Print Quality > Check Print Quality, then clean the colors that show gaps. If lines look jagged or doubled instead, run the alignment from the same menu; see our print head alignment guide. More: Why is my printer printing streaks?.
Does the MFC-J690DW have fax and an automatic document feeder?
Yes. It prints, scans, copies and faxes, and it has an automatic document feeder as well as a flatbed glass. Fax memory holds up to 200 pages.
Can I use LC3013 in place of LC3011?
Yes. LC3013 is the high-yield version of LC3011 and fits the same slots. Most people should buy LC3013 for the lower cost per page.
MFC-J690DW key facts
- Type: compact wireless all-in-one (print, scan, copy, fax)
- Ink: 4 individual Brother LC3011/LC3013 cartridges
- Same ink as: MFC-J491DW, MFC-J497DW, MFC-J895DW
What MFC-J690DW owners ask
These are the questions that come up most for this printer on retailer Q&A pages, Brother's support pages and owner reviews, answered in our words.
Can I keep printing if a color cartridge runs out?
Yes, for a while. When a color is empty the printer switches to B&W Print Only mode and keeps printing, copying and faxing in black on plain paper for about four weeks. Replace the empty color before then.
Does the starter ink in the box last as long as a normal cartridge?
About the same. Brother says the cartridges that come with the MFC-J690DW yield about as much as a replacement LC3011, so the first change shouldn't come early.
Can it scan or copy both sides of a page automatically?
No. It prints on both sides automatically, but Brother lists two-sided scanning and two-sided copying as not supported. Flip the pages by hand.
What does "Ink Absorber Full" mean?
The box that catches waste ink from cleaning cycles is full. Brother says it has to be replaced by Brother or an authorized service center, and it is a maintenance item that the warranty doesn't cover.
Can I connect it with a network cable?
No. There is no Ethernet port. It connects over Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n), Wi-Fi Direct or USB 2.0.
MFC-J690DW quirks worth knowing
- The cartridges in the box are rated at about the same yield as a replacement LC3011. Many printers ship with reduced "setup" cartridges; this one doesn't.
- B&W Print Only mode ends if you unplug the printer, take out a cartridge or choose Slow Drying Paper. After that it won't print at all until the empty color is replaced.
- Turning the printer off and on a lot costs ink. Each power-up can start a cleaning cycle, and the waste ink from those cycles fills the ink absorber sooner. Leave it on and let it sleep.
- Brother rates it for up to 2,500 pages a month but recommends no more than 1,000. It is a light-duty home office machine.
Other printers that use LC3011 and LC3013
Brother MFC-J895DW · Brother MFC-J497DW · Brother MFC-J491DW
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 10, 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.