What Toner Does the HP Color LaserJet Pro 4201dn Use?
Last Updated:Shopping for this printer? See all HP 210X Toner Cartridges – W2100X–W2103X 4-Pack → Ships same day by 4 PM ET, 1-year guarantee.
Quick answer: The HP Color LaserJet Pro 4201dn takes HP 210A standard or HP 210X high-yield toner: W2100 black, W2101 cyan, W2102 yellow and W2103 magenta. The HP+ 4201dne uses the same cartridges. Castle Ink stocks one HP 210 product, a compatible 210X high-yield 4-pack with chips (about 7,500 black pages and 5,500 per color). We don't carry 210A, and we don't sell 210X cartridges one at a time.
"Non-HP Chip Detected" on a 4201dn means the cartridge is blocked. HP's 4201dn page calls it "dynamic security enabled": the printer blocks cartridges with non-HP chips, and periodic firmware updates can block cartridges that worked before. Pressing OK does not clear it. The chips on our 210X 4-pack are new aftermarket chips, so the risk applies to them too. Two checks before you order: make sure your printer is a 4201dn and not a 4201dne, and switch firmware updates to notify-first in the printer's Embedded Web Server. If one of our cartridges is ever refused, call us within a year of purchase and we will replace or refund it.
CastleScore · October 2026
81/100 — Highly Recommended
HP Color LaserJet Pro 4201dn
| Pillar (weight) | Score | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Owner ratings (28%) | 85 | 4.39★ average across 379 ratings at Staples (4.29, 253 ratings, shared with its 4301fdn listing) and HP.com (4.6, 126 ratings, pooled across the 4201 series) |
| Expert reviews (20%) | — | No published numeric expert score we could verify. Expert reviews cover the Wi-Fi 4201dw, not the 4201dn. |
| Cost per page (18%) | 80 | About 1.7¢ per rated page across the set with our compatible 210X 4-pack with chips ($399.95 for 7,500 black + 3 × 5,500 color pages). Docked because dynamic security and firmware updates can reject toner without HP's chip. |
| Reliability (18%) | 88 | Most-reported problems: no Wi-Fi (wired only), starter toner running out quickly, the dial-based menu and the HP Smart software. No recurring hardware failures in owner reviews. |
| Features (11%) | 60 | Auto two-sided printing, Gigabit Ethernet, USB, walk-up USB printing, fast (35 ppm). No Wi-Fi, no scanner, no fax, no touchscreen. |
| Value (5%) | 78 | Running cost and owner satisfaction against a street price of $489.99 (Micro Center) to $669.99 (Staples) |
Limited data: We could not find enough published expert scores for this printer, so that weight is spread across the other pillars.
Still sold new. In October 2026 Micro Center listed the 4201dn at $489.99 and Staples at $669.99; HP.com showed no price. The HP+ 4201dne uses the same toner but requires Original HP cartridges once HP+ is activated.
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 29, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.
The toner, pictured
HP 210X 4-packOur own compatible toner, photographed in-house.
HP Color LaserJet Pro 4201dn Toner Cartridges at a Glance
| Cartridge | Part Number | Color | Approx. Page Yield |
|---|---|---|---|
| HP 210A Black | W2100A | Black | ~2,000 pages |
| HP 210A Color (each) | W2101A / W2102A / W2103A | Cyan / Yellow / Magenta | ~1,800 pages |
| HP 210X Black | W2100X | Black | ~7,500 pages |
| HP 210X Color (each) | W2101X / W2102X / W2103X | Cyan / Yellow / Magenta | ~5,500 pages |
| HP 210X 4-pack (compatible, with chips) | W2100X–W2103X | Black + 3 colors | ~7,500 / ~5,500 pages |
HP+ 4201dne: no compatible toner, ever. The 4201dne is the HP+ version of this printer. After HP+ is activated it accepts only Original HP toner for the life of the printer. HP's FAQ says HP+ requires "use of Original HP Ink for the lifetime of the printer." You can skip HP+ during setup, but once it is on, compatible and remanufactured cartridges are refused. If your printer's name ends in "dne" and HP+ is active, buy genuine HP 210A or 210X.
These cartridges also fit the Color LaserJet Pro 4201dw and the Color LaserJet Pro MFP 4301dw, 4301fdn and 4301fdw, along with their HP+ "e" models. Our guide to stopping HP firmware updates from blocking your cartridges covers the update setting.
The 4201dn is the wired version of HP's 4201 color laser. It prints up to 35 pages a minute and prints on both sides automatically, and it connects by Ethernet or USB only. There is no Wi-Fi.
Do not confuse HP 210A with HP 220A, which the 4202dn uses, or with HP 414A, which fits the older M454dn. HP's guide for the series says each cartridge works only in the printer it was designed for.
Before you order a full set, compare compatible HP 210X sets and prices, including sellers that charge less than we do.
How to Replace the Toner in the HP Color LaserJet Pro 4201dn
- Open the front door with the release button on the left side panel.
- Pull out the toner drawer by its blue handle. All four cartridges sit in the drawer.
- Lift the used cartridge straight up by its handle.
- Open the new cartridge's packaging with the release tab, take the cartridge out, and rock it end to end to loosen the toner. Keep your fingers off the drum underneath.
- Drop the cartridge into the drawer position whose color chip matches the one on the cartridge.
- Slide the drawer closed and shut the front door. The empty cartridge goes back in the new box; in the U.S. the box includes a prepaid return label.
Troubleshooting Tips
Printer won't accept a new cartridge: First check the obvious: packaging fully removed, cartridge in the drawer slot that matches its color, drawer pushed all the way in. Then check whether a firmware update ran. A cartridge with a non-HP chip that worked last month can be blocked by an update, and the message will not clear with OK.
You can't find the printer on the network: The 4201dn has no wireless, so it needs an Ethernet cable to your router or a USB cable to one computer (HP doesn't include the USB cable). Press Menu, open Info and pick the network to see the printer's IP address, then type that address into a browser to reach its settings.
Light or streaky prints in one color: Remove that cartridge, rock it to even out the toner, and run a cleaning page. If streaks follow the same color, replace that cartridge. More fixes are in our guide to laser printer streaks and lines.
What 4201dn owners ask
We pulled these from HP's Q&A page, retailer listings and owner reviews, and answered them in our own words.
Does the 4201dn have Wi-Fi?
No. This is the most common complaint in its reviews. It connects by Gigabit Ethernet or USB. If you need wireless, the 4201dw is the same printer with Wi-Fi and takes the same toner.
Is the 4201dn eligible for HP Instant Ink?
No. HP answered this on its own Q&A page: the printer is not eligible for Instant Ink, so you buy toner as you need it.
Can I replace the fuser or transfer belt myself?
HP says the fuser, transfer belt and waste toner unit are not user-replaceable on this model. The only supplies you change are the four toner cartridges.
What paper sizes does it take?
HP lists 3 x 5 inches up to 8.5 x 14 inches (legal), so envelopes and index cards fit but 11 x 17 does not.
Can I use compatible 210X toner in it?
You can try, but nothing guarantees it keeps working. Dynamic security is active on the 4201dn even though it is not an HP+ printer, and HP says firmware updates can block non-HP chips at any time.
4201dn quirks worth knowing
- It cost more than its own Wi-Fi model at Staples in October 2026: $669.99 for the 4201dn against $549.99 for the 4201dw. Micro Center had the 4201dn for $489.99, so it pays to compare.
- The control panel has a Print button for printing from a USB flash drive and a USB Drive button that installs firmware from a flash drive. A firmware update from a flash drive can block non-HP chips just like one from the internet.
- The cartridges that ship with it are starters, rated by HP at about 1,200 black and 1,000 color pages.
- HP's recommended volume is 750 to 4,000 pages a month, with a maximum duty cycle of 50,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do the 4201dn and 4201dw use the same toner?
Yes. Both take HP 210A and 210X. The main difference between the two printers is that the dw adds Wi-Fi.
Does compatible toner work in the 4201dne?
No, not once HP+ is activated. HP+ locks the printer to Original HP toner for life.
Is there a separate drum to replace?
No. Each HP 210 cartridge has its own imaging drum built in.
Other printers that use HP 210A and 210X toner
HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 4301fdw · HP Color LaserJet Pro 4201dw · HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 4301fdn
More HP ink guides: HP Color LaserJet Pro M454dw · HP LaserJet Pro 4001n · HP LaserJet Pro MFP M428fdw · find any printer
Replacing it? Our highest-rated alternatives
- Brother HL-L2460DW — CastleScore 90
- Brother MFC-L2820DW — CastleScore 90
- Canon imageCLASS MF753Cdw — CastleScore 85
Sources
Ratings and prices were checked on October 29, 2026 and will change over time.
Need replacement HP 210X Toner Cartridges – W2100X–W2103X 4-Pack? Shop HP 210X Toner Cartridges – W2100X–W2103X 4-Pack at Castle Ink. Compatible, up to 70% less than OEM, and shipped the same day when you order by 4 PM ET.