What Toner Does the HP LaserJet 1022 Use?

Quick answer: The HP LaserJet 1022 uses HP 12A black toner, part number Q2612A, rated for about 2,000 pages. That is the only cartridge HP made for it — there is no 12X — and the imaging drum is built into the cartridge, so there is no separate drum to buy.

The same cartridge covers the 1022n and 1022nw as well as the LaserJet 1010, 1012, 1015 and 1020.

HP 12A toner at a glance

If you see a cartridge advertised as a "12X" or "Q2612X high yield", it is an aftermarket overfill rather than an HP part. Those exist and some work fine, but do not expect HP-rated behavior from them — and be aware the cartridge body was not designed to hold more than the 12A's toner load.

Castle Ink recommendation

• HP 12A Black Toner Cartridge (Q2612A) — Compatible

The 12A is one of the most widely produced laser cartridges ever made, which keeps compatible pricing very low. Browse the full HP compatible toner range for other models.

Before you buy: the Windows 11 driver problem

This is the practical issue with a LaserJet 1022 today, and it has nothing to do with toner.

The 1022 is a host-based printer, which means it depends on a real HP driver rather than a generic PCL class driver the way a business LaserJet does. HP's support forums carry many threads from owners whose 1022 or 1022n will not install or will not print on Windows 11 — some get it working with a legacy driver package or one supplied through Windows Update, others do not. On the 1022nw, there is a second problem: its 802.11b/g radio will not join a modern 5 GHz-only network and struggles with current security settings.

If you have inherited a 1022, confirm it installs and prints on the computer you intend to use before buying toner. If it works, the toner is cheap and the printer will run for years.

How to replace the toner

1. Open the print-cartridge door on the front of the printer.
2. Take hold of the cartridge handle and pull it straight out.
3. Unpack the new Q2612A and rock it gently from side to side five or six times to distribute the toner.
4. Bend the tab on the end of the cartridge until it snaps free, then pull the sealing tape completely out.
5. Slide the cartridge into the printer along the guides until it seats, and close the door.
6. Print a test page. Quality should be at full strength immediately, since the drum is new too.

Troubleshooting a LaserJet 1022

• Repeated jams or multi-feeds. The pickup roller and separation pad harden with age and are the leading cause of paper-feed trouble on this chassis. Both are inexpensive user-replaceable parts and should be changed together.
• Faded print. Rock the cartridge to redistribute toner and confirm EconoMode is off in the driver.
• Repeating marks down the page. The drum lives in the cartridge, so a replacement resolves them.
• Nothing prints and no error shows. On a host-based printer this is usually a driver or spooler problem rather than hardware. Reinstall the driver and confirm the correct port.
• 1022nw will not connect. Its wireless is 802.11b/g only. A 5 GHz-only network, or one using modern security settings, will not work. Ethernet on the 1022n, or USB, is the reliable route.
• Toner-low warnings that never end. The printer estimates rather than measures. Keep printing until quality actually drops.

Which printers use HP 12A toner?

• LaserJet 1010, 1012, 1015, 1018, 1020, 1022, 1022n, 1022nw
• LaserJet 3015, 3020, 3030, 3050, 3052, 3055
• LaserJet M1005 MFP and M1319 MFP series

The 12A does not fit the LaserJet 1300 series, which uses the HP 13A (Q2613A) — see our guide to what toner the HP LaserJet 1300 uses. It also does not fit the LaserJet 1150, which takes the Q2624A.

Genuine HP 12A vs compatible toner

The 1020/1022 family entered production in 2005, long before HP introduced firmware that rejects cartridges with non-HP chips. There is no dynamic security on this platform and no way for an update to add it. Compatible and remanufactured Q2612A cartridges install and print normally, and using them does not void a printer warranty in the US.

Because the 12A has been manufactured in enormous volumes by many companies, quality varies more than it does on rarer cartridges. Look for consistent fill and a properly seated drum rather than simply the lowest price — a poor 12A shows up as background haze within a few hundred pages.

About the HP LaserJet 1022 itself

The 1022 is a compact monochrome laser printer — print only, with no scanner, copier or fax. It prints 19 pages per minute on letter, has 8 MB of RAM, and offers manual duplex only. Connectivity is USB 2.0 on the base model; the 1022n adds internal Ethernet and the 1022nw adds 802.11b/g wireless.

It is long discontinued but mechanically durable, and toner is about as cheap as laser toner gets. The driver situation, not the hardware, is what decides whether one is worth keeping.

FAQ

What toner does the HP LaserJet 1022 use?

HP 12A, part number Q2612A, rated for approximately 2,000 pages.

Is there a high-yield 12X cartridge?

No. HP never made one. Anything sold as a "12X" is an aftermarket overfill.

Does the LaserJet 1022 need a separate drum unit?

No. The drum is part of the cartridge and is replaced along with the toner.

Can I use HP 13A instead?

No. The 13A (Q2613A) is for the LaserJet 1300 series and is a different cartridge.

Will the LaserJet 1022 work on Windows 11?

Sometimes. It is a host-based printer and depends on a working HP driver; many owners report difficulty on Windows 11. Test before investing in supplies.

Does it print double-sided automatically?

No. Manual duplex only.

Shop HP 12A toner now

Order the HP 12A (Q2612A) compatible toner cartridge, or find your model on our Find Ink by Printer page.