What Toner Does the HP LaserJet MFP M234dw Use?
Last Updated:The HP LaserJet MFP M234dw is a monochrome laser all-in-one that uses the HP 134A (W1340A) or HP 134X (W1340X) toner cartridge. There is no separate drum unit on this series — the imaging drum is built into the cartridge.
Check for an "e" on the end of your model number. If your printer is an M234dwe, M234sdwe or M235dwe, it may have been enrolled in HP+ at setup — and HP+ permanently locks the printer to Original HP toner. Compatible cartridges will not work on an HP+ enrolled machine, and the enrollment cannot be undone after the trial period. Non-"e" models are unaffected.
HP 134A / 134X Toner at a Glance
| Consumable | Part Number | Page Yield | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Toner (standard) | HP 134A (W1340A) | ~1,100 pages | Standard |
| Black Toner (high-yield) | HP 134X (W1340X) | ~2,400 pages | High Yield |
| Imaging Drum | Built into the cartridge | — | No separate drum to buy |
The 134A and 134X fit the whole M207–M236 lineup, which makes standardizing easy: LaserJet M207dw, M208dw, M209d, M209dw and M211dw, plus the MFP M232dw, M233dw, M234dw, M234sdw, M235sdw and M236dw. There is no separate drum in this family — the imaging drum is built into the cartridge, so a new cartridge is a new drum.
The M234dw is the flatbed model in the M234 line: print, copy and scan from the glass, with Wi-Fi and automatic two-sided printing. Its sibling the M234sdw adds a sheet-fed document feeder. Supplies are identical across both. Because the drum is inside the cartridge on this series, there is no separate drum part to buy and no "replace drum" message to worry about — a welcome simplification compared with the older M203 / M227 machines, which need a standalone HP 32A drum. Region note: HP sells this cartridge by region. The 134A and 134X are the North American (DM1) versions sold in the United States and Canada. The identical printer sold in Europe takes 135A / 135X, and other regions use 136A / 136X or 137A / 137X. A European cartridge will physically fit a U.S. printer and then be rejected by the chip, so buy the family that matches where the printer was purchased.
Save on HP 134A / 134X Toner
The 134A is a small cartridge — about 1,100 pages — so anyone printing regularly will refill it often at OEM prices. Castle Ink stocks compatible versions of both the HP 134A (W1340A) and the HP 134X (W1340X), and on a printer of this size the high-yield 134X is the better buy for anything past light home use.
How to Replace the Toner
- Power on the HP LaserJet MFP M234dw and open the front cartridge door.
- Pull the used 134A or 134X cartridge straight out by its handle.
- Unbox the new cartridge, rock it gently 5–6 times end to end, and remove the protective sealing tape.
- Slide the new cartridge in along the rails until it seats and the door closes without resistance.
- Close the door. The printer detects the new cartridge and resets the level gauge automatically.
Troubleshooting Tips
"Non-HP chip detected" or a cartridge-error message: This is a firmware behaviour, not a defect. Turn off automatic firmware updates in the printer's web interface before installing a compatible cartridge, and power-cycle the printer if the message has already appeared.
A grey background or smudging across the whole page: On this series the drum is inside the cartridge, so a worn drum and an empty cartridge have the same fix — replace the cartridge.
Print is faded but the gauge shows toner left: Remove the cartridge and rock it side to side to redistribute the toner. This buys real pages at the end of a cartridge's life.
The printer rejects a brand-new cartridge outright: Check the region family. A 135A, 136A or 137A cartridge fits the same slot but will not be accepted by a North American printer.
Official HP Resources
Bottom Line
The HP LaserJet MFP M234dw uses the HP 134A (standard, ~1,100 pages) or HP 134X (high-yield, ~2,400 pages) black toner cartridge, with the imaging drum built into the cartridge rather than sold separately. Shop HP 134X high-yield toner here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What toner does the HP LaserJet MFP M234dw use?
A: The HP 134A (W1340A) at roughly 1,100 pages, or the HP 134X (W1340X) at roughly 2,400 pages. Both are black.
Q: Does this printer have a separate drum unit?
A: No. Unlike the older M203 and M227 series, the M207–M236 printers build the imaging drum into the toner cartridge, so there is nothing extra to order.
Q: What is the difference between the 134A and the 134X?
A: Capacity only. They fit the same printers; the 134X holds more than twice the toner and costs less per printed page.
Q: Why won't a 135A or 136A cartridge work?
A: Those are the European and other-region versions of the same cartridge. HP region-codes the chip, so a U.S. or Canadian printer only accepts the 134 family.
Q: Where can I buy HP 134A / 134X toner?
A: HP 134A (W1340A) and HP 134X (W1340X) are both in stock at Castle Ink.
— William Elward, Castle Ink
Shop Compatible Toner at Castle Ink
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See also: Find Ink by Printer | How to stop HP firmware updates from blocking your ink | Printer Ink Cost Calculator
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