SKU:

CS-BR-401-BK

Condition:

New Compatible

OEM Part #:

LC401BK

Color:

Black

Page Yield:

Up to 200 pages (ISO/IEC 24711)

Chip:

New compatible chip (ink-level chip)

Warranty:

Lifetime Warranty

Returns:

1-Year Free Returns

Frequently Asked Questions

How many pages does the LC401BK yield?

Up to 200 pages — Brother's published rating for the standard-yield LC401 tier, in accordance with ISO/IEC 24711. The XL tier (LC401XL) steps the same slot up to 500 pages.

Which printers does this cartridge fit?

Three models on Brother's official LC401 list: MFC-J1010DW, MFC-J1012DW and MFC-J1170DW.

My LC401 printer is an MFC-J1800DW. Will this fit?

We do not claim it: the MFC-J1800DW appears in some seller listings but is not on Brother's official LC401 page, so it is not in our compatibility list. Order only for the three models named here.

Will my printer recognize this compatible cartridge?

This cartridge carries a new compatible chip that reports ink levels to the printer. Brother's own support guidance for this generation — its “Cannot Detect” / “Cannot Detect Ink Volume” pages — states plainly that with non-genuine ink the machine may or may not detect the cartridge or its ink volume, and that Brother cannot guarantee optimum performance and reliability with ink of other specifications. We print that warning here instead of promising recognition we cannot guarantee: seat the cartridge firmly until it clicks, keep fingers off the chip contacts, and if a detection message appears, remove and reseat the cartridge and restart the printer.

What about firmware updates — will one block this cartridge?

Brother's official pages for this generation carry the detection warning quoted in the FAQ above, and nothing more: we found no official Brother statement that a firmware update blocks compatible LC401 cartridges, so we will not claim one either. Keeping the printer's firmware as-is is the cautious route with any compatible cartridge.

Can I mix LC401 and LC401XL cartridges?

Yes — both tiers are listed for the same three printers and each slot is independent, so an LC401XL black beside standard LC401 colors is a normal setup.

LC401BK or LC401XLBK — which should I buy?

This standard cartridge is the lower-cost 200-page fill. The LC401XL black cartridge is rated 500 pages — two and a half times the run — and suits the same printers. Occasional printing: this one. Steady document volume: the XL.

Is this the same cartridge as LC404 or LC406?

No. LC401, LC402, LC404 and LC406 are four separate LC40x families with different cartridge bodies — none of them fits another family's printers, however close the codes look.

How do I install it?

Open the ink cover, release the old cartridge with its lever, slide the new one in until it clicks, and keep fingers off the chip contacts. Run a print quality check if the printer has sat idle.

Is this a genuine Brother cartridge?

No — it is a Clever Supplies compatible cartridge built to the LC401BK specification, with a new compatible chip, labeled compatible on the box and on this page.

What warranty and returns does it carry?

A lifetime warranty — a cartridge that fails to perform is replaced — and free returns within the first year.

What should I check before ordering?

Confirm the model is one of the three LC401 printers (MFC-J1010DW, MFC-J1012DW and MFC-J1170DW) and that your old cartridge reads LC401BK or its LC401XL counterpart. Codes LC402, LC404 and LC406 belong to other printers entirely.