Third-party status
WorksCompatible 067 toner prints; quality and levels vary
Yes for printing, with caveats. Compatible 067/067H toner with a chip usually installs and prints on the MF656Cdw; owners and sellers report it works for casual use. Expect a non-genuine warning, missing or wrong toner levels, and mixed color quality. We found no dated report of a Canon firmware update hard-blocking third-party 067 on this model.
What to do now
- If the panel shows a non-genuine / non-Canon toner message after installing compatible 067, look for Close, OK or I Agree and continue, then print a test page. ImageCLASS guides describe dismissing that class of warning so printing can continue (levels may stay blank).[3][9]If the printer instead says the cartridge is not set correctly / may be malfunctioning and refuses to print after reseating, Canon's message guide says you cannot continue — replace the cartridge or contact service.
- Castle Ink's model guide: for "toner cartridge is not recognized" or cartridge error, reseat the cartridge in the correct color slot and remove all packing material before blaming the chip.[7]Reseating does not fix a hard communication failure or a damaged drum.
What to buy instead
- Genuine Canon 067 / 067H. Recognized with levels; Canon's recommended supply for this machine.
- Compatible 067 / 067H (returnable seller). Often prints for casual text; pick a seller with an easy return if colors or the chip disappoint.
- Account required
- No
- Cartridges
- Canon Cartridge 067 (standard) / 067H (high capacity), black / cyan / magenta / yellow
- Blocking firmware
- None reported
- Last checked
Also applies to: imageCLASS LBP632Cdw, LBP633Cdw, MF652Cdw, MF653Cdw and MF654Cdw take the same Canon 067 / 067H toner (Canon USA shop).
Third-party and remanufactured cartridges
- Canon USA's 067 Black toner page lists the MF656Cdw (with MF654Cdw, MF653Cdw, MF652Cdw, LBP633Cdw and LBP632Cdw) and rates standard black at up to 1,350 pages and each color at up to 1,250 pages (ISO/IEC).[1]
- Canon Canada's consumables answer for the MF656Cdw / MF654Cdw / MF653Cdw (published Dec 12, 2024) lists Cartridge 067 and 067H in all four colors with the same yields, and warns about counterfeit toner.[2]
- Canon's imageCLASS message guide lists "A genuine Canon toner cartridge may not be in use" for the MF656Cdw family and recommends genuine Cartridge 067 / 067H. It does not describe a Dynamic-Security-style hard lock for that warning.[3]
- On r/printers (thread started Oct 2023), an MF656Cdw owner who tried YB Toner third-party 067 said the cartridges printed for casual use but colors were unsatisfactory, the set made a loud noise, and toner levels were not shown. Later posters still planned to try Amazon-sold chip-equipped compatibles (Nov 2024).[4]
- A Dec 31, 2024 r/printers thread from a new MF656Cdw owner asking about LD / premium compatible 067 drew replies warning that color compatible toner can leak or shift colors; nobody reported the printer refusing to print with third-party toner on this model.[5]
- In Canon's US Community (Jun 2024), an MF656Cdw owner who had just installed off-brand toner reported solid colored pages and a failed color-mismatch correction. A Canon Community expert said unexpected results happen with non-OEM toner and that warranty troubleshooting starts with asking whether OEM toner is installed — implying the printer had accepted the third-party set.[6]
- Castle Ink (compatible-toner seller; guide last updated Nov 2, 2026) says the MF656Cdw uses 067 / 067H, sells chip-equipped compatibles for it, and lists the same sibling models as Canon. Seller claims are not independent lab tests.[7]
Canon account and subscriptions
- Printing does not require a Canon account or subscription. Canon's Auto Replenishment Service for 067 toner is optional enrollment through Canon Direct; you can buy cartridges at retail without it.[1]
Firmware that blocked cartridges
- Canon Japan's MF656Cdw firmware V07.01 (posted Jan 15, 2026) lists only security-vulnerability fixes (CVE-2025-14231 through 14237). Earlier listed versions on that page are also CVE patches. The notes do not mention cartridge authentication or third-party toner.[8]
- Castle Ink's Oct 27, 2026 firmware guide says most Canon models show a non-genuine warning you can acknowledge and keep printing, and that Canon has not pursued hard firmware blocking as aggressively as HP. That is general Canon guidance, not an MF656Cdw lab test.[9]
- We found no dated owner report that an MF656Cdw firmware update suddenly refused previously working compatible 067 toner.[4][5][8]
To see your version, print a printer status report or open the printer's web page. Compare it with the firmware list.
Workarounds that sources back up
- If the panel shows a non-genuine / non-Canon toner message after installing compatible 067, look for Close, OK or I Agree and continue, then print a test page. ImageCLASS guides describe dismissing that class of warning so printing can continue (levels may stay blank).[3][9] If the printer instead says the cartridge is not set correctly / may be malfunctioning and refuses to print after reseating, Canon's message guide says you cannot continue — replace the cartridge or contact service.
- Castle Ink's model guide: for "toner cartridge is not recognized" or cartridge error, reseat the cartridge in the correct color slot and remove all packing material before blaming the chip.[7] Reseating does not fix a hard communication failure or a damaged drum.
What does not reliably work
- OEM Canon 055 (MF743Cdw family) and 069 (MF753Cdw family) do not fit the MF656Cdw. Use 067 / 067H only.[7]
- Expect missing toner-level readings on many chip-equipped compatibles. An Amazon EaseFusion 067 review for this model called the chip a joke because levels never appeared, and said colors faded quickly.[10]
- Color quality problems (wrong colors, noise, early fade) are repeatedly reported with bargain third-party 067 even when the printer still prints.[4][6][10]
What to buy instead
- Genuine Canon 067 / 067H. Recognized with levels; Canon's recommended supply for this machine. Shop
- Compatible 067 / 067H (returnable seller). Often prints for casual text; pick a seller with an easy return if colors or the chip disappoint. Shop
These are plain store links. We earn nothing from them today. Disclosure.
What we could not verify
- A dated 2026 lab or owner test of remanufactured 067/067H against firmware V07.01 specifically on the MF656Cdw.
- Whether any US firmware channel (distinct from Canon's Japan V07.01 notes) changes chip checks without documenting it.
- Long-term drum wear or fuser contamination rates for third-party 067 versus OEM on this model.
- Whether Canon's warranty would cover a failure Canon attributes to third-party toner (Magnuson-Moss arguments exist; we did not verify Canon's claim handling for this model).
Know something we missed? Dated sources beat opinions. Corrections go on the page with a date.
Get an email when the Canon imageCLASS MF656Cdw's status changes
One short email when a firmware update blocks cartridges, or a block gets lifted. No spam, no daily digest.
The email list is not live yet. Nothing you type here is sent anywhere.
Sources
- Canon USA shop: 067 Black Toner Cartridge (compatibility and yields) (read Nov 5, 2026)
- Canon Canada: Consumables — imageCLASS MF656Cdw / MF654Cdw / MF653Cdw (067 / 067H) (published Dec 12, 2024)
- Canon online manual: If a Message Is Displayed on the Screen (includes MF656Cdw 067 warnings) (read Nov 5, 2026)
- r/printers: Canon MF656cdw and 3rd party toners? (published Oct 12, 2023)
- r/printers: Question about Compatible Color Toner (MF656Cdw / 067) (published Dec 31, 2024)
- Canon Community: imageCLASS MF656Cdw printing completely colored pages (off-brand toner) (published Jun 20, 2024)
- Castle Ink (seller): What Toner Does the Canon imageCLASS MF656Cdw Use? (published Nov 2, 2026)
- Canon Japan: MF656Cdw firmware V07.01 (Windows) — change history (CVE fixes) (published Jan 15, 2026)
- Castle Ink: Printer Firmware Updates and Third-Party Ink (Canon/Epson section) (published Oct 27, 2026)
- Amazon: EaseFusion 067 toner for MF656Cdw (listing + customer review on levels/fade) (read Nov 5, 2026)