Can you keep using it?
Can you keep using it?
Contact customer support if any of these apply
- !31.60 returns after reseating genuine supplies.
- !The printer cannot maintain imaging-unit recognition after restart.
What to check first
Step-by-step checks
- 1
Consumable check
Power off the printer and reseat the imaging unit and toner cartridge carefully.
Start with the official recovery step before moving on to parts or deeper servicing.
- 2
Safe first step
Confirm the installed supplies are genuine Lexmark parts.
- 3
Safe first step
Check printer date, time, and firmware if the message persists.
Background
What this message usually means
Lexmark uses 31.60 when the imaging unit is missing or unresponsive. On this family, the normal path is to check for genuine supplies, reseat the toner and imaging unit, then verify date, time, and firmware before escalating.
Before the message
What users usually notice first
Messages like this often appear after the printer fails one of its normal startup, supply, or paper-path checks and cannot return to ready state cleanly.
Diagnosis
Likely causes
The imaging unit is not fully seated.
A non-genuine or defective imaging unit is not responding.
The printer needs a firmware or date/time correction before the supply check clears.
Service
When service or replacement is more likely
- -This is a supply-state error, not a general service-stop code.
Avoid wrong turns
Common misreads of this message
- -Treating the message like a confirmed failed part instead of a support clue about which system has stopped the printer.
- -Assuming any supply-related wording means the next step is automatically to buy a cartridge, toner, drum, or printhead.
See also
Related codes in this family
Explore more
More Lexmark printer families
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Helpful guides for this problem
Boundary
When to stop troubleshooting and move to support
Use the message once to classify the problem, then move to support if the printer still cannot return to ready after the first safe checks.
Keep browsing
Where to go next
Source notes
Lexmark's official 31.6x guide says 31.60 indicates a missing or unresponsive imaging unit and recommends genuine-supply checks, reseating, and firmware review.
Built around official Lexmark user-guide and service-manual material for the MX431 and closely related mono office models. Exact code behavior can vary a little by print-only versus MFP model and installed options, but the main paper-jam and supply messages stay close across the family.
Printer error codes can vary a little by firmware, region, and exact model variant. Use this guide as a family-level starting point and stop if the next step would require disassembly or service-mode changes.
Known family variants: MX431adn, MX431adw, MS431dn, MS431dw, XM1342
Last reviewed: 2026-04-12
Reference: Open reference