Canon imageCLASS MF4880dw: Setup, Drivers, Ink and Common Problems

Is the Canon imageCLASS MF4880dw right for you?

The MF4880dw was the wireless duplex fax laser MFP of 2012, the step-up from the Ethernet-only MF4770n, and many offices bought it in bulk. Its Cartridge 128 toner is still widely sold, and the engine is robust. The old 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi radio and WPA2-only security struggle with modern routers, and the legacy scanner driver needs Canon's archived MF Toolbox to work on Windows 11.

Best for: Legacy small-office laser MFP with fax and duplex

Setting up the Canon imageCLASS MF4880dw

Connect Ethernet for reliability; if using Wi-Fi, make sure the network offers WPA2 on 2.4 GHz. Install the archived MF4800 series driver and MF Toolbox from Canon's support site for scanning. AirPrint works for printing from Apple devices without any driver.

1. Unbox and prepare. Remove every piece of shipping tape and packing material, install the toner cartridge and drum unit, and load paper in the tray.
2. Join your Wi-Fi. Keep the printer close to the router for setup. Most printers only connect to the 2.4GHz band, so if your router broadcasts one merged network name you may need to split the bands temporarily. See our Wi-Fi guide if it will not join.
3. Install the setup app. Use Canon's official app rather than a driver you found on a search result — third-party driver sites are the most common source of printer malware.
4. Add the printer. On Windows 11: Settings › Bluetooth & devices › Printers & scanners › Add device. On macOS: System Settings › Printers & Scanners › Add Printer.
5. Print a test page and run a scan if this is an all-in-one, so you find any problem now rather than when you are in a hurry.

Ink, toner and supplies

The Canon imageCLASS MF4880dw uses the following consumables. Match the number exactly when you buy: the same printer family often uses several different cartridge numbers by region.

• Cartridge 128

High-yield (XL) versions almost always cost less per page if you print regularly. On third-party ink and toner, read our honest assessment first, and note that some manufacturers push firmware that rejects non-original chips.

Full specifications