Dymo LabelWriter 450: Setup, Drivers, Ink and Common Problems

Is the Dymo LabelWriter 450 right for you?

The LabelWriter 450 is the most widely owned Dymo printer of all time and is still the default address-label machine in countless offices and Etsy shops. It is direct thermal, USB-only and accepts third-party labels, which is the main reason many owners keep it instead of upgrading to the chip-locked 550. The software situation is the thing to watch: the old DYMO Label software is no longer updated, and Dymo Connect on newer macOS releases can be temperamental with this model.

Best for: Home offices and small sellers printing address and barcode labels

Setting up the Dymo LabelWriter 450

Install Dymo Connect for Desktop (or the legacy DYMO Label v8 software if you prefer it), then plug in USB and wait for Windows to finish adding the printer. Load the roll with labels feeding from the bottom and the print side facing up, and run the feed button once to align. If prints come out blank, the roll is in backwards.

1. Unbox and prepare. Remove every piece of shipping tape and packing material, install the ink cartridges, 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 Dymo'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 Dymo LabelWriter 450 uses the following consumables. Match the number exactly when you buy: the same printer family often uses several different cartridge numbers by region.

• Dymo LW address, shipping, file-folder and multipurpose labels (30252, 30256, 30330 etc.)
• Third-party compatible LW labels

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