Dymo LabelWriter 5XL: Setup, Drivers, Ink and Common Problems

Is the Dymo LabelWriter 5XL right for you?

The 5XL is the 4x6 shipping-label printer in Dymo's 550 generation, adding Ethernet and automatic label detection to the 4XL's wide format. It is a polished product, but the genuine-label lock makes it expensive per label compared with a Rollo or Zebra that accepts any stock, and that is the main complaint in owner reviews. Sellers who already buy Dymo labels will appreciate the low-label warning and plug-and-play sizing.

Best for: Shippers loyal to Dymo labels who want a networked 4x6 printer

Setting up the Dymo LabelWriter 5XL

Install Dymo Connect, connect by USB or Ethernet, and load a chipped Dymo 4x6 roll with labels feeding from underneath. Shipping platforms should be set to 4x6 output and pointed at the 5XL driver. If you need to share it, the Ethernet port lets multiple PCs add it as a network printer in Dymo Connect.

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 5XL uses the following consumables. Match the number exactly when you buy: the same printer family often uses several different cartridge numbers by region.

• Dymo Authentic 4x6 shipping labels (1744907 chipped version)
• Dymo Authentic wide-format 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