HP ENVY 4500: Setup, Drivers, Ink and Common Problems

Is the HP ENVY 4500 right for you?

The ENVY 4500 was a mid-2010s favourite because it offered automatic two-sided printing and Wi-Fi for under a hundred dollars, and a surprising number remain in daily use. It runs on the long-lived HP 61 cartridges, which are still sold new and widely refilled. The 2.4 GHz-only radio and an ageing WPA implementation mean it often refuses to join modern mesh systems, and HP Smart support is limited, so a USB cable is frequently the easiest route on a new PC.

Best for: Keeping a reliable older duplex printer going at home

Setting up the HP ENVY 4500

HP Smart can add the ENVY 4500 once it is already on the network, but the initial Wi-Fi setup is easiest from the printer's own LCD using the Wireless Setup Wizard under the Wireless menu. Use a 2.4 GHz network with WPA2 (not WPA3) security. Windows 11 installs a basic driver automatically; download HP's full package if you need scanning from the PC.

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 HP'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 HP ENVY 4500 uses the following consumables. Match the number exactly when you buy: the same printer family often uses several different cartridge numbers by region.

• HP 61 Black
• HP 61 Tri-color
• HP 61XL high-yield
• HP 301 (UK/EU)

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