HP LaserJet 4000: Setup, Drivers, Ink and Common Problems

Is the HP LaserJet 4000 right for you?

The LaserJet 4000 series is the printer that defined the office laser in the late 1990s, and machines with several hundred thousand pages on the counter are still in daily use. It is built like a tank, supports PCL and PostScript, and its 27X cartridge gives roughly ten thousand pages. Parts such as fusers, rollers and maintenance kits remain available, which is why businesses keep repairing rather than replacing them.

Best for: Businesses running a vintage high-duty mono laser

Setting up the HP LaserJet 4000

Network models with a JetDirect card can be added by IP with the HP Universal Print Driver or any generic PCL or PostScript driver. Parallel-only units need a parallel-to-USB adapter or a JetDirect card. Check the LCD for numeric error codes: 13 means a jam in the area shown, 50 a fuser fault, and a maintenance-kit message means the rollers and fuser are due.

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 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 LaserJet 4000 uses the following consumables. Match the number exactly when you buy: the same printer family often uses several different cartridge numbers by region.

• HP 27A (C4127A) toner
• HP 27X (C4127X) high-yield toner

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