HP LaserJet Pro M15w: Setup, Drivers, Ink and Common Problems

Is the HP LaserJet Pro M15w right for you?

The LaserJet Pro M15w is a shoebox-sized mono laser that became a bestseller for students and tiny home offices because it is cheap, wireless and needs no ink maintenance. It prints sharp text at a modest pace and holds 150 sheets. The trade-offs are the short-lived starter toner, a 2.4 GHz-only radio that is fussy with mesh networks, and a firmware history of rejecting non-HP 48A cartridges after updates, so owners using compatibles usually switch automatic updates off.

Best for: Students and tiny desks needing a cheap wireless mono laser

Setting up the HP LaserJet Pro M15w

Set up with HP Smart; hold the Wireless button until the light blinks to enter setup mode, and join a 2.4 GHz network. If the app cannot find it, connect by USB once and use HP Smart on the PC to push Wi-Fi credentials. Turn off automatic firmware updates in the embedded web server if you plan to use third-party toner.

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 Pro M15w uses the following consumables. Match the number exactly when you buy: the same printer family often uses several different cartridge numbers by region.

• HP 48A (CF248A) 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