HP Photosmart C4780: Setup, Drivers, Ink and Common Problems

Is the HP Photosmart C4780 right for you?

The Photosmart C4780 is a 2009 all-in-one that survives in surprising numbers because it is simple, uses inexpensive HP 60 cartridges and has no printhead to fail, since the head is built into each cartridge. Wireless was an early implementation that only understands older security settings, so most owners now run it over USB. Windows 10 and 11 still recognise it with a basic driver, but the full scanning software is no longer maintained.

Best for: Owners who want to keep a simple older printer going over USB

Setting up the HP Photosmart C4780

Connect over USB for the least trouble; if you need Wi-Fi, the wireless setup works only on 2.4 GHz networks with WPA2-AES and no special characters in the password. Use Windows Fax and Scan or the macOS Image Capture app to scan, as HP Solution Center no longer installs cleanly. Print a self-test page by holding the Cancel button while pressing Start Copy Black.

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 Photosmart C4780 uses the following consumables. Match the number exactly when you buy: the same printer family often uses several different cartridge numbers by region.

• HP 60 Black
• HP 60 Tri-color
• HP 60XL high-yield
• HP 300 (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