Kodak Hero 5.1: Setup, Drivers, Ink and Common Problems

Is the Kodak Hero 5.1 right for you?

The Hero 5.1 was part of Kodak's final consumer inkjet generation, with auto duplex, AirPrint and a cloud email-print service that has long since shut down. It uses the affordable Kodak 30 cartridges and the same removable printhead design as the ESP line. These printers remain in service mainly because third-party ink is cheap, though printhead errors eventually end most of them.

Best for: Households using cheap Kodak 30 ink in an older duplex all-in-one

Setting up the Kodak Hero 5.1

AirPrint still works from iPhones and iPads once the printer is on Wi-Fi, which you set from the LCD menu. For Windows, install the archived Kodak AiO software or rely on the in-box driver over USB. Ignore the Email Print and Google Cloud Print options in the menu, as both services are defunct.

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 Kodak'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 Kodak Hero 5.1 uses the following consumables. Match the number exactly when you buy: the same printer family often uses several different cartridge numbers by region.

• Kodak 30B black cartridge
• Kodak 30C colour cartridge
• Kodak 30XL black

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