Sharp BP-50C45: Setup, Drivers, Ink and Common Problems

Is the Sharp BP-50C45 right for you?

At 45 ppm the BP-50C45 is fast enough to serve a whole floor, and its ability to take 300 gsm coated card from the bypass makes it useful for in-house covers and short-run marketing pieces. Sharp's colour consistency on this engine is good once auto calibration has been run, though heavy graphics users should expect to calibrate more often than a text-only office. The chassis is identical to the slower BP-50C models, so accessories and training carry over.

Best for: Whole-floor colour printing including card and short-run marketing work

Setting up the Sharp BP-50C45

Define custom paper types for coated and heavy stocks on the panel, then select them by name in the driver so the machine slows down and increases fuser temperature appropriately. Run Auto Colour Calibration from the machine's Adjustment menu after installation, after each colour toner change, and whenever proofs no longer match. If you print from a Mac design workflow, install Sharp's PostScript driver rather than using AirPrint, which cannot expose paper type or finishing options.

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 Sharp'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 Sharp BP-50C45 uses the following consumables. Match the number exactly when you buy: the same printer family often uses several different cartridge numbers by region.

• Sharp BP-GT30 series black toner
• BP-GT30 colour toners
• BP-CD10 drum units
• Waste toner container

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