Zebra LP2844: Setup, Drivers, Ink and Common Problems

Is the Zebra LP2844 right for you?

The LP2844 is the classic Eltron-era Zebra label printer that UPS handed out to shippers for years, and thousands of them are still cranking out 4x6 labels two decades later. It is direct thermal only and speaks EPL rather than modern ZPL, which matters when a shipping app sends ZPL data. Drivers still exist for Windows 10 and 11, but USB detection on older units can be flaky.

Best for: Long-time shippers still using a UPS-issued label printer

Setting up the Zebra LP2844

Use the Zebra EPL driver for the LP2844 from Zebra Setup Utilities rather than a ZPL driver, since the printer only understands EPL. Connect by USB, set the label size to 4x6 in the driver and run auto-sense by holding feed while powering on. If your shipping software insists on ZPL, print through its Windows driver option instead of raw ZPL mode.

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 Zebra'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 Zebra LP2844 uses the following consumables. Match the number exactly when you buy: the same printer family often uses several different cartridge numbers by region.

• 4x6 direct thermal labels

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