Zebra QLn320: Setup, Drivers, Ink and Common Problems

Is the Zebra QLn320 right for you?

The QLn320 was the standard 3-inch mobile label printer in retail and healthcare for most of the 2010s and many are still in service on charging cradles. It was replaced by the ZQ620 but shares the Link-OS software platform, so modern Zebra apps and utilities still recognise it. Ageing batteries and worn latch hooks are the main reasons units get retired.

Best for: Retail and healthcare sites with an existing QLn fleet

Setting up the Zebra QLn320

Pair over Bluetooth from the handheld or configure Wi-Fi with the Zebra Printer Setup Utility app; older units may need a firmware update to support WPA2 properly. On Windows, the Zebra driver prints over USB or a cradle's Ethernet port. Replace the battery with a genuine pack if run time has dropped below a shift.

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 QLn320 uses the following consumables. Match the number exactly when you buy: the same printer family often uses several different cartridge numbers by region.

• Zebra 3-inch direct thermal labels
• QLn battery pack

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