Zebra ZP450: Setup, Drivers, Ink and Common Problems

Is the Zebra ZP450 right for you?

The ZP450 is the UPS-branded version of the GK420d, originally supplied with UPS WorldShip accounts and now a staple of the used label-printer market. It behaves exactly like a GK420d and runs the same drivers, which is why it is so popular with eBay and Poshmark sellers. Some units shipped with UPS-specific firmware defaults, so the first step is often restoring factory settings.

Best for: Resellers buying an affordable used 4x6 thermal printer

Setting up the Zebra ZP450

Install the ZP450 or GK420d driver from Zebra Setup Utilities, connect USB and run a calibration by holding feed through two flashes. Set the label size to 4x6 in the driver and, if prints are shifted, reset the printer to factory defaults through Setup Utilities. It works fine with ShipStation, Pirate Ship and Shopify over USB.

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 ZP450 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