What Ink Does the HP Envy 4500 Use?
Last Updated:Quick answer: The HP Envy 4500 uses two cartridges: HP 61 Black and HP 61 Tri-color, with HP 61XL as the high-yield option. A single tri-color cartridge holds cyan, magenta and yellow together, so if one color runs out you replace all three.
HP Envy 4500 Ink Cartridges at a Glance
| Cartridge | Color | Approx. Page Yield |
|---|---|---|
| HP 61 Black (CH561WN) | Black | ~170 pages |
| HP 61 Tri-color (CH562WN / C0PA5AN) | Cyan, Magenta, Yellow | ~200 pages |
| HP 61XL Black (CH563WN / C0PA4AN) | Black | ~360 pages |
| HP 61XL Tri-color (CH564WN) | Cyan, Magenta, Yellow | ~300 pages |
The HP Envy 4500 takes one black plus one tri-color cartridge. The same HP 61 / 61XL cartridges also fit the HP Envy 5530, HP OfficeJet 4630, and the HP DeskJet 1000, 1050, 2000, 2050, 3000 and 3050 series.
About those page yields. You will find older sources quoting 480 pages for HP 61XL Black and 165 for HP 61 Tri-color. HP's current published figures are 360 and 200 respectively, and the numbers in the table above are HP's current ones. Retailers are still circulating the legacy set, so if a listing promises 480 pages from an HP 61XL Black, treat that as an old spec sheet rather than a better cartridge.
Save on HP 61 / 61XL
Castle Ink's compatible and remanufactured HP 61 cartridges can save you 50–70% against genuine cartridges without giving up print quality. Every cartridge is tested, carries a 1-year warranty, and ships free on orders over $50. Shop HP 61XL Black and HP 61XL Tri-Color for the HP Envy 4500.
How to Replace Ink in the HP Envy 4500
- Power the printer on and open the ink cartridge access door — the carriage will slide to the center. Wait for it to stop moving before reaching in.
- Press down on the old cartridge to release it, then pull it forward and out of its slot.
- Unwrap the new cartridge and pull the orange tab to remove the protective plastic. Do not touch the gold contacts or the copper-colored nozzles.
- Slide the new cartridge into its slot at a slight upward angle and push up until you hear it click into place.
- Close the access door. The printer will print an alignment page automatically — keep it long enough to confirm the print is sharp and the colors are right.
Troubleshooting Tips
"Cartridge missing or damaged": Power-cycle the printer with the cartridges installed. If it persists, remove the cartridge, wipe the gold contacts with a lint-free cloth dampened with distilled water, dry thoroughly, and reinsert at the upward angle until it clicks.
Streaky or faded prints: Open HP Smart and run Printer Settings > Tools > Clean Ink Cartridges. Two cleaning cycles clear most nozzle blockages; more than that mostly wastes ink.
Firmware updates rejecting compatible ink: Some HP firmware revisions tighten cartridge authentication. If you intend to use compatible cartridges, turn off automatic firmware updates in HP Smart > Printer Settings > Advanced Settings before you install them.
Alignment page prints blank or skewed: Confirm you removed the orange protective tab from each new cartridge and that both are seated with a firm click, then run alignment again from HP Smart.
Official HP Envy 4500 Resources
Bottom Line
The HP Envy 4500 is well served by the HP 61 family, and the high-yield tier is where the cost per page actually falls. Buy the largest tier your printer supports, keep the model number written down somewhere you can find it, and ink stops being something you think about.
Written and reviewed by William Elward — Founder of Castle Ink, 20+ years in the printer & imaging supplies industry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does using compatible HP 61 cartridges void my HP Envy 4500 warranty?
No. Under the U.S. Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, a manufacturer cannot void your printer warranty solely because you use compatible or remanufactured cartridges. If a specific cartridge causes damage, that damage is not covered — but the rest of the warranty stands.
How are these page yields measured?
To the ISO/IEC standard for the cartridge type, at 5% page coverage on plain paper. That is a deliberately modest amount of coverage, so heavy graphics, photos or dense tables will always yield fewer pages than the rating. The numbers are useful for comparing cartridges against each other, not for predicting your exact month.
Why does my tri-color cartridge run out when only one color is empty?
Because all three colors share one cartridge body. The printer stops when any single color is exhausted, which is the fundamental inefficiency of tri-color designs. There is no way around it on this printer — but it is exactly why the XL tri-color is worth the small premium.
Is the Envy 4500 an HP+ printer?
No. HP+ applies only to models with a trailing "e" in the name. The Envy 4500 predates that program, so it is not locked to Original HP ink. It is eligible for HP Instant Ink if you want a subscription, but that is optional.
Shop Compatible Ink at Castle Ink
Find the right cartridge for the HP Envy 4500 and every other printer we cover on the Find Ink by Printer page, or work through a fault at our printer troubleshooting center.
Buy the HP Envy 4500 on Amazon: HP Envy 4500 on Amazon — as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
See also: printer says ink cartridge not recognized | faded or streaky prints | printer printing the wrong colors
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