What Toner Does the HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M479dw Use?
Last Updated:Shopping for this printer? See all HP 414A & 414X Toner Cartridges – W2020A–W2023X → Ships same day by 4 PM ET, 1-year guarantee.
Quick answer: The HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M479dw takes HP 414A (standard) and HP 414X (high-yield) toner in four colors. Castle Ink's compatible 414X Black with chip is rated for roughly 7,500 pages and each 414X color for roughly 6,000. Our no-chip 414X Black costs less and works with the chip from your used HP cartridge.
CastleScore · October 2026
82/100 — Highly Recommended
HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M479dw
| Pillar (weight) | Score | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Owner ratings (28%) | 88 | 4.50★ average across 277 ratings at Digitec Galaxus (4.5) |
| Expert reviews (20%) | 73 | Stiftung Warentest 73/100 (as reported by Digitec) |
| Cost per page (18%) | 80 | About 3¢ per page blended (black + color) with our compatible 414X toner with chip (7,500 black / 6,000 color pages). Docked because firmware can reject toner without the maker's chip. |
| Reliability (18%) | 85 | Most-reported problems: build quality; complaints otherwise center on toner cost and single-sided scanning rather than failures. |
| Features (11%) | 80 | Print, copy, scan, document feeder, auto two-sided printing, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, touchscreen, fast (20+ ppm). No fax, no two-sided scanning. |
| Value (5%) | 82 | Running cost and owner satisfaction (no current U.S. street price) |
Discontinued in the U.S. We found no current new U.S. retail listing; refurbished units still turn up. HP still lists the M479dw as compatible with HP 414A. This score rates it for current owners.
CastleScore is Castle Ink’s own editorial rating, built from retailer star ratings, expert reviews, real cost per page and owner complaint patterns, checked October 29, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.
The toner, pictured
HP 414X BlackW2020X · with chip · ~7,500 pages
HP 414X CyanW2021X · with chip · ~6,000 pages
HP 414X MagentaW2023X · with chip · ~6,000 pages
HP 414X YellowW2022X · with chip · ~6,000 pages
HP 414X Black
HP 414X Cyan
HP 414X Magenta
HP 414X YellowOur own compatible toner, photographed in-house.
HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M479dw Toner Cartridges at a Glance
| Cartridge | Part Number | Color | Approx. Page Yield |
|---|---|---|---|
| HP 414A Black | W2020A | Black | ~2,400 pages |
| HP 414A Cyan | W2021A | Cyan | ~2,100 pages |
| HP 414A Magenta | W2023A | Magenta | ~2,100 pages |
| HP 414A Yellow | W2022A | Yellow | ~2,100 pages |
| HP 414X Black | W2020X | Black | ~7,500 pages |
| HP 414X Cyan | W2021X | Cyan | ~6,000 pages |
| HP 414X Magenta | W2023X | Magenta | ~6,000 pages |
| HP 414X Yellow | W2022X | Yellow | ~6,000 pages |
| Castle Ink HP 414X Black, no chip | W2020X | Black (reuse your HP chip) | ~7,500 pages |
Dynamic security applies to this printer. The M479dw was named in the April 2022 HP firmware update that began refusing cartridges with non-HP chips (event code 10.00.46), and HP says later updates can block cartridges that worked before. Before installing a with-chip compatible, switch firmware updates to notify-only on the touchscreen or in the Embedded Web Server. There is no HP+ "M479dwe"; HP+ arrived with later models, so the M479dw has no lifetime lock to HP toner. Our step-by-step guide to stopping HP firmware updates covers the settings.
You can share a toner order with the M479fdw and M479fdn all-in-ones, the M454dw and M454dn printers, and the Color LaserJet Enterprise M455dn and MFP M480f; all take HP 414A/414X.
The M479dw is the entry model of the M479 all-in-one line: print, copy and scan with Wi-Fi, Ethernet and a 4.3-inch touchscreen, but no fax and a feeder that scans one side at a time.
Do not confuse HP 414 with HP 415. The M479dw was also sold in Europe, where it takes HP 415A/415X; those cartridges are region-coded and will not work in a North American M479dw, and 414 will not work in a European one. Check the part number on your old cartridge.
Our HP 414X buying guide compares our cartridges with genuine HP and other compatible brands.
How to Replace the Toner in the HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M479dw
- Open the front door below the touchscreen; you do not need to raise the scanner.
- Pull the spent cartridge out by its handle.
- Rock the new cartridge gently end to end five or six times.
- Remove the orange shipping lock and any tape. Avoid touching the drum surface underneath.
- Insert it in the slot marked with its color, push until it is firmly home, close the door, and confirm the new cartridge on the touchscreen.
Troubleshooting Tips
Wrong-region or incompatible cartridge message: A 415A/415X cartridge bought from a European seller will be refused by a U.S. M479dw, and the reverse is also true. Compare the part number on the label (W202x for 414, W203x for 415).
Non-HP chip blocked: Usually follows an automatic firmware update. Set updates to notify-only, then contact your seller, or fit a no-chip cartridge with your old HP chip.
Faded or banded color: Rock the cartridge for that color, reinstall it and run a cleaning page from the Printer Maintenance menu. Our laser printer streaks and lines guide covers the rest.
What M479dw owners ask
These come from retailer reviews and Q&A, HP spec sheets and printer help pages, answered in our words for the M479dw.
Can it fax?
No. The "f" models (M479fdn, M479fdw, M479fnw) add fax; the M479dw prints, copies and scans only.
Will the feeder scan both sides of a page?
Not automatically. HP's specifications say the M479dw's 50-sheet feeder does not do two-sided scanning, and owners list this as a drawback. Turn the stack over and scan again, or step up to an fdn or fdw.
Is the toner really that expensive?
Toner cost is the top complaint in owner reviews. Staples sells a genuine HP 414A black at $116.89 for about 2,400 pages. Compatible high-yield 414X brings cost per page down sharply.
Can I print from my phone?
Yes. It has dual-band Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct and Bluetooth Low Energy, and supports AirPrint, Mopria and the HP Smart app.
M479dw quirks worth knowing
- Color starter cartridges are rated at about 1,200 pages, so the first color change comes sooner than you might expect.
- We found no new U.S. retail listing for it today. Used and refurbished units turn up more often than new ones.
- Paper holds 300 sheets as standard (250-sheet tray plus 50-sheet multipurpose tray), with an optional 550-sheet tray.
- Owner reviews praise print quality, speed and quiet running; the complaints are toner cost, single-sided scanning and build quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a separate drum unit?
No. Each HP 414 cartridge has the drum built in.
Can I use 414A in some slots and 414X in others?
Yes. Standard and high-yield cartridges fit the same slots and can be mixed freely.
What does "no chip" mean?
A no-chip cartridge ships without a chip. You move the chip from your empty HP cartridge onto it, and the printer treats it as a reused HP chip. It shows no accurate toner level, so watch for fading.
Other printers that use HP 414A and 414X toner
HP Color LaserJet Pro M454dw · HP LaserJet Pro MFP M479fdw · HP Color LaserJet Pro M454dn · HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M479fdn · HP Color LaserJet Enterprise M455dn · HP Color LaserJet Enterprise MFP M480f
More HP ink guides: HP LaserJet Pro M402n · HP LaserJet Pro MFP M426fdw · HP LaserJet Pro M201dw · find any printer
Replacing it? Our highest-rated alternatives
- Brother HL-L2460DW — CastleScore 90
- Brother MFC-L2820DW — CastleScore 90
- HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw — CastleScore 82
Sources
Ratings and prices were checked on October 29, 2026 and will change over time.
Need replacement HP 414A & 414X Toner Cartridges – W2020A–W2023X? Shop HP 414A & 414X Toner Cartridges – W2020A–W2023X at Castle Ink. Compatible, up to 70% less than OEM, and shipped the same day when you order by 4 PM ET.