What Toner Does the HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M479fdn 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 M479fdn uses HP 414A or the high-yield HP 414X in black, cyan, magenta and yellow. For a busy office the 414X set is the one to stock: our compatible 414X Black with chip is rated at about 7,500 pages and the 414X Cyan, Magenta and Yellow at about 6,000 each. A cheaper no-chip 414X Black is there if you want to reuse the HP chip from your empty cartridge.
CastleScore · October 2026
81/100 — Highly Recommended
HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M479fdn
| Pillar (weight) | Score | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Owner ratings (28%) | 81 | 4.09★ average across 853 ratings at Walmart (4.2), CDW (3.4) |
| Expert reviews (20%) | — | |
| 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%) | 82 | Most-reported problems: document feeder pulling pages crooked or several at once; scanner not detected over USB while printing works. |
| Features (11%) | 84 | Print, copy, scan, document feeder with two-sided scanning, auto two-sided printing, fax, Ethernet, touchscreen, fast (20+ ppm). No Wi-Fi. |
| Value (5%) | 80 | Running cost and owner satisfaction against a last-seen price of $819 (out of stock) |
Limited data: No expert review of this exact model was found, so the expert pillar's weight is spread across the other pillars.
Hard to find new. Walmart listed the M479fdn at $819 but out of stock in October 2026. HP 414A/414X toner is still widely sold. This score rates it mainly 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 M479fdn 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 |
Read this before you fit non-HP toner: HP sells the M479fdn as a "dynamic security enabled printer" and says it uses those measures to block cartridges with a non-HP chip. That already happened once: the April 2022 firmware for the M479dw, M479fdn and M479fdw stopped many aftermarket chips with event code 10.00.46. Our with-chip 414X uses a new third-party chip, so turn off automatic firmware updates first, or use a no-chip cartridge with your old HP chip moved over. HP never made an HP+ "e" version of the M479fdn, so the Original-HP-only lock on HP+ printers does not apply. Our firmware update guide shows how to switch updates to notify-only.
The same four cartridges run the Wi-Fi M479fdw and the fax-free M479dw, the single-function M454dn and M454dw, and HP's Enterprise M455dn and Enterprise MFP M480f.
The M479fdn is a wired color laser all-in-one that prints, copies, scans and faxes, with a 50-sheet document feeder that scans both sides, a 4.3-inch touchscreen and Gigabit Ethernet, but no Wi-Fi.
Do not confuse HP 414A/414X with HP 415A/415X: the 415 cartridges are for M479 printers sold in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and HP region-codes them, so they will not work in a U.S. M479fdn. HP 410A belongs to the older M477.
For prices from us and from other sellers side by side, read our HP 414X with-chip vs no-chip comparison.
How to Replace the Toner in the HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M479fdn
- Leave the scanner closed. The toner sits behind the front door under the control panel, so open that door.
- Grip the handle of the empty cartridge and draw it straight out.
- Take the new cartridge out of its bag, hold both ends and tilt it back and forth five or six times.
- Pull off the orange protective piece and any tape, keeping your fingers off the drum on the bottom of the cartridge.
- Slide it into the matching color slot until it seats, close the front door, and check the touchscreen's Supplies screen for the new level.
Troubleshooting Tips
Cartridge blocked after an update: If a cartridge that worked yesterday is refused with a non-HP chip message, firmware has updated. Turn automatic updates off so it doesn't happen to your next cartridge, and contact the seller. A no-chip cartridge carrying your original HP chip is the version HP says it accepts.
Document feeder pulls pages crooked or several at once: Fan the stack, keep it under the 50-sheet line, and set the side guides snug against the paper. Wipe the feeder's pickup rollers with a lint-free cloth dampened with water; worn rollers are the usual cause on older units.
Smears, faded color or lines: Remove and rock the cartridge for the faded color, then print a cleaning page from the Printer Maintenance menu. See our page on laser printer streaks and lines if it persists.
What M479fdn owners ask
These questions come from CDW and Walmart reviews, HP's support forum and spec sheets, answered in our words for the fdn.
Does the M479fdn have Wi-Fi?
No, and CDW reviewers flag this often. It connects by Ethernet or USB. The M479fdw is the same machine with dual-band Wi-Fi added.
Why won't my computer find the scanner when printing works over USB?
One owner on HP's forum had exactly this on Windows 11. Printing and scanning use separate drivers, so install HP's full software package for the M479 rather than the basic print driver, or connect over Ethernet and scan to a network folder or email.
Can the feeder scan both sides of a page?
Yes. HP rates two-sided scanning through the 50-sheet feeder at up to 46 images a minute in black. Reviewers note there is no setting to skip blank pages.
Anything to know about the fax line?
Plug the phone cord straight into the wall jack. Reviewers found that extension cords and splitters cause failed faxes.
Is it still sold, and for how much?
Walmart listed it at $819 but out of stock when we checked. HP's newer Color LaserJet Pro MFP 4301 models take HP 210 toner, not 414.
M479fdn quirks worth knowing
- HP ships the black starter cartridge at about 2,400 pages but the color starters at only about 1,200, so the colors run out first.
- It weighs about 51 pounds (23.4 kg). Plan on two people to move it.
- Fax memory holds up to 400 pages, with 120 speed dials.
- Owner ratings are split: 4.2 stars from 733 ratings at Walmart but 3.4 from 120 at CDW, where feeder and scanning complaints cluster.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to buy a drum for the M479fdn?
No. Every 414A and 414X cartridge includes its own drum.
Which is cheaper per page, 414A or 414X?
414X. It costs more up front, but it prints roughly three times as many pages, so cost per page drops.
Does compatible toner void the HP warranty?
No. Under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, HP can't refuse warranty service just because you used another brand of toner; it would have to show the toner caused the fault.
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 M479dw · 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.