Which ink/toner does the HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M479fdw use?
The HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M479fdw (laser, 2019) uses W2020X, W2021X, W2023X, W2022X, W2020A, W2021A, W2023A, W2022A.
Third-party cartridge risk: Medium a firmware update can start blocking non-OEM cartridges, so check before buying a large supply, or hold off on firmware updates.
The Color LaserJet Pro MFP M479fdw is the full multifunction version of the M454, with print, copy, scan, fax and email on the same 414A toner platform.
The high yield cartridges are what make this machine cheap to feed. 414X black prints a page for 2.20c where 414A costs 3.75c, and the colour XLs come to 3.33c against 4.52c on the standard size. Buying the standard cartridges on a machine that scans, copies and prints all day throws away about 41 percent of the black page cost for no benefit.
HP's store page for the M479fdw carries the dynamic security notice: the printer is intended to work only with cartridges that have a new or reused HP chip, and periodic firmware updates will block cartridges that previously worked. The model is listed on our firmware lockout tracker.
On an MFP it is worth separating the two jobs. Buy genuine or remanufactured 414X for the black cartridge that does most of the work, and take the risk on colours if you print few of them. That keeps the machine printing through an update while limiting what you spend on colours that may sit in the printer for a year before they empty.
Compatible cartridges
| Cartridge | Color | Yield | Pages | OEM price | Cost/page | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W2020X | black | XL | 7500 | $165.00 | 2.2¢ | OEM · AmazonCompatible |
| W2021X | cyan | XL | 6000 | $200.00 | 3.3¢ | OEM · AmazonCompatible |
| W2023X | magenta | XL | 6000 | $200.00 | 3.3¢ | OEM · AmazonCompatible |
| W2022X | yellow | XL | 6000 | $200.00 | 3.3¢ | OEM · AmazonCompatible |
| W2020A | black | standard | 2400 | $90.00 | 3.8¢ | OEM · AmazonCompatible |
| W2021A | cyan | standard | 2100 | $95.00 | 4.5¢ | OEM · AmazonCompatible |
| W2023A | magenta | standard | 2100 | $95.00 | 4.5¢ | OEM · AmazonCompatible |
| W2022A | yellow | standard | 2100 | $95.00 | 4.5¢ | OEM · AmazonCompatible |
XL (high-yield) cartridges cost more upfront but lower the cost per page, which is better if you print a lot.
The HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M479fdw is on our firmware-lockout list, so a compatible or remanufactured cartridge can stop working after a printer update. The safe choice is genuine HP toner. If you want to try a compatible to save money, buy only from a seller that guarantees it works with this printer's current firmware, and keep the receipt.
Frequently asked questions
Which toner does the HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M479fdw use?
The HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M479fdw uses W2020A, W2020X, W2021A, W2021X, W2022A, W2022X, W2023A and W2023X.
Does the HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M479fdw take XL cartridges?
Yes. Besides the standard cartridges it accepts W2020X, W2021X, W2022X and W2023X. A high-yield XL holds more toner and costs less per page, which is worth it if you print often.
Will third-party toner work in the HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M479fdw, or will firmware block it?
HP publishes its dynamic security notice for this model on HP's own store page for the M479fdw: it is intended to work only with cartridges carrying a new or reused HP chip, and firmware updates can block compatible W2020A/W2020X/W2021A/W2021X/W2022A/W2022X/W2023A/W2023X toner that worked before. Checked 1 September 2026.
How many pages do the HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M479fdw cartridges print?
Rated yields run from about 2100 pages (W2023A) to about 7500 pages (W2020X), depending on the cartridge. Real-world yield depends on how much you print and how much toner each page uses.
What is the cheapest toner for the HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M479fdw?
By list price the lowest cost per page here is the W2020X at about 2.2 cents per page. A reliable compatible or remanufactured cartridge can lower that further.
Related HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP printers
- HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M277dw
- HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M281fdw ⚠ DRM
- HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M283fdw ⚠ DRM
- HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdw
Guides for HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M479fdw owners
- HP LaserJet toner compatibility chart: which printer takes which CE, CF or W number
- Drum unit vs toner: when to replace one, and what it really costs
- Why did my printer stop accepting compatible ink after a firmware update?
- Setup cartridges: why a new printer runs out of ink so fast, and what the first refill costs
- How to disable HP Dynamic Security and decline the firmware update safely
Last reviewed . Compiled by MyCartridgeFinder from manufacturer cartridge finders and retailer cross reference tables, then checked against this printer's database record. Cartridge numbers and yields come from that record, never from guesswork. See our methodology and data sources.