zebra-logo

  • Solutions
  • Hardware
  • Software
  • Services
  • Support and Downloads
  • About Zebra
  1. ZD620 and ZD420 Desktop Printers User Guide
  2. Print Operations
  • ZD620 and ZD420 Desktop Printers User Guide
  • ZD620 and ZD420 Desktop Printers User Guide
  • About this Guide
    • Other Valuable Printer Resources
    • Zebra OneCare Printer Service and Support
    • Notational Conventions
    • Icon Conventions
  • Introduction
    • Link-OS 4 inch Desktop Thermal Printers
      • Common Desktop Printer Features
      • Link-OS 4 inch Desktop Printer Options
    • What You Will Need to Print
    • Modes of Printing
    • Unpacking and Inspecting the Printer
      • What’s in the Box?
      • Opening Your Printer
      • Closing Your Printer
  • Printer Features
    • Inside the ZD620 Dual Capacity Ribbon Roll Printer
    • Inside the ZD620 and ZD420 Direct Thermal Printers
    • Inside the ZD420 Ribbon Cartridge Printer
      • Accessing the Printhead of the Ribbon Cartridge Printer
    • Label Dispenser Option (field installable) – All Models
    • Cutter Option (field installable) – All Models
    • Linerless Media Tear-Off Option – Direct Thermal Models Only
    • Linerless Cutter Option (Direct Thermal Models Only)
    • Identifying Platen Drive Rollers Types
    • Printer Power Supply Options
      • Attached Power Supply Base
      • Attached Battery Base and Battery
    • ZD620 Locking Printer Features
    • Zebra Print Touch for Near-Field Communication (NFC)
  • Install Hardware Options
    • Field-Installable Printer Accessories and Options
    • Printer Connectivity Modules
      • Accessing the Connectivity Module Slot
      • Installing the Serial Port Module
      • Installing the Internal Ethernet (LAN) Module
      • Removing the Printer Connectivity Modules
    • Media Handling Options
      • Removing the Standard Bezel
      • Installing the Label Dispenser
      • Installing the Standard Media Cutter
      • Installing the Linerless Media Cutter
      • Installing the Linerless Media Tear-Off Bezel
      • Media Roll Core Size Adapters
        • Installing Media Roll Adapters
      • Print Resolution Upgrade Kits
        • Installing the Printhead Resolution Upgrade Kits
    • Power Base Options
      • Installing the Attached Power Supply Base Options
      • Installing the Attached Battery Base Options
      • Installing the Battery into the Attached Power Base
  • Controls and Indicators
    • User Interface
      • Standard Interface Controls
      • LCD User Interface
    • Meaning of the Indicator Light Patterns
      • Status – Typical Operating Conditions
      • Status – Printhead Operation
      • Status – Bluetooth Low Energy Option
      • Status – Ethernet (LAN) Option
      • Status – Wi-Fi (WLAN) Option
    • Display Controls and Menus
      • Navigating the Menu Display Screens
        • Idle Display (Default Start-up Screen)
        • Home Menu
    • Battery Indicators and Controls
  • Printer Configuration Menus
    • Adjust Printer Settings
    • User Menus
    • Settings Menu
    • Tools Menu
    • Network Menu
    • Battery Menu
    • Language Menu
    • Sensors Menu
    • Ports Menu
    • Bluetooth Menu
  • Setup
    • Printer Setup Overview
    • Select a Location for the Printer
    • Install Printer Options and Connectivity Modules
    • Attaching the Printer to Power
    • Getting Ready to Print
      • Preparing and Handling Media
      • Media Storage Guidelines
    • Loading Roll Media
      • Setting Media Sensing by Media type
      • Loading Media
    • Movable Sensor
      • Adjusting the Movable Sensor for Black Marks or Notches
      • Adjusting the Movable Sensor for Web (Gap) Sensing
    • Loading Roll Media for Cutter Models
    • Loading Thermal Transfer Roll Ribbon
      • Loading Zebra Transfer Roll Ribbon
      • Loading Non-Zebra 300-Meter Transfer Ribbon
    • Loading the ZD420 Ribbon Cartridge
    • Running a SmartCal Media Calibration
    • Test Printing with the Configuration Report
    • Detecting a Media-Out Condition
      • Recovering from a Media-Out Condition
    • Detecting a Ribbon-Out Condition
      • Recovering from a Ribbon-Out Condition
    • Connecting Your Printer to a Computer
      • Interface Cable Requirements
      • USB Interface
      • Serial Interface
      • Ethernet (LAN, RJ-45)
        • Assigning an IP Address for Network Access
        • DHCP for Personal Networks
        • Using Your Printer on a Managed Network
        • Print Server User ID and Password Defaults
      • Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Classic Wireless Connectivity Option
    • Update Printer Firmware to Finish Option Installations
    • What To Do If You Forget to Install the Printer Drivers First
  • Setup for Windows
    • Windows-to-Printer Communication Setup (Process Overview)
    • Installing the Windows Printer Drivers
    • Running the Printer Installation Wizard
    • Setting Up the Wi-Fi Print Server Option
    • Configuring the Printer Using ZebraNet Bridge’s Connectivity Wizard
      • Sending a ZPL Configuration Script to the Printer
    • Configuring the Printer Using Bluetooth
      • Connecting the Printer to a Windows 10 OS
    • After Your Printer is Connected
      • Test Printing with Zebra Setup Utilities
      • Test-Printing with the Windows Printer and Faxes Menu
      • Test-Printing with an Ethernet Printer Connected to a Network
      • Test-Printing with a Copied ZPL Command File for Non-Windows Operating Systems
  • Print Operations
    • Thermal Printing
    • Determining Your Printer’s Configuration Settings
    • Selecting a Print Mode
    • Adjusting the Print Quality
    • Darkness Control Switch
    • Adjusting Print Width
    • Printing on Fanfold Media
    • Printing with Externally-Mounted Roll Media
    • Replacing Supplies while Using the Printer
    • Using the Label Dispenser Option
    • Using the Linerless Options
      • Linerless Printing
    • Sending Files to the Printer
    • Ribbon Cartridge Programming Commands
    • Printing with the Attached Battery Base and Battery Option
      • Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) Mode
      • Battery Mode
    • Printer Fonts
      • Identifying Fonts in Your Printer
      • Localizing the Printer with Code Pages
      • Asian Fonts and Other Large Font Sets
    • EPL Line Mode (Direct Thermal Printers only)
    • ZD620 and ZD420 Locking Printer Option
    • Zebra Keyboard Display Unit (ZKDU) – Printer Accessory
    • Zebra Basic Interpreter (ZBI)
    • Setting the Power Failure Recovery Mode Jumper
  • USB Host Port and Link-OS Usage Examples
    • USB Host
    • Using a USB Host for Firmware Updates
    • Items Required to Complete the USB Exercises
    • Files for Completing the Exercises
    • Exercise 1: Copying Files to a USB Flash Drive and Performing USB Mirror
    • Exercise 2: Print a Label Format from a USB Flash Drive
    • Exercise 3: Copy Files to/from a USB Flash Drive
    • Exercise 4: Enter Data for a Stored File with a USB Keyboard and Print a Label
    • Using the USB Host Port and Near Field Communication (NFC) Capabilities
      • Exercise 5: Enter Data for a Stored File with a Smart Device and Print a Label
  • Maintenance
    • Cleaning
      • Cleaning Supplies
      • Recommended Cleaning Schedule
      • Cleaning the Printhead
        • Cleaning the Printhead – ZD620 / ZD420 Direct Thermal Printers
        • Cleaning the Printhead – ZD620 / ZD420 Thermal Transfer Printers
        • Cleaning the Printhead – ZD420 Ribbon Cartridge Printers
      • Cleaning the Media Path
        • Cleaning the Media Path - Lower Half of All ZD620 / ZD420 Printers
        • Cleaning the Media Path – Upper Half of ZD620 / ZD420 Direct Thermal Printers
        • Cleaning the Media Path – Upper Half of ZD620 / ZD420 Thermal Transfer Printers
        • Cleaning the Media Path – Upper Half of ZD420 Thermal Transfer Ribbon Cartridge Printers
      • Cleaning the Cutter Option
      • Cleaning the Label Dispenser Option
      • Cleaning the Sensor
        • Cleaning the Sensor – Lower Half of the ZD620/ZD420 Printers
        • Cleaning the Sensor – Upper Half of ZD620/ZD420 Direct Thermal Printers
        • Cleaning the Sensor – Upper Half of the ZD620/ZD420 Thermal Transfer Printers
        • Cleaning the Sensor – Upper Half of the ZD420 Ribbon Cartridge Printers
      • Cleaning and Replacing the Platen
      • Replacing the Printhead
        • Replacing the Printhead – ZD620 and ZD420 Direct Thermal Printer Models
        • Replacing the Printhead – ZD620 and ZD420 Thermal Transfer Ribbon Roll Printer Models
        • Replacing the Printhead – ZD420 Thermal Transfer Ribbon Cartridge Printer Models
    • Updating Printer Firmware
    • Other Printer Maintenance
    • Fuses
  • Troubleshooting
    • Resolve Alerts and Errors
    • Resolve Print Issues
    • Resolve Communication Issues
    • Resolve Miscellaneous Issues
  • Tools
    • General Printer Diagnostics
      • Power-On Self Test
      • Running a SmartCal Media Calibration
      • Printing the Printer and Network Configuration Reports (CANCEL Self Test)
      • Printer Network (and Bluetooth) Configuration Report
      • Printing a Print Quality Report (FEED Self-Test)
        • Printing a Print Quality Report
      • Resetting Non-Network Printer Configuration Settings to their Factory Defaults
      • Resetting the Printer's Network Settings to Their Factory Defaults
      • RESET Button Functions
      • Performing a Communication Diagnostics Test
      • Sensor Profile
    • Activating Advanced Mode
      • Manually Calibrating Media
      • Manual Print Width Adjustment
      • Manual Print Darkness Adjustment
      • Factory Test Modes
  • Interface Connector Wiring
    • Universal Serial Bus (USB) Interface
    • Serial Port Interface
  • Dimensions
    • ZD620 / ZD420 Dimensions – Thermal Transfer Models
    • ZD420 Dimensions – Ribbon Cartridge Thermal Transfer Models
    • ZD620 / ZD420 Dimensions – Direct Thermal Models
  • Media
    • Types of Thermal Media
      • Determining Thermal Media Types
    • Various Types of Roll and Fanfold Media
    • General Media and Print Specifications
  • ZPL Configuration
    • Managing the ZPL Printer Configuration
      • ZPL Printer Configuration Format
    • Configuration Setting to Command Cross-reference
    • Printer Memory Management and Related Status Reports
      • ZPL Programming for Memory Management
  • Glossary
    • alphanumeric
    • backfeed
    • barcode
    • black mark media
    • calibration (of a printer)
    • collection method
    • configuration
    • continuous media
    • core diameter
    • diagnostics
    • die-cut media
    • direct thermal
    • direct thermal media
    • fanfold media
    • firmware
    • FLASH memory
    • font
    • gap/notch media
    • ips (inches-per-second)
    • label
    • label backing (liner)
    • label type
    • void
    • LCD (liquid crystal display)
    • LED (light emitting diode)
    • linerless media
    • mark media
    • media
    • media sensor
    • media supply hangar
    • non-continuous media
    • non-volatile memory
    • notched media
    • peel-off mode
    • perforated media
    • print speed
    • print type
    • printhead wear
    • Radio frequency identification (RFID) "smart" media
    • receipt
    • registration
    • ribbon
    • ribbon wrinkle
    • roll media
    • supplies
    • symbology
    • tag stock
    • tear-off mode
    • thermal transfer
Print Operations

Print Operations

This section provides general information on media and print handling, font and language support, and the setup of less common printer configurations.
Thermal Printing
Determining Your Printer’s Configuration Settings
Selecting a Print Mode
Adjusting the Print Quality
Darkness Control Switch
Adjusting Print Width
Printing on Fanfold Media
Printing with Externally-Mounted Roll Media
Replacing Supplies while Using the Printer
Using the Label Dispenser Option
Using the Linerless Options
Sending Files to the Printer
Ribbon Cartridge Programming Commands
Printing with the Attached Battery Base and Battery Option
Printer Fonts
EPL Line Mode (Direct Thermal Printers only)
ZD620 and ZD420 Locking Printer Option
Zebra Keyboard Display Unit (ZKDU) – Printer Accessory
Zebra Basic Interpreter (ZBI)
Setting the Power Failure Recovery Mode Jumper

Legal | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

ZEBRA and the stylized Zebra head are trademarks of Zebra Technologies Corp., registered in many jurisdictions worldwide. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2025 Zebra Technologies Corp. and/or its affiliates.