Why does my Dymo LabelWriter print slowly after a Windows or Mac update

Applies to
Dymo LabelWriter 450 series, Dymo LabelWriter 550 series, Dymo LabelWriter 4XL, Dymo LabelWriter 5XL, Windows 10, Windows 11, macOS, Dymo Connect, and Dymo Label Software

Last updated
May 2026

Problem

Your Dymo LabelWriter printed normally before, but after a Windows or Mac update it now prints slowly, pauses before each label, takes a long time to appear in Dymo Connect, or delays between labels in a batch.

The printer may still work, but the delay makes everyday label printing frustrating. This can happen after operating system updates because printer drivers, USB handling, security permissions, print queues, or Dymo software components may behave differently after the update.

Solution

To fix a Dymo LabelWriter that prints slowly after a Windows or Mac update, restart the computer, clear the print queue, reconnect the printer directly by USB, update or reinstall Dymo Connect, remove duplicate printer entries, check label size settings, and test with a simple label.

In most cases, slow printing after an update is not caused by the printer hardware. It is usually linked to the computer processing the print job, a damaged driver entry, a stuck queue, or Dymo Connect not communicating cleanly with the LabelWriter.

Step by step instructions

Check whether the printer is slow or the software is slow

Start by identifying where the delay happens. This helps you avoid changing the wrong settings.

The issue may be with the printer itself, Dymo Connect, the operating system print queue, or the application sending the label.

Look for the pattern:

• Dymo Connect takes a long time to open.
• The printer takes a long time to appear in Dymo Connect.
• The print job sits in the queue before printing.
• The first label prints slowly but the rest print normally.
• Every label pauses before printing.
• Printing is only slow from a browser or shipping platform.
• Printing is slow only after sleep or restart.

If the delay happens before the printer starts moving, the issue is likely software, driver, queue, or operating system related. If the printer feeds labels slowly once printing starts, check the label roll, feed path, and printer condition as well.

Restart the computer after the update

After a Windows or macOS update, the computer may need a full restart before printer services behave normally.

Close Dymo Connect, save any open work, and restart the computer. Leave the Dymo LabelWriter connected and powered on during the restart if it is already connected directly by USB.

After the computer restarts:

• Wait for the desktop to fully load.
• Open Dymo Connect.
• Select the correct LabelWriter.
• Create a simple test label.
• Print one label.

If printing returns to normal after a restart, the update may simply have left printer services in an unfinished or unstable state.

Clear the print queue

A stuck or delayed print job can slow down every label that follows it.

On Windows, open Settings, then Bluetooth and devices, then Printers and scanners. Select the Dymo LabelWriter and open the print queue. Cancel any paused, failed, or old jobs.

On macOS, open System Settings, then Printers and Scanners. Select the Dymo LabelWriter and open the queue. Remove any failed, waiting, or paused jobs.

After clearing the queue:

• Close the queue window.
• Close Dymo Connect.
• Reopen Dymo Connect.
• Print a new test label.

Do not retry an old failed job. Send a fresh test label instead.

Connect the printer directly by USB

After an operating system update, USB hubs, docking stations, monitor ports, and adapters may behave differently.

If the Dymo LabelWriter is connected through a dock or hub, connect it directly to the computer for testing.

Check the connection:

• Use a built-in USB port where possible.
• Avoid unpowered USB hubs.
• Avoid monitor USB ports.
• Try another USB port if printing remains slow.
• Try another USB cable if the printer appears and disappears.
• Restart Dymo Connect after changing the port.

If printing becomes faster when connected directly, the update may have affected the dock, USB adapter, or hub connection rather than the printer.

Restart Dymo Connect

Dymo Connect may be slow because it has not refreshed the printer connection properly after the operating system update.

Close Dymo Connect fully, then reopen it. On Mac, quit the app rather than just closing the window. On Windows, make sure the app is not still sitting in the background.

After reopening:

• Check that the correct printer is selected.
• Check that the label roll or label size is recognised.
• Open a simple label.
• Print one label only.

If Dymo Connect is still slow, continue with software update and reinstall steps.

Update Dymo Connect

A Windows or macOS update can expose compatibility issues with older printer software.

Go to the official Dymo support page at https://www.dymo.com/support?cfid=user-guide and check for the latest Dymo Connect version for your operating system.

Before installing the latest version, close Dymo Connect and disconnect the printer USB cable if the installer recommends it.

After updating:

• Restart the computer.
• Reconnect the LabelWriter directly by USB.
• Open Dymo Connect.
• Print a simple test label.
• Test a batch of two or three labels.

If the newer version prints normally, the old software was likely struggling after the operating system update.

Remove duplicate printer entries

After an update, Windows or macOS may keep old printer entries, create a new entry, or switch Dymo Connect to the wrong one.

Duplicate printers can cause delays because the software may be checking an unavailable or stale printer before finding the correct one.

On Windows:

• Open Settings.
• Go to Bluetooth and devices.
• Open Printers and scanners.
• Remove old or duplicated Dymo LabelWriter entries.
• Keep only the correct active printer.

On macOS:

• Open System Settings.
• Go to Printers and Scanners.
• Remove old Dymo entries that are no longer used.
• Re-add the active printer if needed.

After removing duplicates, restart the computer and test again.

Check the selected label size

Slow printing can sometimes be caused by a mismatch between the selected label size and the physical roll.

If the software is trying to process the wrong label template, or if a saved design no longer matches the loaded label roll, printing may pause, misalign, or behave unpredictably.

Check the following:

• The label size in Dymo Connect matches the physical roll.
• The correct printer model is selected.
• The label preview looks normal.
• The design fits inside the printable area.
• The orientation is correct.
• The print quantity is correct.

Create a new plain text label using the correct template to rule out a problem with an old saved design.

Test with a simple label

Saved templates, barcodes, logos, imported address lists, and shipping labels can take longer to process than basic text labels.

After an operating system update, a complex template may expose a problem that was not obvious before.

Create a clean test:

• Open a new blank label.
• Select the correct label size.
• Add a single text box.
• Type Test Label.
• Print one label.
• Then print three labels as a small batch.

If the simple test prints quickly, the printer is working. The delay may be caused by the original template, imported data, barcode object, image file, or third-party software.

Check printing from third-party software

If Dymo Connect prints normally but labels are slow from a browser, postage platform, marketplace, or another application, the problem is probably not the printer itself.

After a Windows or Mac update, browser permissions, print dialogs, saved printer preferences, or page size settings may have changed.

Check the third-party application for:

• Correct printer selection.
• Correct label size.
• Correct page size.
• Correct orientation.
• No old printer entry selected.
• No browser print scaling issue.
• No large batch accidentally queued.

Print one label from the third-party application after confirming the settings.

Check Windows printer preferences

Windows updates can sometimes reset printer preferences.

Open Settings, then Bluetooth and devices, then Printers and scanners. Select the Dymo LabelWriter and check its printing preferences if available.

Look for anything that seems wrong, such as incorrect paper size, paused status, offline status, or old printer queue settings.

Then open Dymo Connect and print a fresh test label.

Check macOS printer settings

On macOS, remove and re-add the printer if slow printing started immediately after a system update.

Open System Settings, then Printers and Scanners. Select the Dymo LabelWriter, remove it, restart the Mac, reconnect the printer directly by USB, and add it again if required.

Then open Dymo Connect and test with a simple label.

This can refresh the printer connection and clear settings that did not migrate cleanly after the update.

Check security or permission prompts on macOS

macOS updates can introduce new permission prompts or block background components until approved.

Open System Settings, then Privacy and Security. Look for any message asking you to allow Dymo software, printer software, or related components.

If you see a prompt, allow it, restart the Mac, and test printing again.

If Dymo Connect is delayed because macOS is blocking part of the software, this can improve detection and printing speed.

Reinstall the Dymo software

If updating does not help, perform a clean reinstall.

Download the latest Dymo software from https://www.dymo.com/support?cfid=user-guide

Before reinstalling:

• Remove old Dymo printer entries.
• Disconnect the LabelWriter USB cable.
• Uninstall old Dymo software if appropriate.
• Restart the computer.
• Install the latest Dymo software.
• Restart again if prompted.
• Reconnect the printer directly by USB.
• Print a basic test label.

A clean reinstall can fix damaged driver components, stale printer entries, and compatibility issues introduced after the operating system update.

Check the label roll and feed path

If the printer starts printing quickly but physically feeds slowly, check the label roll and feed path.

A damaged roll, sticky residue, or dirty rollers can make printing appear slow even when the software is working normally.

Inspect the printer for:

• Labels feeding at an angle.
• Labels rubbing against the printer body.
• Torn label pieces inside the feed path.
• Adhesive residue on rollers.
• Squashed or curled label rolls.
• Labels that stop and start during feeding.

Reload the roll and clean the feed path if needed.

Optional methods or tools

• Use Windows Printers and scanners to clear the queue and remove duplicate printer entries.
• Use macOS Printers and Scanners to remove and re-add the LabelWriter.
• Use Dymo Connect to test a simple plain text label before using complex templates.
• Try a direct USB connection instead of a dock, monitor, or hub.
• Try another USB cable if the printer disconnects or pauses.
• Check macOS Privacy and Security settings after a major update.
• Download the latest Dymo software from https://www.dymo.com/support?cfid=user-guide
• Test printing from Dymo Connect before testing browsers, shipping platforms, or third-party tools.

Best practices or tips

• Restart the computer after major Windows or macOS updates.
• Keep Dymo Connect updated to the latest suitable version.
• Remove old printer entries after driver changes or reinstalls.
• Test with a simple label before troubleshooting complex templates.
• Use a direct USB connection when diagnosing slow printing.
• Avoid letting the computer sleep during large batch print jobs.
• Check label size and orientation after updates.
• Keep the printer feed path clean so mechanical feeding is not mistaken for software delay.

A Dymo LabelWriter printing slowly after a Windows or Mac update is usually affected by software, driver, USB, or print queue changes rather than a sudden printer fault. Updates can alter how the computer communicates with USB printers, how print queues behave, or how Dymo Connect interacts with the operating system.

The most reliable fix is to simplify the setup, test directly from Dymo Connect, clear the queue, remove old printer entries, and update or reinstall the Dymo software. Once a simple label prints quickly, you can return to address lists, barcode labels, postage labels, shipping platforms, and saved templates with more confidence.