DYMO LabelWriter 550 Series Label Printer with Dymo-Branded Label Compatibility Automatic Recognition Low Waste Optimized Direct Thermal Printing and Plastic-Free Packaging

I previously had a Dymo label writer that finally conked out, so I decided to upgrade to the Dymo LabelWriter 550. Before purchasing, I saw a lot of negative reviews about the software being difficult to install and the setup process being frustrating. Honestly, I was a bit concerned. That said, I’m generally not great at setting up devices, yet I found this to be an absolute breeze. I followed the instructions, making sure to install the software completely before connecting the printer, as emphasized in the manual. Perhaps this is where others ran into issues, but for me, the setup was simple and straightforward. The printer itself works perfectly—clean, sharp labels every time. Some may find it frustrating that it requires Dymo-branded labels, but I don’t see that as a major downside. I bought a pack of 700 labels for $21, which will likely last me a lifetime. Overall, I highly recommend the Dymo LabelWriter 550. If you follow the setup instructions carefully, you should have no problems, and you’ll end up with a fantastic label printer that works seamlessly.

**Great hardware let down badly by terrible software** I’ve used several DYMO label printers over the years and recently purchased the LabelWriter 550 expecting a solid upgrade. Unfortunately, while the hardware itself prints labels cleanly and reliably, the **DYMO software is shockingly poor** and turns what should be a simple task into a frustrating experience. The biggest issue is **data management**. Importing CSV files is far more difficult than it should be. Field mapping is clunky, inconsistent, and prone to errors, making bulk label printing unnecessarily time-consuming. Managing the built-in **Contacts list** is equally painful—basic operations like editing, sorting, or organizing contacts feel unintuitive and outdated. Setting up **mailing label layouts** is another headache. Simple formatting tasks require far too many steps, and it’s never clear why the software behaves the way it does. The user interface feels like it hasn’t been meaningfully updated in years and lacks any logical workflow. Nothing is where you expect it to be. One especially frustrating problem is the **label count reporting**. The software frequently reports the wrong number of labels remaining on a roll, which defeats the entire purpose of having that feature at all. You can’t rely on it, so you end up manually checking anyway. To make matters worse, **documentation is minimal and unhelpful**. When you run into problems, there’s little guidance on how the software is actually intended to be used, leaving you to figure things out through trial and error or online forums. Bottom line: The LabelWriter 550 itself is capable hardware, but the software feels unfinished, unintuitive, and poorly supported. If you only print occasional single labels, it might be tolerable. If you rely on mailing lists, CSV imports, or frequent label runs, be prepared for a lot of frustration. DYMO really needs to invest in fixing their software—because right now, it’s the weak link that drags this product down.

This is our 2nd DYMO LabelWriter! Not because of issues, but for convenience. Ordered our first one 3 years ago and it's still running strong.

Performance is great but instructions on use are terrible. I have had 3 previous models and they were much easier to use.

This item has a lot of one-star reviews. I understand those feelings. I concur that the software is not easy. Getting it out of the box and set up went smoothly. Printing my first label is a different story. The label 'word processor' is a lot like being DEEP in the Tables or Insert Photo areas of MS Word. There are no instructions or helpful dialogue boxes to guide you. Help is available by going to a Dymo web page and hunting and pecking until you find a PDF file that is 120 pages. I chose to use trial and error. It took me about 30 minutes to get the gist of the switches and controls. Once I 'saw' how the Dymo software writer school of thought works, it was straightforward. On the plus side, the label creation screen is bright, clear and uncluttered. My larger problem occurred on the second day. The printer would not connect even though it worked fine on day one. It took me at least two hours to investigate my Device Manager and to go DEEP into my Printer Settings. I eventually found a helpful document on a Dymo help page that guided me through the process. The printer settings place I worked from had the same format as the Device Manger (small window with tabs and long lists of files). My PC/Win11 has a function to save power by turning off excess USB ports. That function had to be turned off. If you are not comfortable with quasi-IT work in windows, you will need some help from a human. Barring any other problems, the labels are very nice, and you can adjust them in any way you can imagine... font styles, font size, orientation, justification of the text box and justification of the text in the text box and probably more that I don't know about yet. 02.12.2025 Update - I was unable to get the printer to function after success on day two. I spent three sessions at the PC (a couple hours or more each time) attempting to trouble shoot on my own and by using advice from search attempts. I played with Device Manager (printer and USB) to fix/find the problem; and a variety of Windows Settings / Troubleshooting. I called the Dymo help line three times and was put on hold for fifteen minutes each time. I ended the call each time. I downgraded my rating from four stars to one star. I dropped the return at UPS about ninety minutes ago. I like the labels that I made on the first day. I really wanted this to work.

Regret to buy the American LabelWriter 550 as I need to change Windows region for US and reopen the DYMO Connect software.

J'adore ce produit! Facile et rapide à utiliser. Excellent dépanneur pour obtenir des étiquettes. Toutefois, elle détecte la qualité des étiquettes que nous insérons. Elle n'accepte d'imprimer seulement les rouleaux DYMO. Pas de générique...

Great product in use straight away for address labels.

Disappointed that Dymo has put an RFID chip in their labels and the 550 which effectively makes it impossible to use with generic labels - or if the RFID chip is not detected. This is corporate greed and adds necessary complexity. When it works - it works well and quickly produces high quality prints; but the RFID on the paper is a step too far. Will be seeking out alternatives from other companies.

NO SIRVE Y NADIE DA RESPUESTA DINERO PERDIDO NO LA COMPREN! TODO EL TIEMPO APARECIO UN ERROR Y NADIE PUDO SOLUCIONARLO.