Brother QL-series Dépliant

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QUICK START GUIDE

[

Getting Started]

www.brother.com

Printed in China

LB7065001  

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Thank you for purchasing the QL-500/550.
Your new QL-500/550 is a label printer that connects to your personal computer, enabling you to quickly and easily print professional custom labels that 
you have created on your personal computer using the label editing software provided.
This guide briefly describes the steps to start using your QL-500/550.
Refer to the User's Guide for more detailed information. The User's Guide can be found in the Manuals folder of the CD-ROM included with the QL-500/550.

Connect the AC power cord to the QL-500/550 and then plug the power supply cord 
into a standard electrical outlet.

• Check that the electrical outlet is 220 ~ 240 V before inserting the plug.
• Remove the power supply cord from the electrical outlet after you have finished using the QL-500/550.
• Do not pull the cord when removing it from the electrical outlet. The wire in the cord may become damaged.

Check that the package contains the following before using your QL-500/550. If any item is missing or 
damaged, please contact your Brother dealer.

Unpacking Your QL-500/550

The installation procedure differs depending on the operating system running on your personal computer. Refer to the 
installation procedure for the appropriate operating system to install the software.

Installing the Software

Connecting to the Power Supply

Your QL-500/550 comes with a paper guide that collects strips of printed 
labels that have not been cut off from the machine. 

Remove the paper guide when printing more than 10 labels continuously and cutting 
each label automatically (QL-550 only).

Installing the Paper Guide

Installing the DK Roll

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Start up the PC and put the CD-ROM into the CD-ROM 
drive.
The QL-series Installer starts up and the P-touch Setup screen 
is displayed.

•  It may take a short time to display the screen.

•  If it does not start up automatically, double click the “Setup.exe” 

icon on the CD-ROM.

•  It may take some time to display this screen.

•  If it is not set correctly, click [Back] and set it again.

The Add-In settings screen is displayed.

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Click [Next].
The installation of the driver is completed, the User Registration 
screen is displayed.

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Read the license agreement carefully. If you agree with the 
terms and conditions of the license agreement, click [Yes] 
to continue the installation.
The Customer Information screen is displayed.

Click [Next].
The Add shortcut screen is displayed.

To instaIl to a different folder click [Browse] and select another 
folder.

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FEED button

CUT button
(QL-550 only)

LED lamp

ON/OFF button

CUT lever
(QL-500 only)

DK Roll compartment cover

AC Power cord

USB port

·  Make sure that the 

spool arms are 
inserted firmly in the 
spool guides on the 
left and right.

·  Insert the spool with 

the DK Roll located 
on the right hand 
side of the QL- 
500/550.

When unable to thread the end of the DK Roll 
into the slot, thread it as far as possible, then 
lower the label lever and close 
the cover. Press the ON/OFF 
button to turn the QL-500/550 on, 
and then press the FEED 
button to set the roll.

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The QL-500/550 includes one starter 
roll of DK Die-cut Standard Address 
Labels (100 labels), 
and one starter roll of DK Continuous 
Durable Paper Tape 2-3/7" (25 feet).

Do not connect the QL-500/550 to your 
personal computer until directed to do so 
when installing the printer driver.

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•  Do not expose the QL-500/550 to direct sunlight.
•  Do not place or store the QL-500/550 near heaters or other hot appliances, in any location exposed to extremely high or low temperatures, high humidity or 

dusty locations. Doing so could cause the machine to malfunction.

•  Do not place any heavy objects containing water on top of the QL-500/550. If water or any foreign object enters the QL-500/550, immediately disconnect the 

machine from the power and contact your Brother dealer.

•  Do not insert any objects into or block the label output slot, or USB port.
•  Use only the authorized power source for the QL-500/550.
•  Do not disassemble the QL-500/550 or let it come into contact with water to avoid possible fire or electric shock. Do not remove the power cord from nor insert it 

into the electrical outlet with wet hands. Doing so could cause an electrical shock.

•  If the QL-500/550 will not be used for an extended period, remove the power cord from the electrical outlet.
•  Always hold the plug when removing the power cord from or inserting it into the outlet. Do not pull on the cord when removing it from the electrical socket.  

The wire in the cord may become damaged. 

•  You should position the QL-500/550 near an easily accessible, standard electrical socket.
•  Do not connect the QL-500/550 to your personal computer until directed to do so when installing the printer driver.
•  To prevent injury from a broken cutter blade and unit, follow these points:  Close the top cover when 

operating the cutter unit.

  Do not  apply excessive pressure to the cutter unit.
  When the cutter blade has difficulty cutting the label, replace the existing cutter unit with a new one.
  If the cutter blade should break off, unplug the power cord from the electrical outlet and remove the 

cutter unit carefully with tweezers so you do not touch the blade. 

•  If a paper jam should occur due to a build up of adhesive on the paper guide surface, unplug the 

power cord from the electrical outlet and wipe away the adhesive buildup on the paper guide surface 
with a cloth dipped in ethanol or isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol.  It is recommended that you clean the 
paper guide when replacing the cutter unit. 

•  The average number of cuts is 5,000 or more depending on the operating environment. Difficulty 

cutting, the inability to cut straight, or frequent paper jams may indicate that the cutter life is near the 
end.  Replace the cutter if these conditions occur. 

•  The last label on the DK roll is not attached to the core. 

As a consequence, the last label may not be cut correctly, however this does not indicate a problem with the QL-500/550 printer. 
Should there be a problem with the last label, remove any existing labels, insert another DK Roll and re-print.  
Each roll contains a few more labels than stated. 

Paper guide surface

Click “Standard 
Installation”.
The preparation for 
installing the software 
starts and the License 
Agreement screen is 
displayed.

Each button selects the 
following operations.

P-touch Editor 4.2, P-touch Address Book 1.0, Printer Driver, 
and User's Guide are all installed.

P-touch Editor 4.2, P-touch Address Book 1.0, Printer Driver, 
and User's Guide can be installed individually.

The Software User's Guide PDF manual can be viewed without 
actually installing the QL-500/550 software.

“Adobe

®

 Acrobat

®

 Reader

®

” can be installed so that you can 

view the Software User's Guide (PDF Manual).

Adobe

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 Acrobat

®

 Reader

®

 5.1 will be installed. If you have a 

later version already installed you do not have to install it.

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Click [Finish].
The software installation is 
now complete. Connect 
the printer to complete the 
driver installation.

When the installation is 
complete, you may be 
prompted to reboot the 
PC. To restart the PC, 
select “Restart” and click 
[Finish].

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Select if you want to register your printer and then [Next].
•  If you select “Yes, display the page”, you will be directed to 

the online user registration page. After user registration, 
continue with the installation (registration is recommended).

•  If you select “No, do not display the page”, the installation will 

continue.

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Starting up the installed software.
•  When starting P-touch Editor, click [Start] - [All Programs 

(Programs)] - [Brother Ptouch] - [P-touch Editor 4.2].

•  When starting P-touch Address Book, click [Start] - [All 

Programs (Programs)] - [Brother P-touch] - [P-touch Address 
Book 1.0].

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Make sure that you 
have closed all 
Microsoft

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 Office

®

 

applications.

For details on Add-In 
setting, See the 
“Software User's Guide 
(PDF Manual)”.

The Driver Setup (Brother P-touch) screen is displayed.

When using Mac OS

®

 X

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The Pre-Installation 
Summary screen is 
displayed.

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You can choose which 
programs are installed. 
Uncheck any programs that 
you do not want to install.

The Choose Alias Folder 
screen is displayed.

Check the content and click [Continue].
The License agreement screen is displayed.
When continuing the installation, click [Agree].
The Select a Destination screen is displayed.

The QL-Series screen is displayed.

If it does not start up automatically, double click the QL-Series (CD-ROM) 
icon.

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Click [Install].
The screen in which the name and password of the administrator is 
now displayed.
Input the “Name” and the “Password” of the administrator and 
click [OK].
The screen to check the installation is displayed.
When continuing the installation, click [Continue Installation].
The installation starts.

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Select the destination you 
want to install, and click 
[Continue].
The Easy Install screen is 
displayed.

Select the drive where the 
Mac OS

®

 X is installed.

When the installation is completed and the message “The 
software was successfully installed” is displayed, click [Restart].
Your Mac

®

 will restart.

The installation of the printer driver is now complete.

If you are using a USB hub and your Mac

®

 has problems recognizing the 

printer, try connecting the printer directly to your Mac

®

.

When the Printer List screen is displayed, click [Add].

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Remove the caution label before 
connecting the USB cable.

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Click  [USB], “QL-500” or 
“QL-550”, and [Add].
The screen returns to Printer 
List screen.

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Check that “QL-500” or “QL-550” is added, and close the Printer 
List screen.
You can start using your Brother QL-500/550.

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Check the content and click [Next].
The Important Information screen is displayed.

Click [Install].
The installation starts.
When the installation is complete, click [Done].
The software installation is now complete.
Next, install the printer driver.

Click [Continue].
The Important Information screen is displayed.

Click [Continue].
The Software License Agreement screen is displayed.

Click the [Mac OS X] folder and double click [P-touch Editor 3.2 
Installer].
P-touch Editor 3.2 Installer starts up and the Introduction 
screen is displayed.

Double click [QL-Series Driver.pkg] in [Mac OS X] folder.
The Driver Installer starts up and the Driver Setup 
screen is displayed.

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Enter your user name 
and company name, 
then click [Next].
The Choose the 
Destination Location 
screen is displayed.

Check the locations 
where you want the 
installer to add the 
program shortcuts and 
click [Next].
The Start Copying Files 
screen is displayed.

USB cable

USB port

Power cord slot

Power cord

USB cable

USB port

Power cord slot

Power cord