This article covers:
- Setting up an Epson TM-m30III (recommended), TM-m30II, TM-m30II-NT, or TM-T88V receipt printer with a Wi-Fi connection.
- Setting up a Star TSP100III receipt printer with a Wi-Fi connection.
Printers connected via Wi-Fi can be shared between multiple POS devices.
Some receipt printers can also be set up using a LAN cable, USB cable, or Bluetooth connection.
What you’ll need
Wi-Fi-enabled receipt printer
Star printers are not compatible with setups using Windows IoT Enterprise.
Epson TM-m30III
Windows
Mac
iPad
Epson TM-m30II / TM-m30II-NT
Windows
Mac
iPad
Epson TM-T88V
Windows
Mac
iPad
Star TSP100III
Windows
iPad
Printer accessories
Power cable
Star printer models may not require an AC adapter.
Paper roll (80mm)
- Test roll included
- Full rolls sold separately
This article’s steps are primarily based on the Lightspeed-supported Epson TM-m30III receipt printer. Steps may differ for other compatible printers.
Setting up your Wi-Fi receipt printer
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Pop off the back and bottom panels of your printer.
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Connect the power cable to the power adapter, then plug the cable head into a wall outlet.
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Plug the other end of the power adapter into the port on the back of the printer. Don’t connect any other cables.
- Reattach the printer panels, starting with the bottom panel.
- Turn on your printer. The first LED light (circle icon) and other lights will blink. The Wi-Fi light will blink and then turn solid when your printer is ready.
Inserting a paper roll
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Lift the cover release (located next to the printer lights).
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Insert the paper roll so the paper feeds from under the roll and drapes over the top of the paper feed slot. While inserting, make sure the paper roll stays taut and doesn’t unroll.
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Before closing the cover, pull the paper out past the cutter at the front of the printer. Press the cover into place to snap it shut.
If the exclamation mark light turns on (orange), the cover is still open. If the paper roll light turns on (orange), the paper roll is missing or may need to be adjusted.
Printing the receipt printer’s status sheet
After setting up your receipt printer and loading a paper roll, print a status sheet to get your printer’s IP address information. Keep this printout nearby to reference during the connection process.
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Printing the Epson TM-m30III’s status sheet
- Lift the cover release (located next to the printer lights) to open the cover.
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Hold the feed button down until the paper roll light (orange) starts blinking.
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Pull the paper past the paper cutter and close the cover. A Next Action printout will print.
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Select the SimpleAP action by quickly pressing the feed button five times, then holding for one second until the printer starts printing.
The printout will contain your printer’s IP address and other information. Keep this printout nearby to reference during the connection process.
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Printing a status sheet for other printers
Steps may vary by printer model. Refer to your printer’s manual for details.
- Turn the printer off.
- Hold the feed button down and turn the power back on at the same time.
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Release the feed button once the printer starts printing.
This will print out two test receipts. The second receipt will include the IP address at the bottom.
If the IP address on the receipt says “NONE” or “0.0.0.0”, the printer isn’t connected to your local network. Check your cord connections and network strength, then retry the steps above.
Connecting your receipt printer to Wi-Fi
Make sure your printer is turned on and you’re following networking best practices before attempting to connect the printer to Wi-Fi.
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Connecting your Epson TM-m30III to Wi-Fi
- On your mobile device (smartphone or iPad), navigate to your app store and download the Epson TM Utility app.
- Use your mobile device’s camera to scan the QR code on the SimpleAP Start sheet. Accept any security warnings, if applicable.
- If you’re prompted to enter a password, enter the last 10 digits of the SSID number on the SimpleAP Start sheet.
- The receipt printer will print a WebConfig Start sheet with a second QR code.
- Scan the new QR code with your mobile device’s camera to open WebConfig.
- In the WebConfig window, select Wi-Fi.
- Enter the same password (the last 10 digits of the SSID number), then click OK to log in.
- Select your Wi-Fi network and click OK.
- Enter your Wi-Fi network password.
- The printer’s Wi-Fi light will turn on to indicate that it’s connected to your network.
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Connecting other printers to Wi-Fi
If your wireless router has a WPS button (like the Star TSP100IIIW), you may be able to quickly connect your printer to Wi-Fi:
- Press and hold the red Pair button on the back of your printer until the blue light on the front of the printer starts blinking.
- Within 30 seconds, press the WPS button on your router to link it to your printer.
- The printer’s ready light will turn solid, and the Network Configuration sheet will print automatically.
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On the Network Configuration sheet, the printer’s IP address will be listed under Current IP Parameters Status.
If the IP address on the receipt says “NONE” or “0.0.0.0”, the printer isn’t connected to the internet, and you’ll need to repeat the previous steps.
If your wireless router doesn’t support WPS, you can connect the printer manually via AP network mode.
Some Star printer models may require additional setup via Web configuration.
Downloading required printer drivers for Windows and Mac
Drivers are specialized software that help the printer run correctly on your computer.
Printer drivers aren’t required for iPad setups.
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Find your printer’s model name. This should be located on the box and behind the printer panels.
- On the printer brand’s website, search for your printer’s model, then click its name.
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Find the recommended driver package for your operating system, then click Proceed to download or Download.
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Check the box to agree to the terms and conditions of the software license agreement, then click Download.
- In your Downloads folder, right-click on the downloaded file > Extract all > open the
.exefile (Windows), or double-click the downloaded file > open the.pkgfile (Mac) to run the installation wizard. - Follow the installation guide instructions to install the driver. If prompted, restart your computer to finalize the installation.
Adding your Wi-Fi receipt printer to your device
Once you’ve connected your receipt printer to your Wi-Fi network, you’ll need to add it to your Retail POS device.
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Adding your Wi-Fi receipt printer on Windows
- After installing the drivers, you’ll be brought to the printer setup screen.
- In the printer setup screen:
- Click the Model dropdown and select the printer’s model name.
- (Optional) Update the printer Name.
- Click the Port Type dropdown and select Ethernet.
- Confirm that Port is set to Auto setup.
- Using the status sheet you printed earlier, enter the printer’s IP address in the Address field.
- Click Save Settings > Next to complete the setup.
The printer will now be available as an option when printing sales receipts from Retail POS.
- Once you’ve installed the required drivers, add the Star printer to your computer:
- Click the Search field on your Windows taskbar and search for LAN.
- When the search results appear, click LAN & Bluetooth Setup Tool.
- In the LAN & Bluetooth Setup Tool window, click Discovery.
- Click your Star printer and its IP address, then click Printer Queue.
- In the new Printer Queue window, check the Print Test box and click Apply.
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Adding your Wi-Fi receipt printer on Mac
- On your Mac, navigate to System Settings > Printers & Scanners.
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Click Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax…
- Under the Default tab, select your printer.
- Add the following information:
- (Optional) Update the printer Name.
- Click the Use dropdown > Select Software…
- Search for the printer’s brand (Epson), then select the printer model name (EPSON TM Thermal (203dpi)) > OK. The listed name may differ slightly from the printer’s model name.
- Click Add.
The printer will now be available as an option when printing sales receipts from Retail POS.
Some printer models may require you to enable CUPS, a network printing service used by Macs. You can also enable automatic receipt cutting in CUPS, if needed.
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Adding your Wi-Fi receipt printer on iPad
- Open the Retail (X) app and click Menu > Settings > Hardware.
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Under Receipt printers, click Add a printer.
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In the Add a printer window, click Find a printer that’s ready to add > click your printer’s name under Connected printers > Next.
If your printer isn’t listed:
- Click Follow steps to connect and add a printer > Next.
- Follow the instructions to perform a hardware self-test, then click Next.
- Select the Printer brand and Printer model from the dropdowns, then click Next.
- Select Ethernet, then click Next.
- Follow the on-screen instructions, then click Add printer.
- Under Connected printers, click the printer, then click Next.
The printer will now be available as an option when printing sales receipts from Retail POS.
- To add a Star receipt printer on iPad:
- Navigate to Settings > Wi-Fi and make sure Wi-Fi is toggled on.
- Navigate to the App Store and download the Star Quick Setup Utility app.
- In the Star Quick Setup Utility app, click Start Guide (Initial Settings).
- Click Use Star Wireless LAN.
- Follow the in-app installation instructions to configure the wireless settings.
Printing a test receipt
- In Retail POS, navigate to Sell (computer) or Menu (iPad) > Sales history.
- Click a sale row to expand it.
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Click Print receipt.
- If prompted, select the printer and receipt template.
- Click Print.
Connecting a cash drawer (optional)
Cash drawers connect to your receipt printer and can be configured to open when you finish a cash or check sale before a receipt is printed.
For steps to connect a cash drawer, refer to Setting up your cash drawer.
What’s next?
Networking best practices
Networking best practices, terminology, and troubleshooting for common issues.