Setting Up a Wired Receipt Printer

Follow these steps to connect your receipt printer and print receipts from ShadowPOS.

Before you begin

Have these items ready:

• A receipt printer compatible with your computer’s operating system.
• The printer’s power adapter and connection cable.
• Receipt paper in the size and type specified by the manufacturer.
• The manufacturer’s setup instructions.

Check your connection: A USB cable connects the printer directly to your computer. An Ethernet cable connects it to your store’s router or network switch. Both are wired connections, but the setup differs.

1. Prepare the printer

1. Connect the printer to power.
2. Load the receipt paper according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
3. Close the paper cover securely and turn the printer on.
4. Check for paper or error lights.

2. Connect it to your computer or network

For USB printers: Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for when to plug the USB cable into your computer—some models require software installation first.

For Ethernet printers: Connect the printer to your store’s router or network switch. Your computer must be on the same local network. Avoid a guest network that prevents devices from communicating.

3. Install and test the printer

1. Install any required driver or setup software from the printer manufacturer’s official website. Select the download for your exact model and operating system.
2. Follow the setup instructions to add the printer to your computer. For Ethernet models, you may need the printer’s IP address; consult its instructions to find it.
3. Open your computer’s printer settings and print a test page, if available.

Make sure the test page prints before continuing to ShadowPOS. If it does not, check the printer connection, driver, paper, and error lights first.

4. Print a receipt from ShadowPOS

1. Open ShadowPOS on the computer you set up.
2. Open a completed sale and select Print receipt.
3. When the print window opens, select your receipt printer rather than a document printer or “Save as PDF.”
4. Check the available print settings:
   • Paper size: Match your receipt roll and printer.
   • Margins: Choose none or the smallest supported setting.
   • Headers and footers: Turn these off if shown.
   • Scale: Start at 100% and check that the receipt fits.
5. Select Print.

Setting names vary by printer and browser. If the receipt is cut off or has large blank areas, confirm the paper size in both the printer settings and print window.

Troubleshooting

• Printer missing from the list: Check that it is powered on, connected, and installed on your computer.
• Nothing prints: Check the print queue for paused or stuck jobs, then try another test page.
• Blank receipts: Confirm you are using the correct paper and that it is loaded in the correct direction.
• Text is cut off or too small: Recheck paper width, margins, and scale.
• Ethernet printer stops working: Confirm both devices are still on the same network and that the printer’s IP address has not changed.

Need help?

Contact ShadowPOS support with your printer model, USB or Ethernet connection type, computer operating system, browser, and a photo or description of the problem. Let us know whether a test page prints outside ShadowPOS.

Using an iPad or ShadowPOS’s dedicated Epson printer setup? Those use a different setup process. Check compatibility and setup instructions with support before purchasing or connecting a printer.