Details Windows setup for thermal label printers like Zebra, Dymo, Brother, and basic steps for a standard desktop inkjet or laser printers.
Before you start to print documents in ShipStation, you must ensure the printers are configured correctly for the documents you wish to print (labels, packing slips, etc).
Printer Setup for MacOS instead?
If you need to set up printers for MacOS, please see our Set Up Printers in MacOS article.
The setup process for printers in Windows includes four general steps:
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Connect the printer via USB to the Windows machine you want to use as your printer workstation.
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Download the appropriate printer driver (not required for all printer models).
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Add the printer to your Devices and Printers Control Panel.
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Configure the printer preferences.
The exact steps to set up your printer will vary depending on the printer's make and model. This article provides setup instructions for the most common thermal label printer brands - Zebra , DYMO, Brother, Citizen, and Rollo - as well as the basic steps for a standard desktop printer like an inkjet or laser printer.
You do not need to add your printers in ShipStation. Once your printer is added to your Windows device, the printer will be visible in ShipStation.
Click the tab for the type of printer you wish to configure.
Zebra
Before you connect your Zebra label printer to your Windows workstation, you must download and install the correct driver. Once installation completes, you can connect the printer, add it to your Devices and Scanners Control Panel, and configure its preferences.
Zebra ZSB Wireless Printers
Zebra has recently introduced the ZSB series of wireless label printers, which ShipStation has tested and confirmed prints successfully with ShipStation Connect. There are few additional setup steps for ZSB printers before following the steps below. If you have a ZSB series printer:
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Follow the setup instructions for installing the ZSB app and printer on your mobile device.
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Then, follow the instructions for downloading and installing the driver on your desktop workspace.
You can also watch Zebra's instructional videos for how to print with your ZSB series printer from ShipStation Mobile or from your desktop workspace.
Please note that since the ZSB series relies on wireless communication there may be a slight delay (around 3 seconds or more) before a print job starts.
Zebra Printers Provided by Your Carrier
Zebra printers that your carrier provided (for example, UPS or FedEx) may require special drivers, and your carrier representative should provide these drivers to you.
In some cases, these printers are intended to only work with the carrier's proprietary app (for example, UPS Worldship or FedEx Ship Manager). If that is the case, your printer may not work with applications like ShipStation. Check with your carrier account contact if you are unsure whether such a restriction applies to your carrier-supplied printer.
Download and Install the Zebra Driver
Add Printer to the Control Panel
Connect your printer to your Windows workstation and turn it on, if it isn't already.
To add the printer to the Control Panel:
You should now see the printer listed with its name in the Printers section of your Devices and Printers Control Panel. Next, configure the printer preferences.
Unspecified Printer
If you do not see your printer listed with its model number in the Printers section, but instead see an unnamed printer in a section called Unspecified, you will need to install a driver for your printer before you can proceed.
Check the manufacturer's website for the correct driver for the device's make and model, as well as for your version of Windows.
Configure Zebra Printer Preferences
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Right-click the Zebra icon in the Printer list and choose Printing Preferences.
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Set the following options in the Page Setup tab:
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In the Stock section, set the Name to 4 x 6 (4.00 in x 6.00 in).
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Set the following options in the Graphics tab:
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Resolution: 203dpi (Some Zebra models may use 300dpi... check your Zebra model's documentation if you are uncertain.)
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Dithering: None
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Set the following options in the Options tab:
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Darkness: Absolute with a value around 13.
While this is the darkness setting Zebra recommends, you may find you need to adjust the darkness level slightly depending on your carrier, Windows version, or printer model.
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Speed: Adjust speed as you need to suit your workflow. The general rule is the slower the print rate, the better the print quality. Test which combination of print speed and darkness suits your workflow and produces the print quality you need.
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Click Apply then OK.
Watch this short GIF for a demonstration of the process:
DYMO
Before you connect your DYMO LabelWriter 4XL or 5XL to your Windows workstation, you must download and install the correct driver. Once installation completes, you can connect the printer, add it to your Devices and Scanners Control Panel, and configure its preferences.
Download and Install the DYMO Driver
Add Printer to the Control Panel
Connect your printer to your Windows workstation and turn it on, if it isn't already.
To add the printer to the Control Panel:
You should now see the printer listed with its name in the Printers section of your Devices and Printers Control Panel. Next, configure the printer preferences.
Unspecified Printer
If you do not see your printer listed with its model number in the Printers section, but instead see an unnamed printer in a section called Unspecified, you will need to install a driver for your printer before you can proceed.
Check the manufacturer's website for the correct driver for the device's make and model, as well as for your version of Windows.
Configure DYMO Printer Preferences
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Right-click the DYMO printer's icon in the Printer list and choose Printing Preferences.
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Set Orientation to Portrait, if it isn't already, then click Advanced.
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Set the following options in the Advanced Settings:
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Paper Size: 1744907 4 in x 6 in
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Print Quality: Barcodes and Graphics
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Click OK.
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Click Apply and then OK.
Your DYMO is now ready to print labels from ShipStation!
Brother
Before you connect your Brother QL-1100 label printer to your Windows workstation, you must download and install the correct driver. Usually, when you install a new device, Windows will automatically download the driver and add the device to the Control Panel.
If this process does not happen automatically, follow the instructions below. Skip to the Configure section if the device has successfully installed automatically.
Download and Install the Brother Driver
Once the installation completes, quit the installer. You can delete the installer file from your system.
Configure Citizen Printer Preferences
Connect your printer to your Windows workstation and turn it on, if it isn't already.
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From the Control Panel, right-click on the Brother Label printer and select Printing Preferences.
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Set the following options under the Basic tab:
Paper Size: Set the size to 4.07” x 6.4” (Shipping Label) or set to (4” x 6”)
Quality: Set priority to speed if you want to quickly print many labels or to quality to slowly print labels.
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Set the following options under the Advanced tab:
Set the Halftone to For logo and text Binary.
Set the brightness to 13.
While these are the settings Brother recommends, you may find you need to adjust the darkness level slightly depending on your carrier, Windows version, or printer model.
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Set the following options under the Other tab:
Check this box: Adjust to 4” (101.6mm) shipping label.
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Click Apply then OK.
Citizen
The Citizen CL-E303 and CL-S700 both are label printers commonly used with ShipStation. The CL-E303 is a more compact printer, great for tight spaces. The CL-S700 is a larger industrial unit, great for high-volume shippers.
The peeler or dispenser is a significant feature of the CL-S700. For large-scale operations that print many labels in batches, this feature will expedite the process when you apply labels to packages. Instead of printing one long continuous sheet, the labels will print one at a time. As each prints, the peeler separates the label from its adhesive-protection backing.
Download and Install the Citizen Driver
Before you connect your Citizen label printer to your Windows workstation, you must download and install the correct driver. Once you have installed the driver, you can then connect the printer and configure its settings.
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Download the driver from the Citizen Support Page on to your printer workstation.
This driver works for both the Citizen CL-E303 and for the Citizen CL-S700. Citizen Mobile Printer uses the driver from this Citizen Support Page.
Important
Do not use the driver via a Windows update, like the Citizen CL-S700DT driver. Though it may appear as an option, it will produce an error message instead of printing labels.
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Open the executable (.exe) file.
This file should appear at the bottom-left corner of your browser window.
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Open the Driver Wizard and follow the on-screen instructions.
Configure Citizen Printer Preferences
Connect your printer to your Windows workstation and turn it on, if it isn't already. Your preferences will be the same regardless of which Citizen printer model you use.
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Select the Citizen CL-E303 printer from the printer list and click Manage.
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Click Printing preferences and select the Graphics tab.
Set Dithering to None.
The remaining default settings should already be configured for 4"x6" labels.
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Click Print a test page to create a test label.
Once the test page prints successfully, you are ready to print labels with your Citizen label printer!
Rollo
Before you connect your Rollo printer driver to your Windows workstation, be sure to follow the instructions Rollo provides on their support center to set up the Rollo printer for first time use. Once you have finished these steps, connect the Rollo printer to your workstation via USB.
In some versions of Windows, the Rollo printer will be automatically added to the Devices and Printers Control Panel. If this is the case for you, skip ahead to the Configure the Rollo Printer section. However, if you open your Control Panel and do not see the Rollo printer, you will need to install the Rollo driver and add the Rollo, as described in the steps below.
Rollo Printers Not Supported With ShipStation Connect
Currently, Rollo printers do not work consistently when you print via ShipStation Connect.
You can continue to print with a Rollo printer if you use the PDF or View in Browser print methods. The label layout, printer preferences, and other document options will still apply regardless of which print method you choose.
Download and Install the Rollo Driver
Once the installation completes, connect the Rollo printer to your Windows Workstation via USB and configure the Rollo printer preferences.
Configure Rollo Printer Preferences
Print a Test Label
Before you print your labels, we recommend that you print a test label to ensure your Rollo printer functions as expected. Rollo includes a test label PDF in their installer disk image for just this purpose.
When the test label has printed successfully, you're ready to print label PDFs.
If you want to adjust the label margins, follow the instructions Rollo provides in their Adjusting Label Margins help article.
Standard
In most cases, your standard desktop printer, whether laser or inkjet, will not require you to install additional drivers. You will just need to plug it in, turn it on, and set your preferences. Should you need a driver, the procedure below will indicate at what point you may need to install it for your device.
Add Printer to the Control Panel
Connect your printer to your Windows workstation and turn it on. Most standard printers will automatically appear in your Devices & Printers Control Panel. However, if your printer does not automatically appear, you will need to add it.
To add the printer to the Control Panel:
You should now see the printer listed with its name in the Printers section of your Devices and Printers Control Panel. Next, configure the printer preferences.
Unspecified Printer
If you do not see your printer listed with its model number in the Printers section, but instead see an unnamed printer in a section called Unspecified, you will need to install a driver for your printer before you can proceed.
Check the manufacturer's website for the correct driver for the device's make and model, as well as for your version of Windows.
Configure the Printer Preferences
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Right-click your printer icon in the Printer list and choose Printing Preferences.
The location of the preferences you'll need to set differ and those preferences will depend on the make and model of your printer. Here are a few examples:
HP Laserjet Preferences: The paper size, source, and type options are in the Paper/Quality tab.
Brother Laser Printer Advanced Options: Paper size and other settings are located in the Advanced section of printing preferences.
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Set the paper size to the option closest to 8.5" x 11".
This should correspond to the A4 option.
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Set Print Settings for Graphics or Barcodes and Graphics.
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Set the Print Quality to 300dpi. This should match the dpi set in your ShipStation Label Document Options.
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Apply your changes and click Save to save them.
Set Up a Multi Tray Printer
If your standard desktop printer contains multiple trays, you can add another instance of your printer to your printer workstation Control Panel and assign a specific tray to each instance. In this way you can use different types of paper for different documents and set ShipStation to automatically print selected documents with the paper used in each tray.
For example, in Tray 1 you might use Avery half-sheet labels to print two labels per page and in Tray 2 use plain paper to print your packing slips. Or you may have ShipStation integrated labels in Tray 1 to print the label and packing slip for a shipment on a single sheet, and plain paper of a different color in Tray 2 to print pick lists.
Whatever your scenario, you'll need to take the following actions:
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Add a new instance of your printer to the Control Panel.
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Assign a tray to each printer instance.
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Name each instance of your printer (optional).
Add a New Printer Instance
In this procedure, you'll add a copy of your printer to your Devices and Printers Control Panel. Each instance of the printer can then have its own preferences and properties.
First, open the Printer Properties of the instance already added and make note of which port the printer uses. You'll need this information later.
Other Versions of Windows
The following instructions are specific to Windows 10. The exact steps in other versions of Windows may vary slightly, but the settings you are looking for should be similar.
The new instance of the printer should then be added to the Printers section of your Devices and Printers Control Panel. In Windows 10, both instances will be contained within a single printer icon. You can then right-click the icon and choose which instance to modify.
Assign Tray in Preferences
Next, you'll need to assign a tray to each printer instance.
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Right-click on the printer in the Devices and Printers Control Panel.
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Choose Printing Preferences. Then choose which instance you'd like to modify.
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Select a tray from the Paper Source drop-down menu.
This option is most commonly in the Paper/Quality tab.
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Click OK.
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Repeat steps 1 - 4 for the other instance of the printer to assign it another tray.
Each instance of the printer will appear in ShipStation (and other apps you print from) as a unique printer.
Name Each Printer Instance
You can also give each instance of the printer a unique name so your staff always knows which printer is which.
Review these notes to ensure you optimally configure your printer:
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The options available in a printer's preferences and properties will depend on the printer model and the driver it requires for installation.
Beyond paper size, some printers have additional settings for graphics, darkness, offset, and speed. To address print quality issues, adjust these settings in the printer's preferences (and sometimes, properties) using a trial-and-error method to find which settings produce the best results for your specific setup.
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USB Port energy settings can sometimes cause printer hardware to lose connection with ShipStation Connect. If you find ShipStation Connect intermittently cannot communicate with your printer, disable your Windows Selective Suspend setting.