Network printers
A printer on your network can be reached by every till in the building, which is why SeroPOS lists Network first and marks it recommended. All the app needs is the printer's IP address and port, usually 9100.
Network printers in SeroPOS
Recommended connection
Network is the first choice in the add-printer screen because it works from tablets, phones and PCs alike.
IP and port
Type the printer's IP address and port, normally 9100, then send a test page before saving.
Auto-detect on Wi-Fi
Auto-Detect Printers scans your Wi-Fi subnet on port 9100 and lists any printer that answers.
Shared by every till
Several tills on the same network can print to one printer, at the counter or in the kitchen.
Works offline
Printing travels over your local network, so receipts and kitchen tickets still print when the internet is down.
Any device
iPad, Android, Windows, Mac and phones can all print to a network printer, with no cable to the till.
Why network printers are the default choice
A network printer plugs into your router or switch with an Ethernet cable, or joins your Wi-Fi, and gets its own address. Any device on the same network can send to it, so you are not limited to the device it sits beside. That matters when you have a counter till, a phone on the floor and a kitchen printer that all three need to reach.
It also removes the platform question. USB printing behaves differently on Windows, Mac, Android and iPad, and Bluetooth pairs with one device at a time. A network printer works the same way from every SeroPOS device, which is why the app labels it recommended when it asks how the printer connects.
Setting one up by IP address
Most network receipt printers print a self-test page when you hold the feed button while powering on, and that page shows the IP address. In SeroPOS, open Add/Edit Printer, tap Add printer, choose Network, enter the IP address and port 9100, name the printer and pick the paper width. Tap Test Printer, and if the page comes out cleanly, save it.
If you would rather not hunt for the address, use Auto-detect. It checks every address on the local Wi-Fi subnet for something listening on port 9100 and lists what it finds. Pick the printer, name it, test it and save. Bluetooth and USB printers show up in the same scan.
- Print the printer's self-test page to find its IP
- Choose Network in Add printer
- Enter IP address and port 9100
- Test Printer, then Save
Keeping the address from changing
Many routers hand out addresses that can change after a power cut or a router restart. If the printer's address changes, the till keeps sending to the old one and nothing prints. The fix is to give the printer a fixed address, either in the printer's own network settings or as a reservation in your router.
Once the address is fixed, the printer saved in SeroPOS keeps working through restarts. If a printer suddenly stops, run Auto-detect to see whether it has moved to a new address, then edit the saved printer with the new IP. The till and the printer must also be on the same network, so a guest Wi-Fi will not reach a printer on the staff network.
One printer, many tills
Printers are saved per location on the server and sync to every till at that location. Add a network printer once and the other tablets and PCs see it after their next sync, ready to print. This pairs well with Server/Client Mode on the Pro plan, where several tills share one database on the local network.
In a restaurant you might run one network printer at the front counter for receipts and two in the kitchen for grill and bar tickets, each mapped in KOT Mapping. Every server's device can print to all three, and they keep printing during an internet outage because the traffic never leaves the building.
Frequently asked questions
What port does a network receipt printer use?
Most network receipt printers listen on port 9100 for raw printing, and that is the port SeroPOS uses by default and scans when it auto-detects printers. If your printer uses a different port, enter it in the port field when you add the printer, then send a test page to confirm.
How do I find my printer's IP address?
Most receipt printers print a self-test or network status page when you hold the feed button while switching them on, and the IP address is listed there. You can also tap Auto-detect in SeroPOS, which scans your Wi-Fi network on port 9100 and shows printers that answer.
Can I use a Wi-Fi printer instead of Ethernet?
Yes. SeroPOS treats them the same: it sends to an IP address and port. Wired Ethernet is usually more dependable in a busy restaurant, but a Wi-Fi printer works if it stays on the same network as your tills and keeps a fixed address.
Why did my network printer stop printing?
A common cause is a changed IP address after a power cut or router restart. Run Auto-detect to see the printer's current address and update the saved printer, then give it a fixed address in your router. Also check the till is on the same network, not a guest Wi-Fi.
Can two tills share one network printer?
Yes. Any till on the same network can print to it, and the printer list syncs to every device at the location. A shared kitchen printer is a common setup, with each till sending its tickets through KOT Mapping. Keep it on a fixed address so every till can find it.