USB receipt printers
A USB cable is a simple way to hook a receipt printer to a single till. SeroPOS prints to USB printers on Windows PCs, Macs and Android tablets, on 58, 72 or 80 mm paper.
USB printers in SeroPOS
Windows, Mac and Android
USB receipt printers work with SeroPOS on Windows PCs, Macs and Android tablets.
Direct on Mac and Android
On Mac and Android the app talks to the USB printer directly, with no print driver to install.
Windows printer option
On Windows, USB printing goes through the printer you have installed in Windows.
72 mm for USB
Besides 58 and 80 mm, USB printers can use the 72 mm paper setting.
Found by auto-detect
Auto-Detect Printers lists attached USB printers along with Bluetooth and network ones.
Opens the drawer
Make the USB printer your default and a drawer plugged into it opens with cash sales.
When USB is the right choice
USB suits a single fixed till: an all-in-one PC on a shop counter, a Mac at a boutique, or an Android tablet on a stand with the printer beside it. There is no IP address to manage and nothing to pair. If the printer is on and the cable is in, it prints.
The trade-off is that a USB printer belongs to the device it is plugged into. Other tills cannot print to it, and moving it means moving the cable. If you run more than one till, or need a kitchen printer several devices can reach, a network printer is usually the better buy. Many counter printers come with both USB and Ethernet ports, which keeps your options open.
How it works on each platform
On Android and Mac, SeroPOS talks to the USB printer directly using the printer's USB identity, so there is no driver to install. Android tablets often need a USB OTG adapter or a hub to provide a full-size USB port. Plug the printer in, add it in SeroPOS and send a test page.
On Windows, USB printing goes through Windows itself. Install the printer's Windows driver first so it appears in your list of printers, then add it in SeroPOS. The Windows printer connection type also lets you print to any printer installed on the PC. On iPad the app does not drive USB receipt printers directly, so a network or Bluetooth printer is the way to go there.
- Android: direct USB, often through an OTG adapter
- Mac: direct USB, no driver
- Windows: through the installed Windows printer
- iPad: use network or Bluetooth instead
Adding the printer and choosing the paper
Open Add/Edit Printer from the side drawer, or Printer Setup in Admin, and tap Add printer. Choose USB, pick the printer, give it a name, then set the format and paper width. Most thermal printers use ESC-POS. Paper can be 58 mm, 72 mm or 80 mm; the 72 mm option is offered for USB printers only.
Tap Test Printer to print a sample, then Save. If the text runs off the right edge or leaves a wide margin, change the paper width and test again. Star the printer as the default if it prints your receipts. Auto-detect also lists attached USB printers if you would rather pick from what it finds.
Cash drawer and day-end on a USB printer
Most cash drawers plug into the receipt printer rather than the till. With a USB printer set as default, SeroPOS sends the drawer-open pulse through it when a receipt prints or when someone taps Open Drawer in Quick Actions. A cash pay-out prints its slip on the same printer, so the drawer and its paper trail stay together.
At the end of the day the Daily Sales Report, or Z report, prints on the default printer as well, along with card batch summaries from the terminal menu. Keep a spare roll of the right width nearby; running out of paper mid-rush is a common USB printer problem, and the printer will not print or open the drawer until a new roll goes in.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a USB receipt printer with an Android tablet?
Yes. SeroPOS on Android prints to USB printers directly, without a driver. Most tablets need a USB OTG adapter or a powered hub to give you a full-size USB port. Plug the printer in, add it as a USB printer in SeroPOS and send a test page.
Do I need a driver for a USB printer on Windows?
Yes. On Windows, SeroPOS prints to USB printers through Windows, so install the printer's Windows driver first and make sure it shows up in your list of printers. Then add it in SeroPOS and send a test page. The Windows printer option prints to any printer installed on the PC.
Does a USB printer work on a Mac?
Yes. SeroPOS on macOS talks to USB receipt printers directly, so no driver is needed. Plug the printer in, add it in Add/Edit Printer as a USB printer, choose the paper width and test it. Network printers also work on a Mac.
Can I plug a USB printer into an iPad?
It is not the recommended route. SeroPOS on iPad does not talk to USB receipt printers directly the way the Android and Mac apps do. Use a network printer on the same Wi-Fi or a Bluetooth receipt printer instead; both are supported on iPad and iPhone and are easier to keep working.
What is the 72 mm paper option for?
SeroPOS offers a 72 mm paper setting for USB printers only, alongside the usual 58 mm and 80 mm. It is there for printers whose printable area is narrower than a full 80 mm roll. If your receipts look too wide or cut off on an 80 mm roll, try the 72 mm setting and send a test page.