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How to: Connect Your Printer & Network

Your iPad and printer must be on the same network to communicate. This article walks you through the connection options and helps you choose the best setup for reliable printing at events. Connecting your Printer, iPad, and internet all together.

Shane McLoughlin avatar
Written by Shane McLoughlin
Updated yesterday

Once connected, see How to: Add a Printer in the App to add your printer in the app.

iPad Wired Printing (Recommended)

Ethernet (wired) printing is faster, more reliable, and immune to wireless interference. It also leaves your iPad's Wi-Fi free to connect to the internet separately.

You can't print via USB directly from your iPad to a printer. Use Ethernet instead.

What You Need

  • USB-C iPad: A USB-C hub with an ethernet port (we recommend the Dockteck 7-in-1 hub). See Our Recommended Hardware for details.

  • Lightning iPad: We recommend upgrading to a USB-C model, as the Lightning-to-ethernet adapter prevents connecting a USB camera.

How to Connect

  1. Plug one end of an ethernet cable into your USB-C hub.

  2. Plug the other end into your PC, Mac, print server, or AirPrint-enabled printer.

  3. Verify your iPad's ethernet settings:

    • Go to Settings → Ethernet → (your adapter) → Configure IP

  4. Set to Automatic (unless you have a specific manual configuration)

Before iOS app version 1.49.1, you used to have to set up the ethernet settings on both the PC side, and the iPad side. As of 1.49.1 this is no longer necessary.

iPad Wi-Fi Printing


If wired printing isn't possible, you can connect via Wi-Fi. However, this is slower and less reliable than ethernet.

Requirements

  • Your iPad and printer (or PC/print server) must be on the same Wi-Fi network

  • Do not use venue Wi-Fi, event Wi-Fi, or your home Wi-Fi for printing

Best Practice

Use a Wi-Fi hotspot that also provides internet access, so guests can email and text their photos. Options include:

  • Your mobile phone's hotspot (if available for the entire event)

  • A portable 4G/5G router

If Your iPad Has Cellular Data

If your iPad has cellular data but your print server's Wi-Fi doesn't provide internet, you can tell iOS to use cellular for internet instead:

  1. Connect your iPad's Wi-Fi to the print server

  2. Follow Apple's instructions to configure your Wi-Fi network to not use it for internet access. See article

Gotcha: If your iPad with cellular is creating a hotspot that your print server connects to, the app cannot communicate with the printer. Instead, have your print server create the hotspot and connect your iPad to that.

Choose Your Printer Sharing Method

Pick one of the following options based on your setup:

Option 1: Share from a PC

This is our recommended approach. See the Print.Events for complete setup instructions.


Option 2: Share from a Mac

See our help article - How to: Printing on a Mac


Option 3: AirPrint Printer or Print Server

AirPrint Printers: If your printer supports AirPrint, you can add it directly in the app. See How to: Add a Printer in the App

Print Servers: Configure your print server for your printer's paper size and printing options using the videos below.

Mac (macOS)

If you are running the app on macOS, please see our help article - How to: Printing on a Mac

AirCast Pro II Setup

Website: https://aircastpro.com

DNP WCM Plus Setup


Website: https://dnpphoto.com/en-us/Products/Accessories/WCMPlus

Note for advanced users: The DNP WCM Plus uses the 192.168.5.x subnet for iPad connections, even though the admin interface is at 192.168.4.1.
​
If you are trying to connect to your WCM Plus over wifi to print you must connect to the network created by your WCM plus. Ensure your WCM plus is then connected to the wireless network where you are.

CHIPs from PBSCO


Chips uses a CUPS-based print server.

Follow these steps to configure it:

  1. Connect your iPad to your Chips server

  2. Got to Chips.local in your browser

  3. The Administration menu may prompt for login credentials. Use the following credentials below, if prompted:

    Username:printer
    ​Password: password

  4. Select Adjust Printer Media Size under Printer Settings

  5. Tap the Administration drop-down menu

  6. Select Set Default Options

  7. Tap the Media Size drop-down menu

  8. Select desired media size

  9. Click done

To cut strips you need to enable the cut queue.


​Here is the support article directly from PBSCO.
​

HowTo-AdjustPrinterMediaSize.png

Troubleshooting


No Internet After Connecting to Print Server

Newer print servers (AirCast Pro II, DNP WCM Plus) handle this automatically. Older units (DNP WCM2, WCM3) may cause your iPad to lose internet access because it tries to route internet through the ethernet connection.

Fix: Configure your ethernet network settings to not use ethernet for internet access. Go to Settings → Ethernet (only visible when a hub or adapter is connected). Check out this Article.

WCM Plus Previously Used as a Router

If you previously configured the WCM Plus to connect to a wireless network as a router, it may continue trying to route your iPad's internet through that network. If you're now using cellular or a different Wi-Fi source with wired printing through the WCM, you may need to factory reset it. See [WCM Plus factory reset instructions].


Printer Not Connecting via USB

Apple does not support direct USB connections between iPads and printers. Use ethernet or Wi-Fi as described above.
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Ensure you allow local network access in your settings

It can be found under Settings -> Privacy and Security -> Local Network and ensure Booth.Events is enabled.

Related Articles
How to: Add a Printer in the App
How to: Setup Print.Events (Windows)
How to Set Internet Priority on iOS
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