Get your receipt and prep printers connected to Tebi and printing reliably. This takes about 10 minutes per printer.
Before you start
Run through this short checklist first. Most printer problems come from one of these four things.
Your printer is supported. Check the list of supported printers. If your model isn’t on the list, it won’t work reliably with Tebi. Always buy a printer with an Ethernet connection, and check the exact model number when you order. Ethernet cables are sold separately. You can buy a supported printer, or use a Kitchen Display System (KDS) instead of printed tickets.
The printer is only used for Tebi. Don’t connect other systems (such as a second POS or ordering tool) to the same printer. Competing print jobs are a common cause of missing tickets.
Your tablet and printer are on the same network. See Make sure everything is on the same network below.
You’re using your business network, not the guest Wi-Fi. Guest Wi-Fi is a separate network for customers and personal use. Tebi devices and printers belong on your business (secured) network.
Choose how to connect your printer
Connection | Recommendation |
Ethernet cable | Best choice. Connects directly to your router, so it’s the most stable and the easiest to troubleshoot. It also keeps working if your Wi-Fi has problems. |
Wi-Fi | Possible, but not recommended. The printer can go into sleep mode and miss prep tickets. Wi-Fi signals can also be weakened by walls and equipment (see the tips below). |
Bluetooth | Possible, but not recommended. Less reliable than Wi-Fi. |
USB | Only use this when you connect a single device to the printer. Print jobs from other devices won’t print. |
Tebi Tip: If your printer supports Ethernet, use Ethernet. If you’re currently on Bluetooth and want to switch, connect the cable first and add the printer again as described below. You can always go back to Bluetooth if Ethernet isn’t possible at your location.
Tebi Tip: Make sure the Ethernet cables are protected from mice.
Note: The S1F2 terminal has a built-in printer that you can use for receipts.
Note: Tebi doesn't support Serial printers
How your devices connect on your network
This is what a good setup looks like. Everything for your business connects to the same router. Customers use a separate guest Wi-Fi.
Schematic: the router connects to the internet. Printers connect to the router with an Ethernet cable. Tablets, payment terminals and computers connect to the business Wi-Fi. Customers use the guest Wi-Fi.
Good to know
Printers: use an Ethernet cable to the router, or to a network switch that is connected to the router.
Tablets: your main tablet works best with a cable if it has an Ethernet port. The tablet that sends print jobs must be on the same network as the printer.
Payment terminals: connect them to the business Wi-Fi, not the guest Wi-Fi.
Guest Wi-Fi: keep it for customers and personal phones. Don’t connect your tablets, terminals or printers to it.
One network: all business devices should have an IP address that starts with the same three numbers.
Choose where to place your printer
Away from heat. Most of our printers are thermal printers (Star mC-Print3, Epson TM-m30, TM-T20 and TM-T88). They print on heat-sensitive paper, so heat from a grill or stove can discolor the paper and make tickets hard to read. For hot areas such as a kitchen, the Epson TM-U220 is a good choice. It’s an impact printer with an ink ribbon, so heat doesn’t affect it. It is noisier than a thermal printer.
On a flat, stable surface, away from dust and humidity.
Within reach of your router. With an Ethernet cable, the printer must be close enough for the cable to reach the router or network switch. Buy a cable that is long enough.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth printers are more sensitive to interference from, for example, microwaves. We don’t recommend them in a kitchen. A Bluetooth printer should be within about 10 meters of the tablet.
Connect your printer with Ethernet
What you need
The printer and its power adapter
An Ethernet cable (sold separately)
A paper roll that fits your printer, see Buy printer rolls
A free port on your router or network switch
For the Epson TM-U220: an ink ribbon cassette, see Insert the ink ribbon
Plug the printer into a power socket.
Connect the printer to a free port on your router (or a network switch): plug one end of the Ethernet cable into the printer’s LAN port and the other end into the router.
Turn on the printer and check that it has paper.
On your main tablet or screen, open the Tebi App and go to Menu > Settings > Printing > Printer selection.
Tap + Add Printer. The tablet searches for printers on the same network. This can take up to a minute.
Select your printer and tap Print test receipt.
If the test receipt prints, tap Add.
Star mC-Print3: the LAN and USB ports are under the back cover. Remove the cover, connect the cables and put the cover back. See Star’s guide on the rear cover.
Epson TM-m30: the connectors are on the lower rear of the printer. Remove the bottom cover, connect the Ethernet cable and the power adapter, and put the cover back.
Epson TM-m30 with the bottom cover removed, showing the Ethernet port and the power socket.
Epson TM-U220: the Ethernet cable only fits in one of the ports on the back. Connect the power adapter to the round socket on the underside of the printer. The adapter fits in the bottom, so the cord leaves the printer at the back.
Watch how it’s done:
Tebi Tip: Give each printer a clear name (for example “Kitchen” or “Bar”) so you always know where it is.
Tebi Tip: Adding more than one printer? Turn them on one at a time and add each one before you turn on the next. That makes it easy to recognize the new printer in the list.
Note: At this point the printer is only connected to your tablet. It doesn’t have a print job yet. Continue with Set up your printed prep stations or Print your sales receipts.
The printer doesn’t show up?
Then your tablet and printer are most likely not on the same network. Follow the steps in the next section.
Connect your printer with USB
Only use USB if you connect a single device to the printer. Print jobs from other devices won’t print.
Turn the printer off. On a Star mC-Print3, remove the back cover to reach the ports.
Connect a USB cable between your tablet and the printer’s USB port.
Connect the power adapter and turn the printer on. On a Star mC-Print3, put the back cover back first.
Follow steps 4 to 7 of Connect your printer with Ethernet to add the printer in the Tebi App.
Note: After a power outage a USB printer may need to be added again.
Connect your printer with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
We don’t recommend Wi-Fi or Bluetooth printers, but if you have no other option:
Connect the printer to your tablet or network using your printer’s manual.
Follow steps 4 to 7 above.
Keep the printer close to your router or tablet, and avoid placing it behind metal, stone or concrete walls.
Epson Wi-Fi printers (for example the TM-m30 Wi-Fi model): unplug the Ethernet cable first. As long as an Ethernet cable is connected, Wi-Fi on the printer is switched off.
Make sure everything is on the same network
A network printer can only receive tickets from a tablet on the same network. You can check this by comparing IP addresses.
A typical setup: printer and tablet wired to the router, business devices on the business network, customers on the guest Wi-Fi
A typical setup: printer and tablet wired to the router, business devices on the business network, customers on the guest Wi-Fi
In a good setup, your printer and tablet are on your business network. Customers use the separate guest Wi-Fi.
What is an IP address?
An IP address has four numbers separated by dots, for example 192.168.2.29. The first numbers show which network the device is on. The last number identifies the device itself.
How to compare
Find out which tablet sends the print jobs to this printer. This is not always your main tablet.
Find the tablet’s IP address in its Wi-Fi or network settings.
Find the printer’s IP address by printing a status sheet. The steps are different for each model, see Printer-specific help below.
Compare the first three numbers. If they match, the devices are on the same network.
Example: a tablet and printer that both start with 192.168.2 are on the same network. A printer that starts with 192.168.1 is not.
The last number will always be different. That’s normal.
Note: There are exceptions for networks with custom settings. If your network was set up by an IT person or service, ask them for help.
If the networks don’t match
Check that your tablet and printer are connected to the same Wi-Fi network or router, and not to the guest Wi-Fi.
If you can, move the device that’s on the wrong network to the right one, then add the printer again.
If the networks match but the printer still doesn’t work, or you can’t change the network yourself, contact whoever manages your network or your internet provider.
Printer-specific help
Find your printer’s model name on the label (usually on the back or underneath) and check it against the supported printers list. Then use the section for your printer.
Printer | Print the status sheet (shows the IP address) | Reset the network settings | Manufacturer guide |
Star mC-Print3 | Hold Feed while turning on | Reset pinhole + Power, then Feed | |
Star TSP650II | Hold Feed while turning on | SW button on the back | |
Epson TM-m30II / TM-m30III | Prints when turned on with the cable connected, or hold Feed for 3 seconds with the cover open | Pinhole SW button under the printer | |
Epson TM-T20 series | Hold the SW (status sheet) button for 3 seconds | Hold SW while turning on | |
Epson TM-T88IV / V / VI / VII | Hold the SW (status sheet) button for 3 seconds | Hold SW while turning on | |
Epson TM-U220 / TM-U220II (Ethernet board) | Hold the pinhole button next to the Ethernet port for 3 seconds | Hold the same button while turning on, for about 10 seconds |
Restart (power cycle) your printer
Always try this first. It solves most printing problems and doesn’t change any settings.
Turn the printer off with its power button.
Unplug the power adapter and leave it unplugged for about 10 seconds.
Plug the power adapter back in and turn the printer on.
Wait until the printer is ready (the power light stays on or IP address is printed).
Restart your tablet as well.
Print a test receipt in the Tebi App under Menu > Settings > Printing > Printer selection.
Tip: Check the Ethernet port on the printer. The link light should be on, and it usually flashes when there is network activity. If there is no light, check the cable and the router port.
Find the printer’s IP address
Print a status sheet and look for the line IP Address. Some printers print this automatically when you turn them on with the Ethernet cable connected.
What the result means:
The first three numbers match your tablet (for example both start with 192.168.2): the printer is on the same network.
192.168.192.168 (Epson) or 0.0.0.0: the printer has not received an IP address from your router. Check the Ethernet cable and try another router port. If it still doesn’t work, reset the printer’s network settings (see below) or ask your network specialist.
(DHCP) next to the address: the printer is set to receive its IP address automatically from your router, which is what you want in most cases.
Note: DHCP should always be enabled
Reset the network settings
A network reset puts the printer’s network settings back to factory defaults. Only do this if you moved the printer to a new network or router, or if the printer shows 0.0.0.0 or 192.168.192.168 after a restart.
Important: A reset removes any custom network settings, such as a fixed (static) IP address or a printer web page password. If a network specialist set up your network, ask them first. After a reset, print a new status sheet and add the printer again in the Tebi App. Make sure paper is loaded before you start.
Star mC-Print3
Print the status sheet
Connect the Ethernet cable and load paper first, so the printer can print its network settings.
Turn the printer off by holding the Power button for at least 1 second.
Hold down the Feed button, press and release the Power button, and keep holding Feed.
Release Feed when the printer starts printing. The first printout shows the printer settings. A little later a second printout shows the network settings, including the IP address and the hardware (MAC) address. Keep this printout: you need the IP address to compare networks.
Reset the network settings
mC-Print3 with the back cover removed, showing the RESET hole above the LAN port.
Turn the printer off and remove the back cover.
Find the RESET hole just above the LAN port. Press and hold the button inside with a pen tip or paperclip.
While holding it, press and release the Power button.
Keep holding Reset until the green network light flashes.
Press Feed to choose which setting to reset (LAN, Bluetooth or both). When the one you want is flashing, hold Feed to confirm.
The printer restarts with factory settings. Print a status sheet to check the new IP address.
Manufacturer guides: How to reset an mC-Print series printer and Self-printing on the mC-Print3
Read the printer lights
The Star mC-Print3 has three lights on the front. From left to right: power, Bluetooth and network.
Close-up of the three lights on the front of the mC-Print3, labelled.
Power light
Light | What it means | What to do |
Off | The printer is off. | Press Power. If nothing happens, check the power adapter and the socket. |
Blue, steady | The printer is on and ready. | Nothing. |
Red, steady | The cover is open. | Close the cover firmly. Check that the paper is placed correctly. |
Red, flashing | The printer is out of paper. | Insert a new roll and close the cover. |
Blue, with a short red flash | The roll is almost empty. | Get a new roll ready. |
Blue, flashing once every 2 seconds | The print head is too hot. Printing pauses. | Wait. Printing continues by itself when the printer has cooled down. |
Blue, flashing twice every 2 seconds | The printer is too hot inside. Printing pauses. | Wait. Printing continues by itself. |
Purple, flashing quickly | The paper cutter has a problem. | Open the cover and remove stuck paper. If the cover won’t open, turn the printer off and on. |
Purple, flashing once every 2 seconds | Problem with the power supply. | Turn the printer off and on, or try another power socket. |
Purple, flashing twice every 2 seconds | Problem with the print head’s temperature sensor. | Turn the printer off and on. |
Purple, flashing 4 to 7 times every 2 seconds | Internal error. | Turn the printer off and on. |
If a purple light keeps coming back after you turn the printer off and on, contact Tebi Support.
Network light
Light | What it means | What to do |
Green, steady | Connected to the router. | Nothing. |
Off | The printer is not connected to the router. | Check the Ethernet cable on both ends, or try another router port. |
Green, flashing quickly | The printer can’t get an IP address. | Try another router port and check that your router hands out addresses automatically. If it doesn’t, ask your network specialist. |
Bluetooth light (Bluetooth models only): blue means connected, off means not connected. We don’t recommend Bluetooth, see Choose how to connect your printer.
Manufacturer guide: Star mC-Print3 LED display
Star TSP650II
Print the status sheet
Turn the printer off.
Hold down the Feed button and turn the printer on. Keep holding until paper prints (about 3 seconds).
Wait up to a minute for the second printout. It shows the interface model (look for “IFBD”) and the IP address, under Current IP Parameters Status or Ethernet Network.
TSP650II back panel with the SW button and the red and green network lights labelled.
Reset the network settings (interface IFBD-HE07/08)
Make sure the printer is on and the Ethernet cable is connected.
Press and hold the SW button on the back with a thin pointed object until the red and green network lights start flashing, then release. The lights turn solid.
Press and hold SW again until the lights go off. The reset starts. Do not turn the printer off.
When the lights are solid again, the reset is done. Print a status sheet to check that the printer received an IP address.
If your status sheet shows a different interface model than IFBD-HE07/08, the steps are different. See the Star reset guide.
Manufacturer guide: How to reset an HE07/08 interface
Epson TM-m30II and TM-m30III
Underside of a TM-m30 with the SW pinhole next to the cash drawer port (and the small cover removed).
Print the status sheet
Turn the printer on with the Ethernet cable connected. A status sheet with the IP address prints automatically after a few seconds.
Didn’t print? With the printer on, open the roll paper cover, hold the Feed button for at least 3 seconds and close the cover. The status sheet prints.
Still nothing? Close the roll paper cover, remove the bottom cover and hold the SW (status sheet) button for at least 3 seconds.
Reset the network settings
Turn the printer off and close the roll paper cover. Leave the power adapter plugged in.
Turn the printer over and remove the bottom cover. Next to the cash drawer port you’ll find a small pinhole marked SW (the network status button).
Press and hold the button with a pen tip or paperclip.
While holding it, turn the printer on.
Keep holding until the printer prints a message that it is being reset. Release the button. The printer restarts.
Wait for the status sheet that shows the new IP address.
Manufacturer guide: Epson TM-m30II-NT Technical Reference Guide
Read the printer lights
The Epson TM-m30 has three lights on the front: power, error and paper.
Close-up of the three lights on the front of the TM-m30, labelled.
Power | Error | Paper | What it means | What to do |
On | Off | Off | The printer is ready. | Nothing. |
On | On | Off | The printer is starting up, or the roll paper cover is open. | Close the cover firmly. After starting up, the error light goes out by itself. |
On | On | Flashing | The printer is waiting to print a status sheet. | Wait. It continues when the status sheet starts printing. |
On | On | On | The printer is out of paper. | Insert a new roll and close the cover. |
On | Flashing | Any | The printer has an error it can’t recover from. | Turn the printer off right away, wait a moment and turn it on again. If the light comes back, contact Tebi Support. |
Flashing | Off | Off | The printer is starting its network connection, shutting down or updating its firmware. | Wait until the power light stays on. Don’t turn the printer off during a firmware update. |
You can’t print while the power light is flashing after you turn the printer on.
Manufacturer guide: Epson TM-m30 Technical Reference Guide, ‘Status and Errors’
Epson TM-T20 series and TM-T88V / VI / VII
Back of a TM-T20 and a TM-T88VI with the SW button circled, with and without the connector cover.
Print the status sheet
With the printer on and the roll paper cover closed, press and hold the SW (status sheet) button on the back for at least 3 seconds. On some models this button is behind a small connector cover.
Alternative: open the roll paper cover, hold the Feed button for at least 3 seconds, then close the cover.
Reset the network settings
Turn the printer off.
Press and hold the SW button with a pen tip or paperclip.
While holding it, turn the printer on, and keep holding until the printer prints.
Release the button. The IP address is printed on the last receipt.
Manufacturer guides: TM-T20III Technical Reference Guide and TM-T88VI Technical Reference Guide. See the chapters “Printing a Status Sheet” and “Resetting the Interface Settings”.
Epson TM-T88IV
This model uses a separate Ethernet adapter. Press the small button (pinhole) on the adapter for about 3 seconds. A strip prints with the MAC address, gateway, IP address and whether the address is manual or automatic.
Epson TM-U220 and TM-U220II (with Ethernet board)
The TM-U220 is an impact (dot matrix) printer with an ink ribbon. Heat doesn’t affect it, so it works well in kitchens, but it is noisier than a thermal printer. Before you connect it, insert the ink ribbon and the paper roll.
These printers get their network connection from a small Ethernet board (usually the Epson UB-E04) at the back of the printer. The button used in the steps below is on that board, next to the Ethernet port.
Back of a TM-U220 with the Ethernet port and the pinhole button next to it circled.
Print the status sheet
Connect the Ethernet cable, turn the printer on and make sure paper and the ink ribbon are loaded and the covers are closed.
Wait about 15 to 20 seconds until the printer has fully started.
Press and hold the small pinhole button next to the Ethernet port with a pen tip for 3 seconds or longer. Release it when printing starts.
The status sheet shows the IP address, subnet mask, gateway and whether the address is assigned automatically.
Reset the network settings
Load paper and turn the printer off.
Press and hold the pinhole button with a pen tip.
While holding it, turn the printer on.
Keep holding until the printer prints a message that initialization has started (about 10 seconds). Release the button.
Wait 15 to 20 seconds, then print a status sheet to check the new IP address.
The status sheet shows 192.168.192.168?
That is the printer’s default address. It means the printer did not get an address from your router. Check the Ethernet cable, try another router port and restart the printer. If it still shows 192.168.192.168 after a reset, ask Tebi Support or your network specialist for help.
For network specialists: connect a computer directly to the printer, or use a tablet on the same network as the printer, and give it a fixed address in the same range (for example 192.168.192.2, subnet mask 255.255.255.0). Open http://192.168.192.168 in a browser and log in (the default user name and password are both epson, or the printer’s serial number in capital letters if that doesn’t work). Go to Configuration > TCP/IP, set Acquiring the IP Address to Auto, click Send and then Reset. Reconnect the printer to the router, wait for it to restart and print a new status sheet. The IP address should now fit your network. Then set the network settings of the computer or tablet back to automatic, and change the default password.
Manufacturer guide: Epson UB-E04 Technical Reference Guide
Read the printer lights
The Epson TM-U220 has three lights on the front: power, error and paper out.
Light | What it means | What to do |
Power, on | The printer is on. | Nothing. If the light doesn’t come on, check the power adapter and the socket. |
Error, on (steady) | The printer is offline: a cover is open or the paper is out. | Close the roll paper cover and the ribbon cover firmly. Insert a new roll if the roll is empty. |
Error, flashing | The printer has an error. The pattern of flashes shows which one. | Turn the printer off and on. A print head that is too hot or too cold will continue by itself after a while. For other patterns see Epson’s guide. |
Paper out, on | The paper is out or almost out. | Insert a new roll. |
Manufacturer guides: Epson TM-U220 Technical Reference Guide (chapter 4, “LED Blinking Pattern”) and Epson TM-U220 User’s Manual
Epson TM-U220-i and TM-U220IIB-i
These models have the network connection built in. The steps below follow Epson’s guide for TM-i printers.
Print the status sheet
Make sure the printer is on and paper is loaded.
Press and hold the small push button (a pinhole at the back) with a thin object for about 3 seconds.
Release the button. The status sheet prints with the network settings.
Reset the network settings
Make sure the printer is on and paper is loaded.
Press and hold the push button for 10 seconds or longer, until a message prints that initialization has started. Release the button.
Do not turn the printer off. After 20 to 25 seconds a message prints that the network settings have been reset, followed by a status sheet.
A reset on these models also resets the printer’s web configuration password.
Tips for reliable printing
Use Ethernet where you can. Wired devices stay connected even when your Wi-Fi has problems.
Restart first. If printing suddenly stops, restart the printer and the tablet, then print a test receipt. Do this before anything else.
Mind your Wi-Fi coverage. Concrete, stone, metal and water weaken Wi-Fi signals. Kitchens and bars often have a lot of these.
Secure your cables. Use tie wraps or tape so power and network cables can’t be unplugged by accident.
After a power outage, print a test receipt. If it doesn’t print, add the printer again under Settings > Printing > Printer selection.
Keep one network for business devices. Don’t put customer devices on the same network as your tablets and printers.
Still not working?
Follow our troubleshooting guide: Fix a printer that won’t work.
If the printer prints a test receipt but tickets still don’t arrive, check your printer jobs and prep station settings. If you suspect a network problem, contact your network specialist or internet provider. If you need more help, contact Tebi Support.
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