Getting Started

Bringing Printercow online is straightforward. Follow these steps to set up your thermal printer with Printercow.

Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure you have:

• A thermal printer with a USB-B connection port (learn more about thermal printing).
• A device to run Printercow:
  • For a dedicated setup: A Raspberry Pi Zero W 2, Raspberry Pi 3/4, or similar single-board computer; an SD card (8GB or larger); and a way to flash the SD card (e.g., a computer with an SD card reader).
  • For quick testing (coming soon): A computer with a USB port for the Printercow desktop app.

Printercow is designed for self-hosting or integration into your infrastructure.

Installation via Custom Image (Recommended)

This method provides the easiest setup on a dedicated device.

1. Download the Image: Download the pre-made Printercow image for Raspberry Pi.

   • Download Printercow Pi Image.

2. Flash the Image: Use Raspberry Pi Imager to write the image to your SD card.

3. Initial Setup:

   • Eject the SD card and insert it into your Raspberry Pi.
   • Connect your thermal printer to the Raspberry Pi via USB.
   • Power on the Raspberry Pi.

4. Connect and Configure:

   • Wait 1-2 minutes for the Raspberry Pi to boot and create a Wi-Fi hotspot named "Printercow".
   • Connect your computer or smartphone to the "Printercow" hotspot.
   • Open a web browser. The setup page should appear automatically (if not, go to http://10.0.0.2).
   • Enter your home Wi-Fi details (network name and password).
   • Generate a pairing code at https://console.printercow.com/printers and enter it on the page.
   • Submit the form.

5. Confirmation: Once connected and paired, your printer will print "WE ARE ONLINE" to confirm setup.

That's it! Your Printercow is ready.

Desktop App (Coming Soon)

For a hardware-free option, download the Printercow desktop app, connect your printer via USB, and start printing.

Troubleshooting

• If the hotspot doesn't appear, check your Raspberry Pi's power and connections.
• Can't access the setup page? Ensure you're connected to the "Printercow" network and try the URL manually.
• Pairing issues? Verify your account at console.printercow.com and regenerate the code.