Add a new printer or change its IP - connect it by network (Wi-Fi or cable), USB or Bluetooth, and compatible models

Applies to Invu POS 6.10.6 on iPad, Android and Windows, and to the Admin Panel. Labels are shown as they appear when the POS or the panel is in English. This article explains how to connect a printer and add it. To decide which products print on each printer, see "Configurar impresoras y comandas - qué imprime cada impresora, precuenta, KDS y reimprimir". If a printer that used to work stopped printing, see "La impresora no imprime comandas o facturas - cómo revisarlo".

Most important:

• First identify which printer you are adding:
  • Kitchen or bar printers (order tickets) are created in Printers > Printer List and only work over the network (Wi-Fi or cable).
  • The cash register printer (pre-check and invoice) is set up in the cash register. It can be network, USB, Bluetooth or the device's built-in printer.
• For Invu, a network printer is its IP. If you replace the printer and the new one keeps the same IP, you do not need to change anything in Invu.
• Give each network printer a fixed IP. Otherwise it can change by itself when the router restarts and stop printing.
• After any change in the panel, run Update Data on each device and test with Print test.

1. Which connection you can use

• For Invu it does not matter whether the network printer uses Wi-Fi or cable: the POS connects to its IP. A cable is usually more stable than Wi-Fi.
• The printer and the POS must be on the same network, for example both on 192.168.1.x.

2. Connect the printer to the network and give it a fixed IP

These steps depend on the printer brand, so keep its manual at hand:

1. Connect it to the router with a network cable, or set up its Wi-Fi with the manufacturer's tool.
2. Find its IP. Many thermal printers print a page with their settings and IP. You can also look for it from the POS (step 3 of section 4).
3. Make the IP fixed. Ask whoever manages your network to reserve that IP for the printer in the router, or to set it as fixed on the printer.
4. If you changed router or internet provider, check that the printer is still on the same network as the POS. It may have a different IP now.

3. Add a new kitchen printer

1. In the Admin Panel, go to Printers > Printer List and tap Create Printer.
2. Fill in Description (for example "Kitchen" or "Bar") and IP, leave Status as Active, choose the Printer Type and tap Create Printer.
3. Choose what it prints with Assign Categories or Assign Items. The details are in "Configurar impresoras y comandas - qué imprime cada impresora, precuenta, KDS y reimprimir".
4. On each device, press and hold the Invu logo and choose Update Data.
5. Run a test (section 6).

4. Replace a printer or change its IP

If the new printer keeps the same IP, change nothing: run a test and you are done.

If the kitchen printer has a different IP, change it in either of these ways:

• From the Panel: in Printer List, Edit Printer > IP. Then run Update Data on each device.
• From the POS (Troubleshoot):
  1. Press and hold the Invu logo and choose Troubleshoot.
  2. Tap Find printers. The POS scans your network and shows the Detected devices. If it is not listed, type the IP in Check IP.
  3. Choose the device and tap Print test to confirm it is the right printer.
  4. Tap Assign to INVU, choose which Invu printer it is and tap Save.
  • You can also tap Edit on the printer's row and type the new IP Printer.
  • The change is saved on the server, applies to every POS and needs internet.
  • If one physical printer acts as both "Kitchen" and "Bar" in Invu, assign the new IP to each one: the other Invu printers keep their IP.

If you replace the cash register printer (pre-check and invoice):

• Network, with a different IP: in the Panel, Cash Register > Cash Register List, edit the cash register and change Pre-account IP. Then run Update Data. This IP cannot be changed from Troubleshoot.
• USB or Bluetooth: it is chosen on each device (section 5).

5. Cash register printer by USB, Bluetooth or built-in

1. In the Panel, edit the cash register and choose in Pre-account type the option for your printer (network, USB, Bluetooth or the built-in device).
2. Run Update Data on the device.
3. For USB or Bluetooth: in Troubleshoot, on the Pre-check row, tap Edit and choose the printer under Device. Do this on every device that uses it.
   • If the row says No printer selected, you have not chosen the device yet.
   • If you see No connected printers found, check that it is on and connected. On Android, accept the Bluetooth permission when the app asks.
4. Set Number of characters on pre-account? to your paper width: under 40 for 58 mm paper, 40 to 47 for 72 mm and 48 or more for 80 mm.

Careful with the network printer type ("Impresora por red"): that pre-check type uses the system's regular printer (like an office printer) and only works for invoices. With that type, the pre-check does not print.

6. Print a test

1. In Troubleshoot, find the printer under Printers and peripherals.
2. Tap Details and then Print test. A ticket that says PRINT TEST and NOT A SALE should come out.

• Available only means the POS can reach the printer. Always confirm with the test ticket.
• The test only exists for network printers. For a USB, Bluetooth or built-in printer, print the pre-check of a test order.

7. Compatible models

• Network printers (kitchen and cash register): Invu does not ship a closed list of brands. Thermal receipt printers that accept direct network printing (ESC/POS commands on port 9100) work, which is standard for restaurant printers. Accents are printed with the Windows-1252 character table.
• Built-in on Android: Sunmi, iMin, PAX, Landi, Wiseasy and Choizen.
• Other pre-check printers: the POS also supports the ZKP8008 (network or USB).
• Labels: Zebra and TSC label printers over the network, in some label sizes. Zebra printers do not work on Windows.
• KDS (kitchen screen): it is added like another printer. See the KDS section in "Configurar impresoras y comandas - qué imprime cada impresora, precuenta, KDS y reimprimir".

Before buying, especially a USB or Bluetooth printer, ask us which model suits you.

Common problems when adding or changing a printer

• "Find printers" finds nothing. The POS and the printer are on different networks, or on iPad the local network permission is missing. Try typing the IP in Check IP.
• I changed the IP in the Panel and the POS still uses the old one. That device is missing Update Data (or Publish Now, if you use the Publish Center).
• It worked one day and not the next. The printer got another IP. Give it a fixed IP (section 2) and update the IP in Invu.

When to contact support

Write to us if the printer still does not print the test after these steps, or if you are not sure which type to choose. Send:

• the printer's brand and model and how it is connected (Wi-Fi, cable, USB or Bluetooth);
• the device running the POS (iPad, Android or Windows);
• a photo of the Troubleshoot screen showing the This POS network card and the printer's row;
• the printer's IP and the name of the cash register or printer in Invu.