Thermal Printing Setup
Set up QZ Tray for instant, silent receipt printing on your 80mm thermal printer — or print directly from the browser.
Connect Your Thermal Printer
Connect a standard 80mm thermal receipt printer to your computer via USB, network, or Bluetooth. Open your operating system's printer settings and set it as the default printer. This is the printer that will be used for receipt printing — both with QZ Tray and from the browser print dialog.
Most thermal printers work out of the box with USB. For network printers, check if your printer has a built-in web interface for configuration (usually accessible at its IP address).
Download and Install QZ Tray
Visit qz.io and download QZ Tray for your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux). Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions. QZ Tray is a small background application that creates a bridge between your web browser and your local printers. After installation, QZ Tray starts automatically and runs in the system tray.
QZ Tray is completely optional. Without it, clicking Print will open your browser's standard print dialog. With QZ Tray, receipts print silently with one click — no dialogs, no popups.
Allow Browser Connection
The first time you print with QZ Tray, your browser may ask you to allow the connection. Click "Allow" or "Trust" to let the ordering system communicate with QZ Tray. This permission is remembered for future sessions. If QZ Tray shows a certificate warning, you can accept it — the connection is local between your browser and the QZ Tray application on the same machine.
If you see a connection error, make sure QZ Tray is running. Look for the QZ icon in your system tray (Windows) or menu bar (macOS). Right-click it and select "Start" if it's stopped.
Print Your First Receipt
Go to the Orders page in the admin panel. Find any order and click the printer icon next to it. If QZ Tray is running, the receipt will print instantly on your default printer — no dialog, no window. If QZ Tray is not running, a print preview window will open where you can select your printer and confirm.
Use the "Print Active Orders" button at the top to print all current orders at once — each on a separate receipt. Great for shift handovers.
Enable Auto-Print for New Orders
Go to Admin → Settings → Printing. Enable the "Auto-print new orders" toggle. From that moment, every new incoming order will be sent to the printer automatically — no clicks required. The setting is saved locally on this device only, so you can enable it on the kitchen computer without affecting other devices. You can also choose the paper width (80mm or 58mm) to match your printer.
Auto-print works only while the admin panel is open in the browser. For uninterrupted kitchen printing, keep a dedicated browser tab open on the kitchen display.
Troubleshooting
If printing doesn't work as expected, check these common issues: (1) Make sure your thermal printer is set as the default printer in your OS. (2) Verify QZ Tray is running by checking the system tray icon. (3) Try restarting QZ Tray if the connection fails. (4) If receipts print on the wrong printer, check your default printer setting. (5) For network printers, ensure both the computer and printer are on the same network.
You can always fall back to browser printing — it works on any device including tablets and phones, no installation needed.
Ready to Get Started?
Apply what you've learned and set up your restaurant in minutes