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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 Setup Printing] to add your printer in the app.

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.

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, 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 longe necessary.

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 the "For Wi-Fi" section)

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

Follow these steps to print from your iPad via your Mac:

Mac Gotcha: The Booth.Events app cannot print to a printer shared from the same Mac it's running on. The app will see the printer but show a red error. Use an iPad on the same network as the Mac instead.

  1. Open System Settings → Printers & Scanners

  2. Select your printer and turn on the Sharing switch

  1. Click Open Sharing Settings

  2. Turn on Printer Sharing

  3. Select your printer on the left, then change "Everyone" from "No Access" to Can Print

  1. Click Done

Your printer is now available to other devices on the network.


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 Setup Printing].

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

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.

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.

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