Autoprinter Setup Guide

Updated Sep 20, 2026 · 4 min read

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New here? How Autoprinter works explains the pieces in two minutes.

Start with the printing you need today. You can use Autoprinter to preview documents in your browser, send a whole order's paperwork straight to a printer, or print automatically when an order arrives.

Choose your starting point#

I want to…	What to set up
Preview or print a packing slip, invoice, return slip, gift receipt, or batch pick slip	A template. Your browser handles printing; no paired device is needed.
Send an order's documents straight to my printers	Templates, a Print Station with the Desktop Utility, and a Print Chain.
Print order documents without opening each order	The same setup, plus Automatic Printing in Settings.
Send purchased Shopify shipping labels to my label printer	A Chrome Extension paired as a Label Source, and a Print Station with the Desktop Utility.

A Print Station is the computer that prints. A Label Source is the browser that captures shipping labels. They can be on the same computer or different computers. You don't need a Label Source just to print order documents.

1. Choose your documents#

Open Templates and select a document type. New installs start with the built-in templates off. Turn on the built-in template for each type you need, or open Customize and save your choices to enable it.

For a different design, use Browse Samples. Its Download button adds an editable custom template to your shop. You can also create a new template or import HTML. See Custom Templates.

Open Settings to check your store information, logos, colors, and tax ID. Branding explains what your built-in documents inherit.

Example interface

Templates · built-in packing slip

New installs start with the built-in template off. Customize opens its settings; the switch enables it.Scroll across the illustration to see the full view.

2. Preview a real order#

Open an order in Shopify, then Print → Autoprinter and choose a document. Check the preview and print from your browser with Cmd/Ctrl + P. For a batch pick slip, select orders from the orders list and use the bulk Print picker.

This is enough if you only need browser printing. The next steps add printing directly to your devices.

3. Connect the computer that prints#

Open Printer Setup → Print Stations and add a station with a recognizable name, such as “Packing Desk.” Install the Desktop Utility on the Windows or macOS computer connected to your printers, then use Pair on the station to generate a code and enter it in the utility.

In the utility's Printers card, assign the slots you use: Label printer, Document printer, and Receipt printer. Leave the others empty. Each slot has a Fit to page switch for cut-off or wrong-size prints; see Printer Troubleshooting. Keep the utility running and the computer awake when you want it to print.

The Print Stations & Label Sources guide covers pairing, default stations, and multiple computers. Browser + OS Support provides the official downloads and compatibility requirements.

Example interface

Printer Setup · an unpaired Print Station

Pair generates a code for the Desktop Utility on the printer computer. Each station has its own pairing.Scroll across the illustration to see the full view.

4. Build your Print Chain#

Open Print Rules → Print Chain. Add the document types you want, set their order and copies, and choose whether each should Always print or print Only when a rule matches. Save the chain.

Then open a real order and choose More actions → Auto Print Chain. It queues the applicable documents for your Print Station. To preview the same selection first, use Print → Autoprinter → Use Print Chain instead.

Print Chain decides which documents an order gets. Print Rules choose which template and station each document uses. Rules are optional; the default template is enough to get started.

Example interface

Print Chain · copies and print mode

Each item has its own copy count and Always print / Only when a rule matches setting. Save chain applies your changes.Scroll across the illustration to see the full view.

5. Add automation when you're ready#

For order documents, open Settings → Automatic Printing, choose when orders should print, and turn it on. Start with the Automatic Printing guide: enabling it does not print your existing backlog.

Running a cafe, bakery, or shop counter? Receipts and kitchen tickets covers 80 mm and 58 mm receipt printers.

For shipping labels, install the Chrome Extension on the computer where you buy labels in Shopify. Add and pair a Label Source from Printer Setup. When you click Print shipping label in Shopify, the extension captures the purchased label PDF and sends it to your Print Station. Autoprinter does not buy labels for you.

Check that everything is working#

The dashboard's System Health shows device and queue status. Print History shows queued jobs and their outcomes; its guide explains status, filters, and retries. Browser previews do not create queued print jobs.

Every plan includes these printing features, subject to its monthly order allowance. See the Billing FAQ.

If something stops, follow Printer Troubleshooting. Use the Need help? support button inside the app, or email support@autoprinter.app.