The Quick Answer
Square POS requires specific network configurations and models to work with Bixolon printers. Learn how to fix connection drops, failed test prints, and incorrect order routing.
Getting a Bixolon printer working with Square POS should be straightforward, but a few specific compatibility and configuration issues catch people out. If Square isn't detecting or printing to your Bixolon printer, one of the situations below is almost certainly why.
First: Is Your Model Actually Supported?
Square maintains a specific list of supported printer hardware, and not every Bixolon model is on it. Before troubleshooting anything, verify your specific model works with Square:
- Check Square's official hardware compatibility list on their support site
- Note that Square's supported list can differ between the Square Register (dedicated hardware), Square for Retail, and Square for Restaurants — even for the same printer model
- Some Bixolon models require specific connection types with Square (Ethernet-only, or Bluetooth-only) even if the printer physically supports multiple connections
If your Bixolon model isn't on Square's compatibility list, you may still get it to print through generic ESC/POS support, but you'll lack Square-specific features (order routing, receipt formatting from Square's templates, etc.).
Connection Type Matters
Square's integration with printers varies by connection type. Get this right first before troubleshooting anything else:
Ethernet (Most Common for Bixolon + Square)
Most Bixolon POS printer setups with Square use Ethernet. This is generally the most reliable connection type for POS use.
Setup requirements:
- Printer connected to the same network as your Square terminal or POS device
- Static IP address assigned to the printer (either on the printer or via router DHCP reservation) — otherwise the printer's address can change, causing Square to lose the connection
- No firewall blocking communication between Square's device and the printer's IP
Bluetooth
Certain Bixolon Bluetooth-capable printers work with Square, but the pairing must be done through Square's own settings, not through your device's system-wide Bluetooth settings.
Setup:
- In Square's printer settings within the app, use their "Add printer" flow
- Follow Square's specific pairing prompts rather than pairing outside the app first
USB
Square's iOS and Android apps have limited USB printer support compared to their web-based or desktop tools. For most retail POS use, USB isn't the primary integration path — Ethernet or Bluetooth is preferred.
Setting Up in Square
The standard setup flow inside the Square app:
- Open the Square app and navigate to Settings → Hardware → Printers
- Tap Create Printer Station (or similar wording depending on Square app version)
- Select the printer type (Receipt Printer, Kitchen Printer, Order Printer, or In-person Order Ticket)
- Follow the connection setup for your connection type (Ethernet, Bluetooth)
- For Ethernet: enter the printer's IP address when prompted
- Test print from within Square's setup flow to confirm the printer works
- Assign the printer to specific print roles (receipt, order tickets, etc.)
Common Issues and Fixes
Square Can't Find the Printer
If Ethernet:
- Verify the printer's IP address by printing a network configuration page
- Confirm your Square device is on the same network as the printer (same SSID for Wi-Fi, or same subnet if wired)
- Ping the printer's IP from another device to confirm it's reachable
- Some corporate/public Wi-Fi networks isolate devices from each other (AP isolation); this prevents Square from reaching the printer even on the same network
If Bluetooth:
- Ensure the printer is in pairing mode when Square scans
- Confirm the printer isn't already paired to another device (see the Bluetooth pairing guide)
- For the SPP-R310 specifically, verify it's in the correct iOS/Android mode for your Square device
Printer Found, But Test Print Fails
Character encoding issues: If Square's test print produces garbled text, the printer may be set to the wrong character code page. Set it to a standard code page (often PC437 or CP858) that matches Square's output.
Cash drawer command triggers instead of print: Some Bixolon printers interpret certain Square commands as cash drawer signals if configured for drawer control on the same output. Check the printer's cash drawer settings.
Prints partial receipt then stops: Often a paper width configuration mismatch. Confirm the printer is set to the correct paper width (80mm for standard receipts) and Square is configured for the same.
Prints Work Sometimes, Fail Others
IP address changing: Most common cause. Assign a static IP to the printer.
Wi-Fi signal issues: If both Square device and printer are on Wi-Fi, weak signal on either can cause intermittent failures. Move devices closer to the access point.
Sleep or power save on the printer: Some Bixolon models can enter power-save mode during long idle periods. Adjust settings to prevent aggressive sleep, or configure Square to wake the printer before printing.
Kitchen Printer Assignments Not Routing Correctly
If Square is set up to route different order types to different printers (e.g., kitchen tickets to a kitchen printer, receipts to the counter), and orders are printing at the wrong printer:
- Check the printer role assignments in Settings → Hardware → Printers
- Confirm each printer's assignment (receipt vs. kitchen) matches what you want
- Check item-level printer routing in Settings → Item Setup → Printer Routing to make sure items are assigned to the correct printer category
Impact Vs. Thermal Printer Considerations
If you're using an impact printer like the SRP-275III with Square:
- Impact printers are commonly chosen for kitchen environments because thermal paper degrades in heat
- Setup in Square is generally the same as thermal, but ensure the printer is set to the correct emulation mode (BXL/POS-KP for kitchen printer emulation on the SRP-275III)
- Some kitchen printer features (paper size, print speed) differ from receipt printers and need to be configured accordingly
Test Print Success, But Real Orders Fail
If Square's built-in test print works but actual orders don't reach the printer:
- Confirm the printer is assigned to the correct print role for the order type (receipts vs. kitchen tickets)
- Check that Square's item categories are correctly configured for printer routing
- For split orders (dine-in + takeout, or split between multiple printers), verify each destination is set up correctly
- Try a fresh order after saving all printer assignments — cached configuration can sometimes need a refresh
Square Hardware Alternatives
If your Bixolon printer isn't supported by Square, or you're setting up a new POS station:
- Square Register (dedicated hardware) has built-in receipt printing without requiring an external printer
- Square Terminal similarly has a built-in receipt printer
- Square sells first-party receipt printers (Star Micronics models) with guaranteed compatibility
That said, for kitchen printing, receipt-with-cash-drawer setups, and specific integrations, external Bixolon printers remain a common and workable choice.
When to Contact Support
Square Support: for issues with the Square app itself, printer routing configuration, item-level printer assignments, or setup within the Square interface.
Bixolon Support: for issues with the printer itself — physical connection, self-test failures, hardware faults, firmware.
Both: for compatibility issues where the printer is confirmed working on other setups but doesn't function with Square specifically. Square can confirm whether they officially support your model; Bixolon can confirm if there's a firmware update that improves Square compatibility.
Preventive Setup
To make Square + Bixolon setups as reliable as possible long-term:
- Use wired Ethernet rather than Wi-Fi wherever possible
- Assign static IPs to all printers via router DHCP reservation
- Document your printer configurations (IP, role assignments, paper size) so recovery after failures is faster
- Keep the printer's firmware at a version confirmed working with your Square app version — don't blindly update either side
- Have a spare printer of the same model available for critical POS operations if downtime would be costly
