The ShipHero mobile app connects directly to Zebra label printers over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth — no desktop station or third-party print routing tool required. Warehouse teams can print barcodes from any iPhone or iPad on the warehouse floor.
Supported printers: Only Zebra printers are supported at this time. See Supported Zebra Printer Models for the full list of compatible models.
Before You Begin
- iPhone or iPad running a supported iOS version with the ShipHero mobile app installed (latest version recommended).
- For Wi-Fi printers: your device and the printer must be on the same Wi-Fi network and subnet.
- For Bluetooth printers: the printer must be paired in iOS Settings → Bluetooth before opening the ShipHero app.
- Location and Bluetooth permissions must be granted when prompted. To re-enable them at any time, go to iOS Settings → ShipHero.
Allow Location and Bluetooth Permissions
When the app asks for permission to scan for nearby devices, tap Allow. If you deny the prompt, printer discovery will not work.
Table of Contents
- Connect a Wi-Fi Printer to ShipHero Mobile
- Connect a Bluetooth Printer to ShipHero Mobile
- Configure Print Tasks in ShipHero Mobile
- Manage Saved Printers in ShipHero Mobile
- Supported Zebra Printer Models
- Troubleshoot Zebra Printer Connections in ShipHero Mobile
Connect a Wi-Fi Printer to ShipHero Mobile
Wi-Fi printers connect over your local network using a TCP/IP address. There are two ways to add one: scan the network automatically, or enter the IP address manually.
Option A — Scan for Wi-Fi Printers in ShipHero Mobile
- Go to the app menu, tap Printers, and select Add Printer.
- Tap Scan for BT or WiFi printers. Grant the permission prompt if shown. The app scans for 15 seconds.
- Tap your printer from the discovered list (for example, "Zebra ZQ630").
- Enter a name for the printer, assign print task type, and set the paper size and print orientation.
- Tap Save. The printer appears in your saved printers list.
Option B — Add a Wi-Fi Printer by IP Address in ShipHero Mobile
- Go to the app menu, tap Printers, and tap IP Address.
- Enter the printer's IP address (for example, 192.168.1.50), protocol, and port. The default port is 9100.
- Tap Connect. The app validates the IP format and saves the configuration.
- Tap Test Connection to confirm the printer is reachable before starting work.
The connection test times out after 5 seconds. If it fails, confirm the printer is powered on and that your device is on the same Wi-Fi network and subnet as the printer.
| Open Printers page | Add printer | Select how to connect |
|---|---|---|
|
|
Connect a Bluetooth Printer to ShipHero Mobile
Bluetooth printers must be paired at the iOS system level before the ShipHero app can discover them. The app will not find an unpaired device.
Pair the Printer in iOS Settings First
Go to iOS Settings → Bluetooth and pair your Zebra printer before opening the ShipHero app. Skipping this step means the printer will not appear during the scan.
- Go to iOS Settings → Bluetooth and pair the Zebra printer.
- Open the ShipHero app, tap Printers in the menu, and select Add Printer.
- Tap Scan for BT or WiFi printers. Grant the permission prompt if shown. The app scans for 15 seconds.
- Tap the printer from the discovered list. The paired printer appears automatically.
- Enter a name for the printer, assign print task type, and set the paper size and print orientation.
- Tap Save. The printer appears in your saved list with a live connection status badge.
| Open Printers page | Add printer | Select how to connect |
|---|---|---|
|
|
Configure Print Tasks in ShipHero Mobile
Each saved printer has its own print task configuration. Set this when you first add a printer, or any time the printer's role changes.
Available print task: Barcodes is the only print task available at this time. Labels and Reports & Documents are not yet supported.
For the steps to print a product barcode while receiving an inbound shipment, see Additional Mobile Inbound Receiving Features.
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Printer name | The name shown in the printers list and print routing prompts. Use a descriptive name like "Shipping dock Zebra" to make it easy to identify. |
| Barcodes | Assigns this printer to handle SKU, LPN, and location barcodes. |
| Paper size | The paper size loaded in the printer. Required for each assigned print task type. |
| Print orientation | Portrait (vertical) or Landscape (horizontal) for each assigned task type. |
When you trigger a print action for a job type with no printer assigned, the app prompts you to select a printer or update your configuration.
Manage Saved Printers in ShipHero Mobile
The Printers screen lists all saved printers with their name, connection method, and current status. From this screen you can edit, remove, or test any saved printer.
| Printers list | Printer menu options | Edit printer page |
|---|---|---|
Edit Zebra Printer Settings in ShipHero Mobile
- Go to Printers and tap the printer you want to update.
- Tap the 3-dot menu and select Edit Settings.
- Update any fields: printer name, print job types, paper size, or print orientation.
- Tap Save. Changes take effect immediately for the next print job.
Remove a Zebra Printer from ShipHero Mobile
- Go to Printers and tap the printer you want to remove.
- Tap Remove and confirm the warning.
This Cannot Be Undone
Removing a printer permanently deletes it and all its saved settings from the app.
Test a Wi-Fi Printer Connection in ShipHero Mobile
The connection test is available for Wi-Fi printers only. It sends a ping to the printer's saved IP address and port to confirm it is reachable.
- Go to Printers and tap the Wi-Fi printer you want to test.
- Tap Test Printer. The status changes to "Checking availability."
- If the connection succeeds, the status updates to Available now. If it fails, the status shows Not in range.
Supported Zebra Printer Models
ShipHero has received Zebra's protocol approval to communicate with the following models. Only these models are officially supported.
| Category | Models |
|---|---|
| Mobile / Portable | ZQ630, ZQ630 Plus, ZQ630R, ZQ620, ZQ620 Plus, ZQ620 Plus-HC, ZQ610, ZQ610 Plus, ZQ610 Plus-HC, ZQ521, ZQ521R, ZQ511, ZQ511R, ZQ210, ZQ220 Plus, ZQ310 Plus, ZQ320 Plus |
| Desktop | ZD621, ZD621-HC, ZD621R, ZD611, ZD611-HC, ZD611R, ZD421, ZD421-HC, ZD411, ZD411-HC |
HC models are healthcare-grade variants. R models include RFID capability. Both are fully supported by the same integration.
Troubleshoot Zebra Printer Connections in ShipHero Mobile
Use this table to diagnose common Zebra printer connection issues in the ShipHero mobile app.
| Symptom | Likely Cause | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| Scan finds no printers | Permission denied, printer off, or out of range. | Go to iOS Settings → ShipHero and confirm Location and Bluetooth permissions are on. Confirm the printer is powered on. For Wi-Fi, verify your device is on the same network subnet. |
| Scan times out (15 s) | Printer not broadcasting, or Bluetooth printer not yet paired. | For Bluetooth: pair the printer in iOS Settings → Bluetooth first. For Wi-Fi: confirm the printer is on the same subnet. |
| Test connection fails | Wrong IP address, wrong port, or device on a different subnet. | Verify the IP address and port (default: 9100). Reconnect your device to the warehouse Wi-Fi network. |
| IP address rejected | Invalid IPv4 format entered. | Use the format 0–255.0–255.0–255.0–255 (for example, 192.168.1.50). No letters or special characters. |
| Bluetooth shows "Disconnected" | Printer is off or out of Bluetooth range. | Power on the printer and bring it within range. The status updates automatically. |
| "No printer configured for [type]" | The print job type has no printer assigned. | Go to Printers, open the printer's settings, and assign the job type under Print job types. |
Zebra Printer Error Messages in ShipHero Mobile
When a Zebra printer has a physical issue, ShipHero displays one of the following errors in the mobile app.
| Error Message | Cause | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| "The printer is out of paper. Load labels, then try printing again." | The printer has run out of label stock. | Load labels into the printer, then retry the print job. |
| "The printer head is open. Close the printer head, then try printing again." | The print head latch is not fully closed. | Close and latch the print head, then retry the print job. |
| "The printer is paused. Press the printer's PAUSE button to resume, then try printing again." | The printer is in a paused state. | Press the PAUSE button on the printer to resume, then retry the print job. |
| "The printer needs attention before printing. Load labels, close the printer head, and resume the printer." | Multiple blockers are active at once. | Load labels, close and latch the print head, and press PAUSE to resume the printer. Retry the print job once all three are resolved. |
| "The printer needs attention before printing." | The printer has an unspecified hardware issue. | Check that labels are loaded, the print head is closed, and the printer is not paused. Retry the print job. |