Receipt printer guide: choose, connect, troubleshoot
Last updated: 3 October 2026
A thermal printer prints receipts without ink, in seconds. This guide covers choosing between 58 and 80 mm, connecting it to an Android tablet or a Windows PC, and what to do when it won't print or prints strange characters.
58 mm or 80 mm?
| Width | For | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 58 mm | Small shops, short receipts, tight budget | Often Bluetooth, great with a tablet |
| 80 mm | Cafés, groceries and boutiques with long receipts | More readable, often with auto-cut |
Check that the printer speaks ESC/POS: it is the standard of almost every thermal printer, and what PosSwift uses.
Tested with PosSwift: Epson TM-T20III (80 mm, USB and Ethernet, auto-cut) and Xprinter XP-58IIH (58 mm, USB and Bluetooth, Arabic and Darija receipts tested).
Connecting the printer
- Bluetooth (Android tablet): switch the printer on, open the tablet's Bluetooth settings, pair it (code often 0000 or 1234), then select it in PosSwift's print settings.
- USB (Android tablet): you need an OTG adapter (USB-C or micro-USB to USB-A). Plug in and accept the permission prompt.
- USB (Windows PC): install the manufacturer's driver if Windows doesn't recognise the printer, then print a Windows test page.
- Network (WiFi or Ethernet): print the printer's self-test page to read its IP address, and keep the tablet or PC on the same network.
Tip: most printers print a self-test page if you switch them on while holding the paper FEED button. If that page prints, the printer works and the problem is the connection.
It won't print: common causes
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Nothing comes out | Paper loaded the wrong way | The thermal (shiny) side must face the print head: scratch it with a nail, the right side turns black |
| Blank paper | Non-thermal paper or upside down | Use thermal paper of the right width, flip the roll |
| Bluetooth can't find it | Already paired to another device | Switch the other device off or forget the printer there, then pair again |
| Strange characters or unreadable Arabic | Wrong mode or driver | Use ESC/POS mode; for Arabic, prefer a tested model |
| Cuts the receipt too early | Wrong width set | Set 58 or 80 mm to match your paper |
With PosSwift
PosSwift prints to 58 and 80 mm ESC/POS thermal printers over USB, Bluetooth or WiFi, in French and Arabic, and keeps printing without internet. It also prints barcode labels sized to your printer.
- Discover PosSwift
Offline point-of-sale for Moroccan shops.
- Guide: barcode scanner
Choosing and connecting a scanner.
- Guide: cash drawer
A drawer that opens on every sale.