Local Printing
Welcome to our guide on Local Printing. Local Printing allows you to print receipts and order tickets directly from your iOS device by connecting a printer with a USB cable.
In this guide, we will walk you through how Local Printing works, how to set it up on the Dines app, and how to use it once everything is in place.
On this page
The basics
How Local Printing works
Unlike Cloud Printing (which you can see setup instructions for here), Local Printing does not rely on a network connection. Instead, the printer is connected straight to the iOS device running Dines. Once the connection is made, the Dines app recognises the printer, and within a few steps you will be using it to print.
Before you start
What you will need
Before setting anything up on the app, we first need to make sure the physical setup is spot on. You will need a compatible Star Micronics printer, ideally the MCPrint-3 series, along with its power cable. You will also need a USB cable that matches your setup. This will usually be:
USB-C to USB-C for newer iOS devices.
USB-A or USB-C to Lightning for older devices.
The printer must always be powered independently. The USB connection alone will not be enough. Once the printer is correctly connected, you may notice your iOS device starts charging. This is normal, and often a good sign that the connection is working, as the device is drawing power through the printer.
Finally, make sure your printer has paper loaded before continuing.
Physical setup
Connecting the printer to your device
On the back of your printer there are up to three USB ports, which can be either USB-A or USB-C. The port used to connect your device to Dines is identified by an “iPad” label.
Do not let the “iPad” label fool you. You can also connect your printer to the Dines app installed on an iPhone.
To connect, you will need the appropriate USB cable that plugs into the “iPad” port. One end of the cable should match the printer’s USB port (USB-A or USB-C), and one should match your iOS device (USB-C or Lightning).
There is nothing you need to configure in iOS itself. Once the printer is connected, Dines will be able to detect it automatically when you search for local printers. Which leads us nicely onto...
On the app
Adding a local printer on Dines
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Open your Dines app and head to the Settings tab (bottom right). From here, tap Local Printers on the left-hand menu, then select “Discover Local Printers.”
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If the printer is connected correctly, it will appear on the list immediately, showing the printer model along with the serial number. If you ever need to confirm this, the serial number can normally be found on a sticker on the bottom of the printer (providing it has not been removed). Tap the printer to start configuring it.
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On the configuration screen you will set a few details and apply various toggles.
Give the printer a name. This can be anything you like, but it is best to choose something clear and recognisable, for example “Front of House,” “Bar Printer,” or “Kitchen Printer.” This is especially important if you plan to set the printer up more than once on this device, for customer receipts and kitchen tickets (more on that later).
Choose a Printer Type. This determines what kind of tickets the printer receives and how they are formatted. If you are unsure, tap the small “i” icon above the field to see a full description of what each type is for.
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Choose between Ticket Number, Order Number, or Both. A full guide on this feature is available here.
Order Number: a random 4-digit number is given for each order.
Ticket Number: you assign your own custom, sequential identifier to each order, e.g. “A-01” or “BAR-33.”
Both: both.
Below this are several optional settings that let you tailor how the printer behaves:
| Cash drawer | Link the printer to a cash drawer so it opens automatically for cash payments. |
| Default printer | Set this printer as the default option when printing receipts. |
| Auto-print | Enable automatic printing whenever an EPOS order is created. |
| Group by category | Group items by category on the ticket, e.g. “Burgers > Hamburger, Cheeseburger” rather than one flat list. |
| Internal names | Use internal item or modifier names instead of customer-facing ones. Useful in the kitchen, where staff need “Margherita Pizza,” not “Mega Margherita Mayhem.” |
Run a test print. Before you tap “Add Printer” at the bottom of the page, check the top-right corner, where you can run a quick test print to make sure the connection between printer and iOS device is fine. If all is well, you will see something like the below. Once you are happy, tap Add Printer and your printer will be ready to use.
Advanced
Setting multiple functions for one printer
It is possible to have your Local Printer act as a receipt printer and a kitchen ticket printer at the same time. In fact, you can set one Local Printer to have as many different functions as you please.
To achieve this, simply follow the “Adding a Local Printer on Dines” steps again. For example, the first time you could set the Local Printer up as a receipt printer. Then with additional setups, you could choose Kitchen Printer, Bar Printer, and so on. This is particularly handy for setups where there are several workstations in close vicinity of one another.
Receipts
Re-printing past orders
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If you need to re-print a customer’s receipt, head to the Past Orders tab at the bottom of the Dines app. You will see a list of the orders taken on your account. Find the correct order (you can use the filters at the top to sort by date, time, and so on), tap on it, and head to the Print/Receipt tab.
Select “Choose a Local Printer to Print a Ticket,” then choose your printer. The receipt will print within a few seconds.
If something goes wrong
Troubleshooting common issues
Local Printing is usually plug and play once everything has been set up. The most common issue is a printer not appearing when you tap Discover Printers. This is frequently related to the physical connection rather than the app.
Check the USB cable first. Faulty or incompatible cables are a common cause, so trying a different cable is always a good place to start.
Test without an adaptor. If you are using an adaptor, test the cable on a different device without the adaptor attached, if possible.
Check power and paper. Make sure the printer is powered on, has paper loaded correctly, and has a stable power supply.
Still not printing? If the printer is powered on but still not printing, our Printer Tips & Troubleshooting article covers printer-specific issues such as paper feed problems and flashing icons.
If you have any questions or feedback, or a Knowledge Base article you would like to see, please get in touch.
