Technical Help - Installing a Thermal Printer

UPS.com supports printing to several makes and models of thermal printers. To make sure you are using a compliant printer, please select the link below.

Thermal Printers for UPS Internet Shipping

For Windows^® users (without Google Chrome) :  The following steps should be followed when setting up your thermal label printer for printing labels for UPS Internet or CampusShip shipping from a Windows PC:

1. Download and install the UPS thermal printer drivers
2. Enable the UPS Printer Applet
3. Set your browser's pop-up blocker to accept pop-up windows from ups.com. UPS Internet Shipping and CampusShip use pop-up windows to display labels for printing

For Mac^® users or Windows Google Chrome users: The following steps should be followed when setting-up your thermal label printer for printing labels for UPS Internet or CampusShip shipping from a Mac:

1. Install your thermal printer.
2. Enable the UPS Printer Applet.
3. Set your browser's pop-up blocker to accept pop-up windows from ups.com. UPS Internet Shipping and CampusShip use pop-up windows to display labels for printing.

If using a Windows^® operating system without the Google Chrome browser, to print with an Eltron or Zebra thermal printer you must install the drivers provided below; the driver provided with your printer will not work with UPS Internet Shipping or CampusShip. If you are using a different thermal printer, use the drivers that came with your printer and do not install the UPS Thermal Printer Drivers.

Note:  Do not plug your printer into the computer until instructed to do so below.

The following instructions will help you download and install the UPS Thermal Printer drivers to your selected directory.

• Turn off the printer.
• Select the Download the UPS Thermal Printer Drivers link below.
• You may see one or more of the following windows based on your operating system and security settings; take the action listed for each window:

• Select Unzip to extract the files.  Once files are extracted, select the appropriate buttons to close the window.
• Right-click the Start menu and choose Explore or Open Windows Explorer, then navigate to C:\Drivers\ UPS_5_1_7_certified_w10 and double-click the file setup.exe to start the Installation Utility
• You may see one or more of the following windows based on your operating system and security settings; take the action listed for each window:

• You will be prompted to choose your printer model from a list.
• Click Next after choosing your printer model.
• You may see one or more of the following windows based on your operating system and security settings; take the action listed for each window:

• Connect the printer to your computer and turn on the printer power; wait for the green light to turn on indicating the printer is ready.
• The thermal printer is now installed; set up your thermal printer using the instructions in the printer guide.
• If the Found New Hardware wizard appears; click Cancel and do not install the software.
• See below for instructions to use the UPS Printer Applet.

The UPS Thermal printer applet supports printing to a thermal printer from your Mac if it meets the following requirements:

MAC Thermal Printer Installation

• Connect your Thermal Printer to your MAC using the USB cable
  • Turn on the Thermal Printer so the light on top is a steady green
• Download the UPS Thermal Printer Installation package from this link
• Double click the UPS Thermal Printing-3.0.0.dmg package
  • Drag the UPS Thermal Printing.app into the Applications folder
• Open the Launch Pad and click the UPS Thermal Printing.app to run the application

It is possible the application will be require MAC security settings to be updated if the application is rejected. In order to resolve this issue:

• Open System Preferences
• Open Security & Privacy
  • Select the General tab
  • At the bottom, the blocked application will appear
  • Select ‘Anywhere’
• At the prompts, click Approve, Allow, or Run

It is possible the CUPS MAC printer setup interface may not load. In order to load the interface manually, open any browser and type localhost:631 in the address bar:

• The default browser will open with the MAC CUPS Printer Install interface
  • Review the installed printers 
  • Click the Administration tab
  • Click the Add Printer button
  • Select your thermal printer from the "Local Printers" section
  • Click the Continue button
  • Remove any pre-populated content, and complete the fields.
  • Enter Printer “Name”
  • Example “ZP450”
  • Enter Description
  • Example “Thermal Printer”
  • Enter Location
  • Example “Office, Mac1”
  • Document location name for future reference.
  • Click Continue again on the next screen
  • Click the Select Another Make/Manufacturer button
  • Continue to the next step
  • Select Raw as the "Make"
  • Click Continue
  • Select Raw Queue(en) as the "Model"
  • Click Add Printer
  • Select Set Default Options
  • System should display "the printer default options have been set successfully"
  • Next, follow the instructions below to add Class

Instructions for adding Class

• Click the Administration tab
• Click the Add Class Button
• Remove pre-populated content (if any), and complete the fields.
• Enter a Class “Name.” (Do not enter the PRINTER name. The PRINTER and CLASS name are case-sensitive.)
  • For example: ZebraClass
• Enter a CLASS “Description.”
• For example: Zebra Printer Class

Note: Do NOT use the words Eltron or UPS in the Class Name or Description fields.

• Enter a CLASS “Location.”

We recommend the CLASS Location name matches the PRINTER Location name.

• For example: Mac1
• Select the printer from the Member’s list.
• Click the Add Class button.
• A confirmation window will briefly appear, followed by the Administration window.

Set the UPS Thermal Printing application to start on login

• Select "System Preferences" from the Apple menu
• Select "Users & Groups" and select the "Login Items" tab
• Click the "+" symbol to add an application
• Select the UPS Thermal Printing.app and click "Add"

NOTE: Once the application is added you may close this window

Using the UPS Thermal Printing app in Chrome, Firefox, and Opera

• Log into "ups.com"
• Print a Thermal Label

Using the UPS Thermal Printing app in Safari

• Log into "ups.com"
• Try to print a Thermal Label
  • If the "Missing Plugin" message appears

• Click "Missing Plugin"
• Click "More Info" to view the "Java Download for OS X"
• Click "Agree and Start Free Download"
• Select the jre.dmg file and install Java

Setting Preferences in Safari

• Select “Preferences” from the Safari menu
• Select “Websites” from the menu bar
• Select “Java” in the Plugin section on the left navigation bar
• Select “ups.com” in the “Configured Websites” window on the right
• Hold down the “Option” key and click the drop down arrow next to “ups.com”
• Uncheck “Run in Safe Mode”
  • If prompted with a message to "trust ups.com to run 'Java'" select "Trust"
  • If, upon printing a label, a security risk pop-up message pops up, click the checkbox to accept the Terms and Conditions and select "Run"

The UPS Thermal printer applet supports printing to any supported thermal printer model from any browser or operating system. To use the applet you must have Version 7 of Java installed on your PC. You can check your version at http://www.java.com. Click the "Do I have Java" link, then click "Verify Java Version" link. If Java is not installed, click the Download Java button and follow the prompts to install it.

Thermal Printers to Use For UPS Internet Shipping

Using the UPS Thermal Printer Applet

• Install the UPS Thermal Printer Driver using the steps previously provided on this page
• Log in to ups.com
• Mouse over the Shipping tab at the top of the page and select Set Preferences in the drop-down menu
  Note: If you are a CampusShip user, click the My Settings button and select Edit Shipping Preferences
• Select View/Edit in the Printing Preferences section
• Click the thermal label check boxes:
• Use my thermal printer to print labels
• Use my UPS thermal printer to print receipts
• Click Print a Sample Label
  The 'Do you want to run this application?' window will appear
• Click the 'Do not show this again for apps from the publisher and language above'. check box
• Click 'Run'
• The 'Allow access to the following application form' window will appear. Click the 'Do not show this again for this app and website' check box. Click 'OK'.
• The 'Applet has requested access to the printer' window will appear. Click the 'Always allow this applet to access the printer' check box. Click 'OK'.
• Allow a few moments for the printer selection to appear in the Print Label window. Select your printer name. The label will print.

The first time you print a label, you may see one or more of the following windows. Take the action listed in the table below:

Troubleshooting:

• If the label pop-up window does not appear, make sure that pop-ups from ups.com are allowed by your browser.
• If you do not have Version 7 of Java, the label will not print. To install an updated version of Java, go to www.java.com.
• If you have the correct version of Java, clear your browser's temporary Internet files and try again.

If you receive a message stating your browser does not support this function, try the following alternative method:

Windows Users: Run the installer (link below), which will place the UPS Thermal Printer App in the Startup folder so that it will run automatically each time you start your machine.

Run InstallerOpen the link in a new window