Set up a Zebra printer’s Wi-Fi without a Windows PC

What you need

• A Zebra ZD printer with Bluetooth. Not every ZD has it; the section below covers the ones without.
• A WPA2 personal network, the usual home or office kind with one password.
• An iPhone or iPad on iOS 17 or later.
• Enterprise Wi-Fi that asks for a username as well as a password.

Steps

1. Start the setup

   Turn the printer on with labels loaded and keep it close. In Backfeed, go to Printers, tap +, open Setting up a brand-new printer? and choose Set up over Bluetooth. Allow Bluetooth when asked.

2. Pick your printer

   It appears in the list of nearby printers. If Backfeed asks, hold the printer’s Feed button for about five seconds until the status light flashes. If a six-digit code appears, confirm it only if it matches the printer.

3. Enter your Wi-Fi

   Type the network name and password. Backfeed sends them to the printer over the secured Bluetooth link.

4. Wait for it to join

   The printer joins your network, which can take a couple of minutes, then shows up in Printers with its address. Print a test label to confirm it works.

If your printer has no Bluetooth

The same setup screen lists the other ways: plug in an Ethernet cable, or set the Wi-Fi over USB with Zebra’s own tools. Once the printer is on the network, Backfeed finds it.

After setup

Everything so far is free: finding printers, setup, calibration and test labels. Printing your own PDFs and images needs Backfeed Local, a one-time $9.99 purchase, or a Backfeed Cloud subscription.

More guides

• Print to a Zebra printer from a Mac
• Print 4x6 shipping labels from iPhone or iPad
• Print to a Zebra printer from anywhere

Which printer to buy, and which will not work, is on the printers page. Stuck? Ask us with your model and what you print. A person will answer.