How to connect a thermal printer to Nexara (USB and network)
At the busiest part of service, the useful question is simple: which computer, printer and branch should receive this ticket? Set those three points correctly before the first order.
Nexara gives you Arabic kitchen printing through its Windows print agent and standard ESC/POS printers over USB or network. It is a restaurant order and operations platform built in Amman, Jordan. Free and Starter plans have no printer access; Growth allows one printer and Pro allows unlimited printers. Add the printer, pair it to a branch and test an Arabic ticket.
What should you check before installing the print agent?
Start with the exact printer model. Nexara supports standard ESC/POS thermal printers, including common Epson, Star and Bixolon models, over USB or a network connection. Check the model documentation for ESC/POS support and confirm whether the unit has USB, Ethernet or both.
Prepare the Windows computer that will run Nexara Printing at the branch. Windows is the primary supported platform for the print agent. Linux and macOS builds exist, but the procedure below covers Windows. Keep the computer connected to the internet and close to the printer during setup.
- Photograph the printer model label and note whether the connection is USB or network.
- For USB, place the printer beside the branch Windows computer and prepare its cable.
- For network printing, find the printer's current IP address from its network information or printer status page.
- Load thermal paper, close the cover and clear any paper or error warning before testing.
Nexara has a free plan plus paid plans per branch in Jordanian dinar, with current rates on request. Free and Starter allow 0 printers, Growth allows 1, and Pro allows unlimited printers. Read the Nexara features overview to see how printing sits beside ordering and branch operations.
How do you install Nexara Printing on Windows?
Download and run the Nexara Printing desktop application on the Windows computer assigned to the branch. After it opens, the application shows its printer list. Use the branch pairing or connection step provided for your Nexara account, then continue in the printer list.
- Choose the Windows computer that will remain at the branch during service.
- Run the Nexara Printing installer and open the desktop application.
- Pair the application with the intended Nexara branch when prompted, or complete that pairing in the assisted WhatsApp setup.
- Open the printer list and choose Add Printer.
- Select USB or Network, then continue to the printer details screen.
- Save the printer and use the test print button to send a ticket.
- Open Live Orders in Nexara and confirm that the test order and paper ticket belong to the same branch.
The screen you should be able to identify is the Nexara Printing printer list. It should show the saved printer, its connection type and its branch assignment. If the pairing option or Add Printer screen differs on your build, send a screenshot to Issa Al-Dalu through WhatsApp. The founder answers setup questions in Arabic and English on Amman hours.
How do you connect by USB or network IP?
Open Nexara Printing on the Windows computer, open the printer list and choose Add Printer. Select the connection type that matches the hardware. A USB printer is selected from the local printer choices. A network printer is added with its current IP address and the port used by the printer, normally the standard printer port shown by the device or its documentation.
| Connection | What to enter | What confirms success |
|---|---|---|
| USB | Select USB in Add Printer, connect the printer cable, switch on the printer and choose the detected local printer. | The printer appears in the Nexara Printing printer list with USB as its connection, and the test print button produces a ticket from that unit. |
| Network | Select Network in Add Printer, enter the printer's current IP address and port, then save the destination. | The printer appears in the list as a network printer, the Windows computer can reach that IP, and the test print produces paper from the intended unit. |
For USB, check the cable at both ends and confirm that the printer is powered before changing the saved printer. For network printing, compare the IP address on the printer with the IP and port saved in Nexara Printing. If the printer received a new address from the router, update the saved destination and test again.
A successful connection test is only the first check. Follow it with a branch test from Live Orders so the ticket reaches the correct kitchen. For printer selection guidance, see which thermal printers work with Nexara.
How do you name the printer and assign its branch?
In the Nexara Printing printer list, open the printer you added and give it a clear name such as Main Kitchen, Grill or Cashier Receipt. Avoid a label such as Printer 1. The name should tell a staff member where the paper will appear.
- Open the saved printer from the Nexara Printing printer list.
- Enter a recognisable printer name.
- Select the Nexara branch that owns the printer.
- Choose the printer group, such as kitchen, bar or cashier, where that option is shown.
- Save the printer settings and run a test print.
- In the Nexara dashboard printer settings, assign the menu categories that this station should receive.
Nexara routes printing by branch, printer group and menu category. A grill printer can receive grill categories while a bar printer receives drinks. Templates and category selections are configured per printer, so check both the station name and the categories before service.
Templates are assigned per printer. Check that the kitchen destination uses the intended kitchen-ticket template rather than a receipt layout. Nexara's visual template builder supports Arabic and English for kitchen tickets and receipts. See the printer category routing guide for station assignments.
What should you inspect on the Arabic test ticket?
Create a controlled test order containing an Arabic item name and an Arabic modifier. Nexara reshapes and rasterises Arabic as a bitmap before sending it to a thermal printer, because these printers generally do not carry Arabic fonts. The same ticket can include English.
- Compare the printed Arabic item name with the item selected in Live Orders.
- Check that the Arabic modifier is present and readable.
- If you use bilingual tickets, check the English text beside the Arabic text.
- Confirm that the ticket comes from the intended branch and station.
- Test each category assigned to the printer and check that unrelated categories do not appear.
Keep the paper ticket if Arabic is unreadable or expected text is missing. Send a photograph, the printer model, connection type, branch name and test order details to support. The printout helps identify whether the issue is the printer destination, template or menu-category assignment.
Run the final test from a channel the branch uses. Nexara brings website, app, phone, table QR, Talabat and Careem orders into one branch queue, subject to the branch's enabled features and integrations. The Nexara kitchen printing engine guide explains the ticket path.
What should you check when a ticket does not print?
| Symptom | First check |
|---|---|
| The printer produces no paper | Check power, paper, the closed cover and the printer warning. |
| A USB printer stops responding | Check the cable at both ends and confirm Nexara Printing is open on the connected Windows computer. |
| A network printer stops responding | Check the network connection and compare the current IP address and port with the saved printer settings. |
| The wrong station receives a ticket | Check the branch, printer group and selected menu categories. |
| Only some expected items print | Review the printer's category selections and assigned template. |
If a printer stops working, the order stays on the Live Orders board and the ticket waits in the print queue instead of disappearing. From the dashboard, re-route that printer's categories to another printer, or use automatic failover to a configured backup printer. You can manually reprint a ticket after checking what physically printed.
During an internet interruption, orders keep arriving in the cloud queue while the connection is down, and the printer catches up after reconnection. The order board itself needs a connection, so a phone hotspot beside the printer computer is a sensible backup.
The Nexara printing and connection FAQ covers interrupted connections and printer failures. For assisted setup, send the printer model, connection type, branch name and a test-ticket photo to Issa Al-Dalu through WhatsApp. Nexara is built in Amman, and support is available in Arabic and English on Amman hours.
What to remember
- Use a standard ESC/POS printer from the supported Epson, Star or Bixolon class, connected by USB or network.
- Install Nexara Printing on the branch Windows computer, then add the printer from its printer list.
- Save the printer name, branch, group and menu categories before testing service orders.
- Test an Arabic item and modifier at the actual kitchen station, then verify the printed branch and category.
Questions people ask
Can I connect an Epson, Star or Bixolon kitchen printer to Nexara?
Yes, when the model uses standard ESC/POS printing over USB or network. Add it from the Nexara Printing printer list, then run a test ticket before replacing hardware.
Do I need a Windows computer for Nexara kitchen printing?
This setup uses the Nexara Printing desktop application on Windows, the primary supported platform. Keep the computer connected to the printer and internet during service.
How do I add a network printer using its IP address?
Open the Nexara Printing printer list, choose Add Printer and select Network. Enter the printer's current IP address and port, save it, then use the test print button and a Live Orders branch test.
Why does Arabic show as squares or unreadable text on my ticket?
Nexara reshapes Arabic and rasterises it as a bitmap before sending it to the thermal printer. Check that the Arabic template is assigned to the printer, then test an Arabic item and modifier from your own menu.
How can different printers receive different menu categories?
Open the printer's settings in the Nexara dashboard and select the categories for that station. Nexara uses those selections with the branch and printer group to route tickets.
What happens if the kitchen printer stops during service?
The order remains on the Live Orders board and the ticket waits in the print queue. Re-route the printer's categories from the dashboard, use a configured backup printer where available, or manually reprint after checking the physical paper.
What should I send if setup goes wrong?
Send the printer model, connection type, branch name and a photograph of the test ticket through Nexara's WhatsApp or email support. Issa Al-Dalu answers in Arabic and English on Amman hours.