Which thermal receipt printers work with TikTok Live Printer and how to connect them on macOS, Windows and Linux over USB, the system printer or the network.
Any printer that speaks ESC/POS works: the cheap 58 mm USB receipt printers sold as POS58 or similar, 80 mm kitchen printers, and network receipt printers. Label printers and inkjet or laser printers do not.
Connection options
Section titled “Connection options”| Option | Use when | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic | you want the default for your OS | USB on macOS and Linux, system printer on Windows |
| USB | the printer is on a USB cable | No driver needed on macOS or Linux. Pick a specific printer when more than one is attached. |
| System printer | the printer is installed in the OS | Sends raw receipt data through the printer’s own driver (Windows spooler or CUPS). |
| Network | the printer has an IP address | Plain TCP on port 9100. |
| Console | you have no printer yet | Prints the text of each receipt to the app’s terminal. |
USB works out of the box: the system does not claim receipt printers, so the app talks to them directly. No driver is needed.
Windows
Section titled “Windows”Use System printer and choose the queue created by the printer’s vendor driver, usually named after the model. Do not install WinUSB or Zadig to use the USB option: that replaces the vendor driver and breaks the printer for other software.
USB needs permission for your user. Create /etc/udev/rules.d/99-receipt-printer.rules with the printer’s vendor and product ids (shown in the USB printer list) and replug it:
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTR{idVendor}=="0416", ATTR{idProduct}=="5011", MODE="0666"Alternatively add the printer to CUPS as a raw queue and use System printer.
Choose 58 mm or 80 mm under Printer. The app lays receipts out at 384 or 576 dots accordingly; a wrong setting wraps text early or clips images.