Set up, test and deploy Packing Station.

Start with the Quick Setup, then use the Technical Guide for advanced printer, deployment, integration and acceptance-testing details.

Download Print App

Quick setup

Please note - this setup guide assumes you have already installed the Packing Station for WooCommerce plugin on your store. If you still need to do this, please go to the WordPress plugin directory site and follow the plugin installation instructions there.

Go to plugin directory on WordPress.org

Install the Print App on your Android device

Keep the Android device powered and configure the screen or battery settings so it does not sleep during service.
On the Android device, open this website in a browser.
Use one of the 'Download Print App buttons to download the Android Print App to your device'.
Follow the Android App installation instructions (these will vary, depending on the level of Android on your device).
Grant any the permissions Android requests, including Bluetooth or nearby-device permissions when using a Bluetooth connected printer.
If downloading the APK with Chrome, allow Chrome to download files and install unknown apps when Android asks.
After installation, grant the Print App any requested permissions. On Android 12 or newer, allow the Nearby devices or Bluetooth permission when prompted. Android calls this permission BLUETOOTH_CONNECT; it allows the App to list and connect to Bluetooth printers that you have already paired in Android settings. It does not give the App access to your contacts, messages, or other personal data.
The App appears in the Android app launcher after installation. Whether it is added to the home screen automatically depends on the device launcher settings.
Keep the device powered and set up for service and switched on.

General Android help: Chrome site permissions, install unknown apps, Android 12 Bluetooth permissions.

Configure the basic Print App settings

Start the installed Print App, and then open the App settings using the Spanner icon which appears at the bottom right of the screen
The first section in the settings will be the App license status. If you have not yet purchased a license, continue with the setup process, since you have 100 free prints to allow you to test your setup.
Enter the WordPress site URL where Packing Station for WooCommerce is installed. If you are not sure what this is, you can find it in the plugin settings page in the WordPress admin page.
In the Printer Driver section, select the type of printer attached to the Android device.
If you are intending to use a Bluetooth connected Printer, pair the printer in Android Bluetooth settings first, before completing the App settings. Once you have paired the printer, return to the App settings, choose Bluetooth Printer (ESC/POS).
If you paired the printer successfully and choose the Bluetooth Printer (ESC/POS) option, then a dialogue box will appear to allow you to select the Bluetooth Printer. You must select it. Leaving it on No printer selected will prevent Bluetooth printing.
If the Bluetooth printer does not appear, check that Bluetooth is on, the printer is paired, and the App has Bluetooth/nearby devices permission.
If your Android device is a SUNMI or iMin, select one of these Printer Driver options. You will not need to perform the Bluetooth pairing for either of these Printer Driver options.
If you are intending to print to a desktop printer which is already connected to your Android device, choose the Generic Android device printer driver. This uses the standard Android print screen and is the normal choice for A4 documents, office printers, PDF output, and other printers exposed through an Android print service.
Print margins, visual templates, and custom CSS apply only when using the Generic Android device driver because that driver renders the order as HTML through the Android print spooler. CSS is not applied to raw Bluetooth ESC/POS output or the integrated SUNMI and iMin printer drivers.
Choose whether to auto-print new orders and whether to play an audio notification when new orders arrive. Note that auto-print is not available when using the Generic Android Printer option, because generic Android print requires manual Android print confirmation.
Select Save and Launch. The App should open the Packing Station login page and you should login using the WordPress User with the Packing Station role, which you created when installing the plugin.

Test

Logon in with the WordPress account you created during the plugin installation, which has the Packing Station role.
Print a few orders and check the layout, printer connection, paper size, and any selected WooCommerce order fields which you configured in the plugin.
Each Android device includes 100 free App prints so you can test the exact device and printer before buying a license.

Add a license when ready

Purchase a license after the free test prints confirm that your setup works.
Enter the licensed Site Root URL, License Owner email address, and license key in the App settings, then select Save & Launch.
If you need to retrieve your license key again, retrieve it from the license page on this website and paste it into the App on the Android device. See the help instructions below on how to do this.
If you need to know your WooCommerce store domain, you can find it at the top of the plugin settings page.
The App warns you when a license is close to expiry. Renew with the same License Owner email address and Site Root URL to continue that store's license for another year.

License key help

Copying and saving the license key into the Print App settings.

If you have difficulty copying your license key into the App settings, we suggest following these instructions.

On the Android device, open ateqa.com/license in the browser.
Enter the email address used when purchasing the license and submit the form.
Check your email for the 6-digit verification code.
Return to the browser page that is already open on the Android device.
Enter the verification code. Your license key will be displayed on the page.
Use the Copy to Clipboard button on the license page, open Packing Station Print App, then paste the key into the License field in App settings.
Use the same Site Root URL, License Owner email address, and license key on every device connected to that licensed store.

Tested printer setups

SUNMI V1, V2, and V3 POS terminal range with integrated printers.
Android POS terminals with Bluetooth-connected printers.
Generic Android device attached Printers (manual printing only, no autoprint).
Other Android-connected printers may work where Android exposes the printer correctly, including desktop printers connected to the Android device.

Printer compatibility

Most thermal receipt printers support ESC/POS, but not every printer does. Some label printers, including Zebra models configured for ZPL only, will not respond to standard ESC/POS commands. Some printers also use a non-standard code page, which can affect currency symbols or accented characters.

Every device and printer setup should be tried with the 100 free App prints before purchasing a license. If printing is not correct, include the Android device model, printer model, connection type, and a photo of the output in your support request.

Please note, support will make every effort to get your print setup working. In some cases it may not be possible, and you may need an alternative Android device or printer.

Technical guide

Advanced deployment, printer and integration guidance.

A practical implementation reference for agencies, POS specialists, managed-service providers and WooCommerce developers.

Solution architecture

WordPress supplies the workflow; Android performs local printing.

WooCommerce store

Packing Station for WooCommerce provides the staff login, live order feed, selected print fields and authenticated REST endpoints.

Android Print App

The App opens the store's Packing Station pages in a WebView and exposes local printing and sound bridges to the order feed.

Local printer

Printing is sent directly through an integrated device service, Bluetooth ESC/POS connection or the Android Print Framework.

Printer paths

Choose the driver that matches the deployment.

Driver	Typical hardware	Auto-print	Paper/layout
SUNMI device	SUNMI Android terminals with an integrated printer and compatible SUNMI printer service.	Yes	Hardware-determined, commonly 58mm. Label stock requires a label-capable device variant.
iMin device	Compatible iMin terminals exposing the integrated printer service.	Yes	Hardware-determined, commonly 58mm.
Bluetooth ESC/POS	Most paired receipt and kitchen printers using Bluetooth Serial Port Profile.	Yes	58mm uses 32 columns; 80mm uses 42 columns.
Generic Android	Printers available through an Android print service, including network and desktop printers.	No; Android shows a print dialog	58mm, 80mm, A4/210mm or custom width with HTML/CSS templates.
Print Preview	No physical printer required.	No	On-screen development and demonstration preview.

Bluetooth ESC/POS: 58mm and 80mm

Pair the printer in Android Bluetooth settings first.
Select Bluetooth Printer (ESC/POS) in App Settings.
Select the paired printer from the device list.
Select 58mm or 80mm Paper Size to match the installed roll.
Run Test Print and inspect divider length, item/price alignment, accents and cutting.

The width setting controls receipt formatting; it does not physically reconfigure the printer. Selecting 80mm on 58mm hardware may clip or wrap output.

Integrated Android terminals

The App enables the SUNMI or iMin option only when the Android manufacturer matches. Availability also depends on the vendor printer service being present and bindable.

Do not assume every model variant supports labels. Confirm the exact hardware SKU, label-gap sensing and approved media before promising label output.

WordPress deployment

Prepare the store before configuring Android.

Install and activate Packing Station for WooCommerce.
Create a dedicated WordPress user and assign the Packing Station role.
Open WooCommerce > Packing Station and select the fields required on screen and printouts.
Use field discovery or custom meta keys for data added by other WooCommerce extensions.
Enable Order Control or Stock Control only when the client needs those optional capabilities.
Copy the displayed Site Root URL. This exact store identity is used for App setup and licensing.
Test the Packing Station login and order feed in a normal browser before moving to Android.

WordPress.org Plugin Page Download Plugin

Android deployment

Configure the App in a controlled sequence.

Install the signed release APK on a compatible Android 7.0 or newer device.
Start the App and open the settings page (spanner icon).
Enter the WordPress Site Root URL, not the shop, cart or order-feed URL. Note - the Site Root URL is shown at the top of the plugin settings page.
Select the printer driver and complete any Bluetooth permission or pairing steps.
Select the correct paper width. For Generic Android printing, also configure the margin and visual template. Custom CSS, visual templates, and margins apply only to this HTML-based Android print-spooler path; they do not affect Bluetooth ESC/POS or integrated SUNMI/iMin output.
Use Test Print before launching the operational order feed.
Sign in with the dedicated Packing Station WordPress account.
Print an existing order manually. Test new-order sound separately.
Enable auto-print only after repeated manual and live-order tests succeed.

Download Print App

Licence setup for managed clients

Register the integrator or other controlling entity as License Owner.
Use the owner's email for retrieval and renewal.
Register the client's WooCommerce Site Root URL as the Licensed Site.
One owner email may manage multiple licences, but each store URL requires its own licence.
Each store licence works across unlimited compatible Android devices connected to that store.

Updates and replacement devices

Use a release APK signed with the same release key for in-place App updates.
A differently signed APK cannot normally update the installed App without uninstalling it.
Uninstalling clears local App settings, trial state and stored licence activation.
Record the Site Root URL, driver, Bluetooth printer and paper width before replacing a device.

Integration surface

Print payload and JavaScript bridge essentials.

The order feed serialises order data into a structured _sections payload and passes it to the Android bridge. Integrators normally configure fields through WooCommerce rather than calling the bridge directly.

{
  "site_name": "Example Store",
  "id": 1234,
  "_sections": [
    { "key": "items", "label": "Items", "items": [
      { "name": "Product", "qty": 2, "total": 19.98 }
    ] }
  ]
}

Bridge method	Purpose
`AndroidPrinter.print(json)`	Routes the payload through the configured printer driver.
`AndroidPrinter.getAutoPrint()`	Returns the App's local auto-print preference.
`AndroidPrinter.getDeviceMode()`	Returns the stored receipt/label mode used by the print router.
`AndroidSound.ding()`	Plays the App's new-order alert when locally enabled.

For client-specific payload changes, use the supported WordPress hooks rather than editing the plugin or App.

View complete hook reference →

Acceptance testing

Minimum test set

Manual test print from App Settings.
Manual print and reprint from a real order.
New live order and optional auto-print.
Long product names, modifiers and customer notes.
Currency symbols, accents and local characters.
Paper feed, cut position and 58mm/80mm alignment.
Recovery after printer power-cycle and Android restart.

Operational handover

Show staff how to sign in and reprint an order.
Document which Bluetooth device or integrated driver is selected.
Record the paper width and replacement roll specification.
Explain who supports WordPress, Android hardware and printer consumables.
Keep the Android device powered and prevent unwanted sleep or battery restriction.

Printer not listed

Pair it in Android settings first, grant Nearby Devices/Bluetooth permission, then reopen App Settings. Some generic devices appear under unexpected Bluetooth names.

Garbled characters

The printer may use a non-standard code page or may not support ESC/POS. Test representative client data before committing to the hardware.

Auto-print unavailable

Generic Android printing always requires the system print dialog. Silent auto-print requires an integrated SUNMI/iMin service or compatible Bluetooth ESC/POS printer.

Need a client-specific extension?

Start with the supported hook reference. Keep custom code in a small site plugin so Packing Station and Print App updates remain maintainable.

Developer Hooks Contact Support

Still need help?

Send the details through the App or WordPress plugin support form and we will help you narrow it down.

Contact Support