Overview
Estackly Print Bridge is a small Windows desktop application that runs on the PC connected to your thermal printer. It acts as a relay between the Estackly web app and your physical printer — the web app queues a print job, the desktop app picks it up and sends it directly to the printer.
You need Print Bridge for any Direct Print printer (receipts, KOTs, and invoices printed automatically without staff clicking a browser print dialog).
How It Works
- The Estackly web app creates a print job (receipt, KOT, etc.) and queues it in the database with status Pending.
- The Print Bridge desktop app polls the server every few seconds for pending jobs assigned to your restaurant.
- When a job is found, the bridge marks it as Fetched, sends the content to the physical printer, then reports back Sent (or Failed if something went wrong).
The entire flow is silent — no browser print dialogs, no staff interaction required.
Step 1 — Download and Install
- In the admin panel, go to Settings → Printers.
- In the Download Desktop App card on the right, click the Download button next to Windows.
- Run the downloaded
EstacklyPrintBridge-Setup-Windows.exeinstaller on the PC that is physically connected to or on the same network as your printer. - Launch the app after installation.
Step 2 — Connect to Your Restaurant
The desktop app needs two pieces of information from your admin panel. Both are shown in the Branch Connection card under Settings → Printers:
- Domain URL — the web address of your Estackly instance (e.g.
https://estackly.com). Copy it with the clipboard button. - API Key / Branch Key — a secret token that authenticates the desktop app to your restaurant. Click the eye icon to reveal it, then copy it.
In the desktop app, open Settings, paste the Domain URL and Branch Key, and click Connect. The app confirms the connection and begins polling.
Resetting the Branch Key
If your Branch Key is compromised or you want to disconnect all current desktop app instances, click Reset Branch Key on the settings page. This immediately invalidates the old key — any connected desktop app will stop working until it is updated with the new key.
Step 3 — Add a Printer in the Admin Panel
Go to Settings → Printers → Add Printer and fill in:
Basic Fields
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | A label to identify this printer (e.g. "Main Kitchen Printer", "Billing Counter"). |
| Type | Always select Direct Print for printers used with the bridge app. |
| Print Format | Choose the paper size — typically Thermal 80mm for most restaurant thermal printers. |
Connection Type
| Option | When to use | Required fields |
|---|---|---|
| Network / WiFi | Printer has an Ethernet or WiFi port and an IP address on your local network. | IP Address (e.g. 192.168.1.50) and Port (default: 9100). |
| USB (Windows) | Printer is connected via USB to the PC running Print Bridge. | UNC Path (e.g. \ComputerName\PrinterName) — the shared printer name as seen on Windows. |
Assigning to Kitchens and Terminals
- Kitchens — select which kitchen station(s) should route their KOT prints to this printer. A kitchen can only be assigned to one printer at a time.
- POS Terminals — select which POS terminals should route their receipts to this printer.
- If no printer is marked as Default, invoices and receipts will not print automatically. Mark one printer as default using the radio button in the printer list.
- If a kitchen has no printer assigned, KOT prints for that kitchen will not go anywhere. Assign each kitchen to a printer.
Managing Printers
The printer list under Settings → Printers shows each printer with its type, status, assigned kitchens/terminals, and connection badge. From the list you can:
- Set Default — click the radio button to mark a printer as the default for receipts and invoices.
- Edit — update name, connection details, or assignments.
- Activate / Deactivate — inactive printers are excluded from the bridge polling response. Use this to temporarily disable a printer without deleting it.
- Delete — permanently removes the printer configuration.
Print Job Statuses
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Pending | Job queued, waiting for the bridge app to pick it up. |
| Fetched | Bridge app has downloaded the job and is sending it to the printer. |
| Sent | Printer acknowledged the job successfully. |
| Failed | The bridge app could not reach or communicate with the printer. |
Troubleshooting
| Problem | What to check |
|---|---|
| Jobs stay on Pending and never print | The Print Bridge desktop app is not running or not connected. Open the app and verify it shows "Connected" with your restaurant name. |
| Jobs show Failed | The bridge reached the server but could not reach the printer. Check the IP address and port are correct, the printer is powered on, and it is on the same local network as the PC running the bridge. |
| App says "Invalid key" or "Unauthorised" | The Branch Key has been reset. Copy the new key from Settings → Printers and update it in the desktop app. |
| KOTs print to the wrong printer | Check the kitchen-to-printer assignment. Each kitchen station should be assigned to exactly one printer under Settings → Printers → Edit. |
| Receipt does not print after checkout | Ensure at least one printer is marked as Default (the radio button in the printer list) and is active. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run multiple printers with one Print Bridge instance?
Yes. The bridge app fetches jobs for all Direct printers assigned to your restaurant and routes each job to the correct printer based on the printer configuration.
Does the PC need to stay on all day?
Yes. The Print Bridge app must be running on an always-on PC for printing to work. If the PC is asleep or the app is closed, print jobs will queue as Pending and print in bulk once the app reconnects.
Can I use a Bluetooth printer?
Not directly. Bluetooth printers are not currently supported. Use a network (WiFi/Ethernet) or USB-connected printer.
Is Print Bridge available for Mac or Linux?
Currently Windows only. The desktop app installer is EstacklyPrintBridge-Setup-Windows.exe.
Can I have Print Bridge on more than one PC?
Yes. Install it on multiple PCs if needed (e.g. one at the billing counter, one in the kitchen). Each instance uses the same Branch Key and will compete to pick up jobs — whichever PC fetches a job first will print it.