This guide walks you through setting up the Star TSP143IV printer with your Lightspeed Restaurant POS to print receipts and production dockets. The printer connects to your network using a LAN cable, allowing your iPad to communicate with it through the same network connection.

Note that this printer model only supports Ethernet connection on iOS devices. For information on other supported printers, refer to our article on compatible printers and field guides.

What's in this guide? 

What you'll need
Setting up the printer
Performing a test print
Understanding printer LED indicators

What you'll need

To set up your printer, you’ll first need the following items:

Star TSP143IV printer	Power cable	LAN cable	Paper roll

Setting up the printer

This section walks you through the full setup process for the Star TSP143IV printer, including connecting it via LAN, loading paper, locating the printer’s IP address, and connecting it to the POS.

Connecting your printer via LAN

1. Connect the power cable to your printer and plug the other end into an electrical outlet.
2. Connect the LAN cable to the printer and a LAN port on your router or wall.
3. Turn on the printer using the power switch near the power port on the back panel.
4. Wait for the blue LED (power light) to turn solid, indicating the printer is ready.

Inserting a paper roll

1. Open the printer cover by pushing the lever on the right side away from you and lifting the cover.
2. Insert the paper roll with the end feeding from the bottom. Make sure the roll stays tight and doesn't unroll.
3. Pull the paper so it extends past the cutter at the front of the printer.
4. Close the cover by pushing it down firmly until it snaps into place.

Finding your printer's IP address

1. Turn the printer off.
2. Hold down the feed button.
3. Turn the power on while continuing to hold the feed button.
4. Wait for the device to start printing, then release the feed button. Two test receipts will print.
   

The bottom of the second page will show Current IP Parameters Status. Keep this page and take note of the IP address.

If Current IP Parameters indicate the IP address is 0.0.0.0, it means your printer cannot establish a network connection. Verify that the Ethernet cable is securely connected between your printer and router, or try a different Ethernet port on your router and repeat the steps above.

Setting up a static IP address

A static IP address is a fixed, manually assigned number that ensures your printer always uses the same address on your network. This helps prevent disruptions in printing caused by changing IP addresses.  When assigning a static IP, choose one outside the DHCP range to avoid potential IP conflicts.

To set up a static IP address:

1. Ensure your iPad or computer is connected to the same network as your printer.
2. Open a web browser such as Chrome or Safari, and enter the IP address listed under Current IP Parameter Status on the status sheet into the browser’s address bar.
3. Click Login.
4. Enter the following credentials:
   • Username: root
   • Password: public
5. Click Sign in.
6. In the left navigation menu, select IP Parameters > Static. It's recommended to use the IP address, Subnet Mask, and Default Gateway already assigned to the printer, as shown on the status sheet.
7. Click Submit.
8. Review the network details you entered, then click Save.
9. Select Save > Configuration printing > Restart device.
10. Click Execute. A confirmation page will appear indicating the changes were successful.

The printer’s light will continue flashing during this setup. Once complete, it will print a status sheet showing the newly assigned IP address (Static) under Current IP Parameters Status.

Checking your Restaurant POS app permissions

Before adding your printer, ensure the Restaurant POS app has the necessary permissions on your iPad. These permissions allow the app to detect and communicate with printers and other devices on your local network.

To check the Restaurant POS app permissions:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
2. In the left-hand menu, scroll down and select Apps > Restaurant.
3. Make sure the following settings are enabled:
   • Location: Always
   • Bluetooth: On
   • Local Area Network: On

Once these settings are enabled, you're ready to add the printer to the POS.

Adding the printer to Lightspeed Restaurant

After setting up the network connection and confirming app permissions, add the printer to Lightspeed Restaurant to ensure it’s recognized and can communicate with your POS.

Adding the printer to the POS

Ensure your iPad is connected to the same network as the printer. This allows the POS to automatically detect and add the printer. 

To add the printer to the POS: 

1. Tap the Menu (☰) icon on the left-hand side.
2. Tap Printing. The system will search for your printer and display the message, "Great, we found some printers!"
3. Tap Continue to Settings.
4. Use the toggles to enable or disable the following options, depending on how you plan to use the printer.
   • Print Receipts
   • Open Drawer
   • Print Dockets
     

Once set, you're ready to perform a test print to confirm the connection. 

Adding the printer in Back Office

If the printer has a valid IP address but isn't found by the POS, you can manually add it in Back Office.

To add the printer in Back Office: 

1. Log in to Back Office with your Lightspeed credentials.
2. In the navigation menu, select My site > Printers.
3. Under Production Printing Method, select Lightspeed App.
4. Click Save Settings.
   
5. Scroll down to Network Printers in this Site, click +Add Printer.
6. Enter the printer name and IP address shown on the status sheet you printed. You can customize the printer name to anything you prefer.
7. Click Add Printer.
   
8. Manually sync the POS or sync your registers from Back Office.

Once done, you're ready to perform a test print to confirm the connection.

Performing a test print

This section walks you through how to perform a test print to confirm that your printer is set up correctly and working properly.

To perform a test print: 

1. On the POS, tap the Menu (☰) icon.
2. Tap Printing.
3. Tap Test. If all three options are enabled, the printer will produce test prints for the receipt and production docket connection, and the cash drawer will open. 
   
4. Tap Save and Close. 

A successful test print confirms that the printer is properly linked to your POS and ready to be used. To configure docket printing, refer to our article on setting up production printing.

Understanding printer LED indicators

This table explains the most common LED indicator patterns on your printer and what to do if an issue occurs. 

What's next?