Badge Printing Setup

Last updated March 2026

Porter lets you print professional visitor badges automatically when guests check in, or manually from the dashboard. This guide covers everything you need to set up badge printing at your locations.

Badge printing overview showing a printed visitor badge

Supported Printers

Porter works with a wide range of printers. Because badge printing uses the browser's native print dialog, most modern printers are compatible. However, for the best experience we recommend dedicated label printers.

Recommended Label Printers

Dymo LabelWriter 450 — the most popular choice for visitor badges
Dymo LabelWriter 550 — newer model with improved connectivity
Any AirPrint-compatible printer (great for iPad kiosks)

Other Compatible Printers

Any printer accessible via the browser print dialog
USB-connected printers (direct connection to kiosk device)
Network printers (accessible over Wi-Fi or Ethernet)

For USB printers, ensure the printer driver is installed on the kiosk device. For network printers, make sure both the kiosk device and the printer are on the same network.

Supported printer models including Dymo LabelWriter 450 and 550

Badge Template Designer

The badge template designer lets you create custom badge layouts that match your brand. Access it from Settings > Badges in your dashboard.

Badge template designer showing drag-and-drop interface

Available Fields

Drag and drop any of the following fields onto your badge template:

Visitor Name — the visitor's full name as entered during check-in
Photo — captured at the kiosk or uploaded during pre-registration
Company — the visitor's company name
Host — the name of the person they are visiting
Date/Time — check-in timestamp
QR Code — unique code for quick check-out or verification
Custom Text — add any static text, such as Wi-Fi passwords or safety reminders

Previewing Your Badge

As you make changes to the badge template, a real-time preview updates on the right side of the designer. Click "Print Preview" to see exactly how the badge will look when printed. You can also send a test print to verify the output on your actual printer.

Real-time badge preview in the template designer

Auto-Print vs Manual Print

Porter supports two badge printing modes, and you can configure them independently per location.

Auto-Print Mode

When auto-print is enabled, a badge prints automatically as soon as a visitor completes the check-in process on the kiosk. This is ideal for high-traffic lobbies where you want a seamless, hands-free experience.

Badge prints immediately on successful check-in
No receptionist intervention required
Best for self-service kiosks with a dedicated printer

Auto-print setting toggle in location configuration

Manual Print Mode

With manual print, the receptionist triggers badge printing from the dashboard. This gives front-desk staff control over when badges are printed and allows them to verify visitor details before printing.

Receptionist clicks "Print Badge" from the visitor record
Allows verification before printing
Best for staffed reception areas

Configuring Per Location

Navigate to Locations > [Your Location] > Badge Settings to choose between auto-print and manual print for each location. You can change this setting at any time without affecting existing visitor records.

Troubleshooting Print Issues

If you're having trouble with badge printing, work through the following common issues and solutions.

Printer Not Detected

Ensure the printer is powered on and connected (USB or network)
Check that the printer driver is installed on the kiosk device
For network printers, verify both devices are on the same network
Try disconnecting and reconnecting the USB cable
Restart the printer and the kiosk device

Printer connection troubleshooting checklist

Paper Jams and Label Alignment

Open the printer and remove any jammed labels carefully
Ensure labels are loaded correctly according to the printer manual
For Dymo printers, use the label guide to align the roll properly
If badges print off-centre, adjust margins in the badge template designer

Browser Print Dialog Not Appearing

Check that pop-ups are not blocked for the Porter domain
Ensure the browser has permission to access the printer
Try clearing the browser cache and cookies
Disable any browser extensions that might interfere with printing
Try using an incognito/private browsing window

Clearing the Print Queue

Open your operating system's printer settings
Find the printer in the list and open the print queue
Cancel all pending print jobs
Restart the print spooler service if jobs are stuck
Try printing a test page from the OS to confirm the printer is working

Steps to clear a print queue on different operating systems

Was this article helpful?

Setting Up Your Visitor Kiosk Getting Started