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Why is my previously setup Zebra printer no longer available in ForneyTools and displaying a "not connected to printer" error?

Users may see the following message when attempting to print specimen or sample labels in ForneyTools: “Unable to connect to Zebra printer...”  This message indicates that ForneyTools cannot detect the Zebra Browser Print service running on the local computer or that the printer connection (USB or network) is unavailable.

This issue occurs when one or more of the following conditions apply:

  • The Zebra Browser Print application is not running on the user’s computer.

  • The browser cannot detect the Browser Print service.

  • The printer’s network IP address has changed or it is disconnected from the network.

  • The USB-connected printer is not powered on, or Browser Print has not detected the USB device

Instructions: 

  1. Verify Zebra Browser Print is running

    • Look for the Zebra Browser Print icon in your system tray (Windows) or top menu bar (Mac).

    • If it’s not visible, open Zebra Browser Print from your computer’s applications list.

  2. Open Browser Print settings and confirm the printer

    • Right-click the Zebra Browser Print icon in the system tray (Windows) or menu bar (Mac).

    • Select “Settings” from the menu.

    • In the Browser Print Settings window, locate the Selected Device field.

    • Click “Change” to view the list of available printers.

    • Select your Zebra printer (either network or USB).

    • If the printer does not appear, verify it is powered on and properly connected.

    • Click “Set” to apply the change.

  3. Restart Zebra Browser Print

    • Close the application completely, then reopen it.

    • Refresh the ForneyTools page and attempt to print again.

  4. Allow Browser Print and local device permissions in Google Chrome.

    1. Grant Browser Print connection permissions

      • When printing for the first time in ForneyTools, Chrome may show a prompt that says:
        “Allow site to connect to Zebra Browser Print?”

      • Click “Always Allow” or “Allow” to confirm the connection.

      • If you accidentally blocked it, you can reset permissions by following these steps:

        1. In Chrome, click the lock icon next to the ForneyTools URL.

        2. Under Site Settings, look for “Zebra Browser Print” or “Device permissions.”

        3. Set the permission to Allow.

        4. Refresh the page.

      b. Enable local device access in Chrome settings

      • In Chrome, go to:
        chrome://settings/content/localDevices

      • Ensure “Sites can connect to local devices” is selected.

      • This setting allows ForneyTools to communicate with Browser Print running on your computer.

      • Once enabled, refresh ForneyTools and attempt to print again.

  5. If the issue persists:

    • USB printers: unplug and reconnect the printer, preferably using another USB port, then reopen Browser Print and set he printer. 

    • Network printers: confirm the IP address has not changed. If it has, update the printer configuration under Settings → Change.

    • If Browser Print still fails to detect the printer, uninstall and reinstall the Zebra Browser Print software.

Additional Information:

  • For network printers, it is recommended to assign a static IP address to prevent future connection issues.

  • For USB printers, ensure the printer remains connected to the same computer where Browser Print is installed and running.

For detailed installation and configuration steps, refer to the KB article:
How do I install and configure Zebra Browser Print to print from ForneyTools®?