Wireless Printing Guide for Rollo and Dymo 4XL Printers

Q: 2. What sizes can Rollo print?

The default size of labels that Rollo can print is 4x6. To print other sizes, you need to customize its settings. To do that, click on "Manage Custom Sizes" next to Paper Size. Then, enter your desired paper size and margins on the next window and click OK.

The Rollo X1038 and Dymo 4XL are label printers that are popular among startup owners. They use these gadgets to create professional-looking shipping labels and barcode tags. Compared to their competitors, both are more affordable, easier to set up and compatible with more online postage sites.

However, one of these printers’ drawbacks is their limited hardware connectivity. They only link to computers by USB cables, keeping many from using them wirelessly from their handheld gadgets. In this day and age, wireless printing is a priceless tool for tech lovers and busy bees.

Dymo has a wireless version, but it is not appropriate for wide labels needed in shipping. Meanwhile, Rollo has been teasing the market for years about coming out with a wireless model, but we have not seen it so far.

Don’t feel stuck, though. At enKo Products, we care about your labeling experience. In this article, we have rounded up the different methods known to have succeeded in getting these USB devices to print wirelessly.

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Printer Technology : Dymo Printers

Sharing Your Rollo or Dymo 4XL through a Wireless Network

Using Apple’s AirPort to Print Wirelessly with Rollo or Dymo

Using a Third-Party Wireless Print Server Adaptor on Your Rollo or Dymo Printer

Tweaking a Raspberry Pi to Print Wirelessly with a Rollo or Dymo 4XL

Printing Your Rollo or Dymo Labels Using a Cloud Printing Service

#1: Sharing Your Rollo or Dymo 4XL through a Wireless Network

This is the simplest way to print wirelessly with a Rollo or Dymo 4XL. You must designate a PC as the central PC that will interface with a shared network and the printer at the same time. This method works with either Windows or Mac and can function offline. However, its main disadvantage is that remote printing becomes impossible when the central PC is turned off.

Designating a Windows PC as the Main PC

The following are the steps for turning a Windows PC into a central printing PC. They apply to computers running on Windows 10 and later versions.

Before you begin, make sure that your PC is connected to your shared network and that the printer, computer and network are all powered up.

To share your Rollo or Dymo printer through a network, do the following:

Press Start and find “Settings.”
Under “Settings,” click “Devices.”
On the “Devices” page, click “Printers and Scanners.”
On the “Printers and Scanners” list, find your Rollo or Dymo thermal printer. Select the printer and click “Manage” among the choices that will pop up.
In the next window, click “Printer Properties,” then choose the “Sharing” tab.
On the “Sharing” tab, click “Share this printer.” You will be prompted to rename your thermal printer. Keep in mind that this is the name that all other users will see when they look for printers from a different device. You may use “Rollo,” “Dymo” or any name that will be easy for all users to understand and remember.

To connect another Windows device to the shared printer, you may do the following:

In the second Windows gadget, press the Start button and select “Settings.”
Under “Settings,” select “Devices.”
On the “Devices” page, choose “Printers and Scanners.”
Find “Add printers and scanners,” then click “Add a printer or scanner.”
Select the shared Rollo or Dymo printer, then click “Add Device.”
If you can’t find the thermal printer among the choices, click “The printer that I want isn’t listed.”
Choose “Select a shared printer by name” in the “Add Printer” dialog box. Type the names of the designated central PC and thermal printer using the following string:

\\computername\printername, e. g. \\MyHPComputer\Rollo or \\DellMainPC\Dymo

Input your central PC’s name and the name assigned to the thermal printer in these strings.

You will be prompted to install the printer driver on your second device. Click “Next” to proceed with the installation.

If you don’t know the central PC’s name, do the following:

On the central PC, go to the taskbar on your screen and type “computer name” on the search box.
Your search will show “View your PC name.” Click it.
The “About” page will appear. The central PC’s name is written under “Device name.”

Once a printer is shared, it stays shared by default. However, if it happens to be off, do the following:

Go to “Start,” then click “Settings.”
Under “Settings,” select “Network and Internet,” then choose “Wi-Fi.”
Under “Related settings,” click “Change advanced sharing options.”
The “Advanced sharing settings” window will pop up. Expand the drop-down menu under “Private.”
Under “Network discovery,” click “Turn on network discovery.”
Under “File printer and sharing,” choose “Turn on file and printer sharing.”

You are now ready to print with your Rollo or Dymo wirelessly from another Windows-run device. If you’re Windows-savvy, you may also use the Control Panel to enable wireless printing on Rollo and Dymo 4XL.

Turning a Mac into a Central PC

Make sure to turn on your Mac, thermal printer and wireless network before you begin.

On the Apple menu, click “System Preferences” then “Sharing.”
Check “Printer Sharing” next.
Under “Printers,” find your Rollo or Dymo thermal printer.

You have now shared your label printer with other Mac devices. However, neither Rollo nor the Dymo 4XL is AirPrint-compatible. You need to download AirPrint-activating software on your main Mac computer to let iOS devices work with these printers. The most dependable ones are not free, and they include:

Print n Share, which costs $6.99
HandyPrint, which costs $5
Printopia, which costs $19.99

Any of these apps will let you print with your Rollo or Dymo using your handheld Apple unit. Incidentally, a freeware called “AirPrint Hacktivator” was once widely used as an AirPrint enabler. However, Apple made sure to have it taken down ten years ago to protect its intellectual property.

If neither of these hacks works for you, you may need to add some other type of hardware to print wirelessly with your Rollo or Dymo. They are explained in the next few sections.

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#2: Using Apple’s AirPort to Print Wirelessly with Rollo or Dymo

Apple used to make a product line under the name “AirPort Base Station” or, simply, “AirPort.” AirPort Express and Extreme are routers that work with both Apple and Windows computers. They connect multiple electronic devices wirelessly—iPads, iPods, iPhones, Macs, etc.—even without internet access. The company stopped manufacturing these routers in 2018 but will continue to support them in the next few years.

AirPort gadgets are beginner-friendly, just like many Apple products. Of course, their main disadvantage is that the new units are nearly sold out at this point, and only second-hand ones will be available once they’re gone. This may also pose software compatibility problems in the near future.

A new AirPort Express costs $99, whereas a new AirPort Extreme costs $199. Second-hand units are sold for about 30-50% of these prices.

AirPort on Windows

The following are the steps for sharing your Rollo or Dymo using a Windows PC and an AirPort router:

First, set up AirPort on Windows.

Plug AirPort Express (or Extreme) into your Windows PC. Turn them on.
Download Airport Utility software and run it on your Windows PC.
Follow the prompts to install the application.
Once installed, press “Start” and find “Airport Utility” on the menu. When you select it, it should recognize the linked AirPort gadget. Click on it, then click “Continue.”
A warning will pop up about switching wireless networks. Click “Ok.”
In the next window, give your AirPort device a name, set up its password and click “Continue.”
Next, you will be asked what to do with your AirPort device. Select “I want AirPort Express/Extreme to join my current network.”
In the next section, another set of options will appear. Click “I want AirPort Express/Extreme to wirelessly join my current network.”
Next, you will be asked to configure your AirPort device to your wireless network. Find your network’s name on the drop-down menu and click it. Enter your network password and click “Continue.”
In the next window, you will be asked to confirm your new wireless connection. Click “Update.”
A window will pop up, warning you that the device will be temporarily unavailable. Click “Continue.”
In the next section, click “Quit” to complete setting up your AirPort.

Once your router is configured, it’s time to connect your Rollo or Dymo thermal printer to your newly expanded wireless network.

Make sure that your label printer is connected to your AirPort’s USB port.
Download Apple’s Bonjour Print Services for Windows. Follow the installation instructions and click “Finish.”
Go to “Start” and open “Bonjour Print Services.” You should be able to find your Rollo or Dymo on the “Browse for Bonjour Printers” window of the Bonjour Printing Wizard. If you cannot find it among the choices, restart your PC, AirPort and printer. A green light signifies that your AirPort is connected. Open the Bonjour Printing Wizard again and look for your thermal printer.
Once your PC recognizes your printer, click “Next.”
On the next page, you will be asked to confirm your printer. Click “Finish.” Your printer is now connected to your AirPort network.
You may rename your Rollo or Dymo to let other users identify it easily using a different computer. Click Start > Settings > Devices > Printers and scanners. Under “Printers and scanners,” select your thermal printer, then “Manage” and “Printer properties.” You may give it a new name, e. g. Rollo Wireless or Dymo Wireless, and specify its location as “KidCheck AirPort Express/Extreme.”
Follow the steps outlined previously for sharing printers connected to a Windows PC.

Now you’re ready to print wirelessly using this setup.

AirPort on Mac

Configuring an AirPort to a Mac is more straightforward.

Connect your thermal printer to your AirPort gadget.
Connect your AirPort to your Mac. Make sure that your Mac OS is updated and able to work with your Rollo or Dymo printer.
Power up all three devices.
Click Apple > System Preferences > Print and Scan. Click “+” to add the label printer.
Follow the steps outlined previously for sharing a printer through a Mac.
Use the appropriate AirPrint-enabling software to let iOS devices access your label printer through this setup.

If you’re worried about AirPort gadgets becoming outdated soon, you may consider other devices in their place. They are discussed below.

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#3: Using a Third-Party Wireless Print Server Adaptor on Your Rollo or Dymo Printer

Wireless print server adaptors are different from AirPort devices because they are specific for getting printers to function wirelessly. The Rollo website particularly mentions the StarTech PM1115UW, but similar gadgets in the market can also do the job. You only need to find one that is compatible with your OS and thermal printer. New wireless print server adaptors cost $60-120, depending on the brand.

The steps for configuring a StarTech PM11115UW unit for wireless printing are described in its manual. The model is compatible with Windows, Mac and Linux. It also works well with Rollo, Dymo and other USB-only printers.

#4: Tweaking a Raspberry Pi to Print Wirelessly with a Rollo or Dymo 4XL

Rollo also specifically mentions Raspberry Pi as a compatible system. Technically, Raspberry Pis are mini-computers developed for UK’s programming students and enthusiasts. However, when you buy a unit for the first time, you will find that it is made of a single, bare motherboard. You buy the case and monitor separately. If you’re familiar with the device, you can get it to work even without a monitor.

Raspberry Pis have a lot of potential. You can create game emulators, audio track loopers, tablets and many others through Raspberry Pi programming projects. You can also turn one into a router or wireless print server adaptor for your Rollo or Dymo. Raspberry Pi users swear by this method’s effectiveness for many types of printers using various operating systems.

The steps for configuring a Raspberry Pi for wireless printing will not be discussed here, but they are described on other sites. They are rather complicated. So unless you can confidently program one or get an expert to help you, we advise that you try other methods first. Otherwise, you will only be left with a costly paperweight.

Raspberry Pi 4 is the latest version. Prices start at $35. However, the $55 unit, which has 4 GB, works faster and is more suitable for wireless printing.

#5: Printing Your Rollo or Dymo Labels Using a Cloud Printing Service

Lastly, we recommend using cloud-based services for printing labels remotely. They are web-based applications that let you create and save labels through an online account. Once you’re done, you can print using any wired printer, including USB-connected Rollo and Dymo units.

Google Cloud Print used to be the industry leader, but it stopped operations in December 2020. The website recommends the following alternative sites, which can work with Chrome-compatible devices:

Directprint.io
LRS
NT-ware
PaperCut
Pharos
PrinterLogic
Printix
Y Soft

The main advantage of using cloud printing services is that you can print over large distances so long as you retain your online and hardware passcodes. Rollo and Dymo printers, which are Chrome-compatible, work with them as well.

However, the main drawback of this method is that it does not work offline. It is also rather expensive. Prices start at around $1,200 yearly and depend on the service provider, number of users, service types used and subscription length.

Conclusion

Rollo and Dymo 4XL are the favorite label printers among small business owners because of their handiness, wide compatibility and affordability. However, neither unit has built-in wireless printing capability. Still, it is possible for you to print remotely with these gadgets, but you need to adjust your system to enjoy this convenient feature.

In this article, the enKo Products team has presented five hacks that have allowed Rollo and Dymo customers to print wirelessly with these gadgets. They are:

- Enabling printer-sharing over a wireless network
- Using an AirPort router
- Using a compatible third-party wireless print server adaptor
- Programming a Raspberry Pi
- Using a cloud-based printing service

Each one has its own advantages and disadvantages. Choose one that is most convenient for you and, at the same time, suitable for your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can Rollo print different size labels?

Most Rollo Printer owners use this printer to print 4×6 labels for shipping. However, Rollo allows a significant flexibility when it comes to printing other label sizes. You will just need to set the “Manage Custom Sizes” option

2. What sizes can Rollo print?

The default size of labels that Rollo can print is 4×6. To print other sizes, you need to customize its settings. To do that, click on “Manage Custom Sizes” next to Paper Size. Then, enter your desired paper size and margins on the next window and click OK.

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Tags: Label Guide

Melodie