PC Bridge Setup

Install Receipt Bridge on a Windows PC and connect it to your Star printer — no dedicated hardware required.

What you need

  • Windows 10 or later PC — any computer that stays on and connected to your network. Receipt Bridge runs as a background app in your system tray.
  • Internet access — the PC needs internet access to receive cloud print jobs from ReceiptKit.
  • Star Micronics printer — connected via USB directly to the PC, or connected via Ethernet on the same local network. See Supported Printers for compatible models.
  • A ReceiptKit secret API key — Receipt Bridge will ask for this on first launch to authenticate with your account.
1

Download Receipt Bridge

Go to Dashboard → Downloads and click Download Receipt Bridge for Windows. The guided flow in the dashboard also handles copying your API key — it's the recommended way to get set up.

Open Downloads
2

Copy your secret API key

Receipt Bridge authenticates with ReceiptKit using a secret API key. The Downloads page shows your available exportable secret keys — copy one before continuing.

If you don't have a secret key yet, create one at Dashboard → API Keys.

Note: Secret key values are only shown once at creation time. If you need a fresh key, create a new one — existing keys whose values are no longer shown cannot be used in this flow.
3

Install and launch Receipt Bridge

  1. Run the .exe installer you downloaded.
  2. Launch Receipt Bridge — it will appear in your Windows system tray.
  3. When prompted, paste the secret API key you copied in Step 2.
  4. Receipt Bridge will connect to ReceiptKit Cloud and begin listening for print jobs.

Receipt Bridge runs quietly in the background. You can access its settings at any time by clicking its icon in the system tray.

4

Connect your printer

Ethernet (recommended)

Connect your printer and the PC to the same network switch or router. Receipt Bridge will discover the printer automatically.

USB

Plug the printer's USB cable directly into the PC running Receipt Bridge. USB-connected printers do not work over the network — they must be physically connected to the same machine.

5

Add your printer in Receipt Bridge

Click the Receipt Bridge icon in your system tray to open the Bridge UI. From there you can scan for printers, add them, and send a test print to confirm everything is working.

You can also access the Bridge UI from the Devices page in the dashboard using the Remote View button next to your bridge.

6

Verify in the dashboard

Open Dashboard → Devices. Your PC bridge will appear automatically once Receipt Bridge is running and authenticated. No manual registration is required.

Troubleshooting

Bridge doesn't appear in the dashboard

Make sure Receipt Bridge is running (check the system tray) and that you entered a valid secret key during setup. If the key was wrong, right-click the system tray icon and re-enter it.

Printer not detected

For Ethernet-connected printers, confirm the printer and PC are on the same network segment. For USB, ensure the cable is firmly connected to the PC running Receipt Bridge — USB printers cannot be shared across the network.

Print jobs not arriving

Check that the PC has internet access. Receipt Bridge receives jobs via MQTT over the internet — if the PC is offline or behind a restrictive firewall, jobs will queue until it reconnects.

Need help? Contact us and we'll get you sorted. Also see the Raspberry Pi Bridge guide if you'd prefer a dedicated always-on device.