QZ Tray Printing
Flavour POS Setup Guide
Setup Guide v1.0
Flavour POS · QZ Tray · Printing Setup

Silent KOT Printing
Setup Guide

Set up automatic kitchen printing so orders go directly to the right printer — no browser popups, no manual steps. Written for non-technical users. Follow the steps in order.

🖥 Browser → ⚙️ QZ Tray → 🖨 Printer → ✅ KOT Prints
i

What This Setup Does

Understand how QZ Tray fits into your workflow
ℹ️
How it works

QZ Tray allows Flavour POS to print KOTs directly to the correct printer without opening the browser print window every time. The browser sends the print job → QZ Tray receives it on the computer → the printer prints automatically. This is mainly used for kitchen printing.

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The Most Important Rule

Read this before anything else
🔑 Critical Rule
Flavour POS prints by the Windows printer name.

The printer must be installed in Windows first. The printer name inside Flavour POS must match the Windows printer name exactly. If you have more than one POS computer, the same printer must be installed with the same name on every POS computer.
Windows Name
Kitchen_Printer = Flavour POS Printer Name (QZ) Kitchen_Printer
⚠️
Watch out for small differences

If one computer has Kitchen_Printer and another has Kitchen Printer (no underscore), silent printing may work on one PC and fail on the other.

✓

What You Need Before Starting

Get these ready first
  • A Windows computer used for POS / order taking
  • Internet or local network access
  • Printer driver or installation package (if needed)
  • QZ Tray installed on every POS computer that will print
  • File: digital-certificate.txt — from your Flavour POS support team
  • File: private-key.pem — from your Flavour POS support team
⚠️
Don't have the certificate files?

Ask your Flavour POS support team for digital-certificate.txt and private-key.pem before continuing. You cannot complete setup without them.

1

Install the Printer in Windows

Do this before opening Flavour POS settings
Option A

Normal Printer (USB / Local)

Use this if the printer connects directly by USB cable, local cable, or is shared on the same PC.

Option B

Network KOT Printer (LAN / Wi-Fi)

Use this if the kitchen printer has its own IP address, LAN cable, or Wi-Fi connection.

Option A — Normal printer connected to PC

  1. Connect the printer to the computer and turn it on.
  2. Wait for Windows to detect it. Install the driver if not automatic.
  3. Open Control Panel → Devices and Printers or Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners.
  4. Confirm the printer appears in the list.
  5. Right-click the printer and print a Test Page.
  6. Write down the exact printer name shown in Windows. Example: EPSON TM-T82 Receipt

Option B — Network KOT printer

  1. Connect the printer to the network and turn it on.
  2. Find the printer IP address (check the printer's own printout or your router).
  3. Make sure the POS computer and the printer are on the same network.
  4. Open Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners and click Add device.
  5. If Windows doesn't find it automatically, choose Add manually → add via TCP/IP address or hostname.
  6. Enter the printer IP address (e.g. 192.168.1.120) and install the driver.
  7. Print a Test Page to confirm it works.
  8. Write down the exact Windows printer name. Example: Kitchen_Printer
⚠️
Multi-PC restaurants — very important

If you have 2 or more POS computers: install QZ Tray on each one, install the kitchen printer on each POS computer, and keep the Windows printer name exactly the same on all computers. Recommended: use Kitchen_Printer on every PC.

2

Install QZ Tray on the POS Computer

QZ Tray must be installed on every computer that sends print jobs
  1. Open the QZ Tray website: qz.io/download
  2. Download the Windows version.
  3. Run the installer and complete the installation.
  4. Open QZ Tray after installation.
  5. Confirm the QZ Tray icon appears in the Windows system tray (bottom-right corner, near the clock).
🔴
Keep QZ Tray running at all times

QZ Tray must stay open while printing. Before starting Flavour POS, always check the system tray for the QZ Tray icon. If it is not open, start it manually. If QZ Tray is closed, silent printing will not work.

3

Upload QZ Files in Flavour POS

One-time setup — log in as Admin
  1. Log in to Flavour POS as Admin.
  2. Open Management → QZ Tray Settings.
  3. Tick Enable Silent KOT Printing (QZ Tray).
  4. Upload your digital-certificate.txt file.
  5. Upload your private-key.pem file.
  6. Click Save.
✅
After saving, check the status

The page should show: Certificate: Uploaded and Private key: Uploaded. If either shows Missing, upload the file again.

Test the QZ Connection

  1. On the same QZ Tray Settings page, click Connect.
  2. Wait until it shows Connected.
  3. Click List Printers.
  4. Check whether your Windows printer names appear in the list. If your printer appears, QZ Tray can see it.
4

Set Up the Kitchen Station in Flavour POS

Tell Flavour POS which station prints to which printer
  1. Log in as Admin → open Management → Kitchen Stations.
  2. Click Add Station.
  3. Fill in the fields below, then click Save Station.
Station Name
Name of the kitchen section. Examples: Main Kitchen, Bar, Grill, Dessert
Required
Printer IP
IP address of the network printer. Useful for record-keeping. Example: 192.168.1.120
Optional
Printer Name (QZ)
The exact Windows printer name. This is what silent printing uses. Must match Windows exactly. Example: Kitchen_Printer
🔑 Key Field
Auto Cut
Keep enabled if your thermal printer supports automatic paper cutting.
Recommended
Status
Set to Active.
Required
🔑
The Printer Name (QZ) field is everything

Silent printing depends entirely on this field matching your Windows printer name exactly. The Printer IP field is for reference only — it does not drive the print job.

5

Link Menu Categories to Kitchen Stations

Required for items to reach the correct kitchen printer
  1. Open Management → Categories.
  2. Add a new category or edit an existing one.
  3. Find Kitchen Station (Routing for KOT) and select the correct station.
  4. Save the category.

Example Routing

📂 Category: Drinks
→
🖨 Station: Bar
📂 Category: BBQ
→
🖨 Station: Grill
📂 Category: Dessert
→
🖨 Station: Dessert
⚠️
Wrong routing = wrong printer

If a category is not linked correctly, the KOT may print in the wrong place or not route at all.

6

Normal Printer Connected to the PC

USB or local cable — front desk, cash counter, office
  1. Connect the printer to the POS computer and install it in Windows.
  2. Print a Windows test page to confirm it works.
  3. Install and open QZ Tray on the same POS computer.
  4. Open Management → QZ Tray Settings → click Connect → click List Printers.
  5. Confirm the printer name appears in the list.
  6. If using for kitchen printing, open Management → Kitchen Stations and enter the exact Windows printer name in Printer Name (QZ).
  7. Save the station.
Example
Windows EPSON TM-T82 Receipt = Flavour POS (QZ) EPSON TM-T82 Receipt
7

Network KOT Printer (LAN / Wi-Fi)

Main kitchen, bar, bakery, and section printers
  1. Connect the printer to the network and note its IP address.
  2. On the POS computer, add the printer in Windows using its IP address (TCP/IP).
  3. Install the correct driver and print a Windows test page.
  4. Rename the printer in Windows to a simple clear name if needed.
  5. Use the same printer name on every POS computer.
  6. Install and open QZ Tray on every POS computer that will place orders.
  7. In Flavour POS, open Management → QZ Tray Settings → click Connect → List Printers. Confirm the printer is visible.
  8. Open Management → Kitchen Stations → add or edit the station.
  9. Enter the printer IP in Printer IP (Optional).
  10. Enter the exact Windows printer name in Printer Name (QZ).
  11. Enable Auto Cut if your printer supports it. Save the station.
  12. Link the related menu categories to this station.
  13. Place a test order from POS and confirm the KOT prints in the kitchen.
📋 Full Example
Physical printer IP: 192.168.1.120
Windows name on all POS PCs: Kitchen_Printer

Kitchen Station settings:
Station Name: Main Kitchen · Printer IP: 192.168.1.120 · Printer Name (QZ): Kitchen_Printer · Auto Cut: Yes
8

Test the Full Printing Flow

Run through this after every setup

Quick Checklist

  • Printer is powered on
  • Printer is installed in Windows
  • Windows test page prints successfully
  • QZ Tray is open on the POS computer
  • Flavour POS QZ Settings: Certificate and Private key both show Uploaded
  • Flavour POS Connect button shows Connected
  • List Printers shows the correct printer name
  • Kitchen Station has the exact printer name in Printer Name (QZ)
  • Menu category is linked to the correct station
  • Test order prints correctly on the kitchen printer
🎉
Live test — final step

Open POS → create a test order → add items from a category linked to a kitchen station → save / place the order → check the target printer. If the KOT prints automatically, your setup is complete.

▷

How Daily Use Works

What happens every time staff place an order
1. Staff place an order in POS
→
Flavour POS creates the KOT
2. Flavour POS checks item category
→
Finds the linked Kitchen Station
3. Flavour POS reads Printer Name (QZ)
→
QZ Tray sends to Windows printer
4. Windows printer receives job
→
KOT prints in the kitchen 🖨
💡
This is why the printer name must always be correct

Every order routes through the Printer Name (QZ) field. If it doesn't match Windows exactly, the job fails silently.

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Troubleshooting Guide

Click a problem to see the fix
1
Printer does not appear in "List Printers"
▾
Possible Reasons
  • Printer is not installed in Windows
  • QZ Tray is not running
  • Printer driver is not installed correctly
Fix
  • Check Windows printer list and print a test page
  • Start QZ Tray from the system tray or Start menu
  • Return to QZ Tray Settings → Connect → List Printers again
2
KOT does not print, but printer is visible in the list
▾
Possible Reasons
  • Wrong name entered in Printer Name (QZ)
  • Menu category not linked to the correct station
  • QZ Tray was closed on the POS computer
  • Flavour POS is opening the normal browser print window instead of printing silently
Fix
  • Copy the printer name exactly from List Printers
  • Open Kitchen Stations and paste that exact name into Printer Name (QZ)
  • Check that category-to-station mapping is correct
  • Make sure QZ Tray is open
ℹ️

If the browser opens a normal KOT print page in a new tab, Flavour POS has fallen back to standard printing because silent QZ printing did not complete. Recheck QZ Tray, printer name, and connection.

3
Printing works on one computer but not another
▾
Possible Reason
  • The printer is installed with a different name on the second computer
Fix
  • Open the Windows printer list on both computers
  • Compare the printer names — they must be exactly the same
  • Rename the printer on whichever computer has the different name
  • Keep QZ Tray running on both computers
4
Network printer does not print
▾
Possible Reasons
  • Printer IP address has changed
  • Printer is offline or cable is disconnected
  • POS computer cannot reach the printer on the network
Fix
  • Check that the printer is powered on
  • Check the LAN/Wi-Fi connection
  • Confirm the IP address is still the same (print a configuration page from the printer)
  • Reinstall the printer in Windows if needed and print a test page
5
Certificate or private key shows "Missing"
▾
Fix
  • Open Management → QZ Tray Settings
  • Re-upload digital-certificate.txt
  • Re-upload private-key.pem
  • Click Save and check the status again
6
Browser asks for QZ Tray permission
▾
This happens during first use or after reinstalling QZ Tray
  • Read the popup carefully
  • Allow or trust the connection if your company policy permits it
  • Try the connection again
★

Best Practices

Follow these to keep printing stable
Use simple, clear printer names without spaces if possible
Keep the same printer name on every POS computer
Do not rename printers once setup is working
Keep QZ Tray running all day — add it to Windows startup
Set network kitchen printers to a fixed / static IP if possible
Test printing after changing drivers, Windows, or network settings
Use one clear kitchen station for each production area
Always print a Windows test page after any printer change

Recommended Printer Names

Kitchen_Printer Bar_Printer Dessert_Printer Receipt_Printer Grill_Printer Bakery_Printer
⚡

Quick Setup Summary

The shortest path from zero to printing
1
Install the printer in Windows
2
Print a Windows test page
3
Install and open QZ Tray
4
Open Management → QZ Tray Settings
5
Enable silent KOT printing
6
Upload digital-certificate.txt and private-key.pem → Save
7
Click Connect → Click List Printers
8
Copy the exact printer name from the list
9
Open Management → Kitchen Stations
10
Paste the exact name into Printer Name (QZ) → Save
11
Link menu categories to the kitchen station
12
Place a test order and confirm the KOT prints 🎉
🚀
That's it — you're done!

If the test order prints automatically on the kitchen printer, your QZ Tray silent printing setup is complete and ready for daily use.