Suppose wireless printing isn’t suitable for your setup. In that case, Snappic allows you to print via a wired connection using the Snappic Print Server (available for both Windows and macOS) or supported third-party print servers. This guide explains how to connect your DSLR and printer using wired connections for both USB-C and Lightning iOS devices.

Important Notes
Wired Printing Overview
Setup for USB-C Devices
Setup for Lightning Devices
DSLR Camera Setup
Contact Support

Important Notes

Wired printing uses a direct USB or Ethernet connection between your iPad/iPhone and a computer running a Print Server.
Compatible with the Snappic Print Server (Windows/macOS) and third-party print solutions such as Airkonv, Boothjunkie, or AirCastPro.
If using a wired setup, ensure the computer’s WiFi is turned off to prevent network conflicts.
Your iPad or iPhone can still use WiFi for internet access while using wired printing.

Wired Printing Overview

Wired printing provides a stable and fast connection between your iOS device and the printer. It’s ideal for environments where wireless networks may be unreliable or congested.

In this setup:

Your iPad or iPhone communicates with the Snappic Print Server via a USB or Ethernet cable.
The Print Server then sends print jobs directly to the connected printer.

Set up for USB-C Devices

You’ll need:

A USB-C hub with both USB and Ethernet ports.
- ✅ Tested model: HyperDrive SLIM 8-in-1 USB-C Hub
A regular USB cable (or Ethernet cable if your hub supports it).
A Windows or Mac computer running the Snappic Print Server or third-party print server.
(Optional) A USB to Ethernet adapter if your computer doesn’t have a built-in Ethernet port.

Steps:

Connect the USB-C hub with a PD (power delivery port) to your iPad or iPhone.
Plug your DSLR camera and USB/Ethernet cable into the hub.
Connect the other end of the USB cable to your computer (or via an Ethernet adapter if needed).
Open and configure the Snappic Print Server on your computer.
Set up your camera and printer as you normally would in Snappic.

💡 Tip: Ensure that your hub supports power delivery if you plan to charge your iPad during operation.

Set up for Lightning Devices

You’ll need:

A Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter (with Lightning charging port).
A USB hub — we have tested the Transcend USB 3.0 4-Port Hub (TS-HUB3K).
A regular USB cable (or Ethernet cable if supported).
A Windows or Mac computer running the Snappic Print Server or third-party print server.
(Optional) A USB to Ethernet adapter if your computer doesn’t have an Ethernet port.

Steps:

Connect the Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter to your iPad or iPhone.
Plug in the Transcend USB 3.0 Hub to the adapter.
Connect a charging cable to the hub’s power delivery port (only one port supports charging).
Plug your DSLR camera into the hub’s USB Micro B port — this port supports DSLR data transfer.
Connect the other end of the USB cable to your computer (or via Ethernet if needed).
Configure your camera and print server as usual.

Your iOS device will now use the wired USB/Ethernet connection to send print jobs to the Snappic Print Server (or third-party print solution). If WiFi is connected, Snappic will continue uploading images and microsite galleries via WiFi while printing occurs over the wired connection.

DSLR Camera Setup

When using a DSLR camera with Snappic:

Connect the camera directly to the iPad via the hub (Lightning or USB-C depending on your model).
Ensure your DSLR is set to remote control mode (PC connection) if applicable.
Follow the camera setup steps in the Snappic DSLR guide to configure capture and preview options.

💡 Note: Not all USB hubs or adapters supply enough power for both the iPad and DSLR simultaneously. Use a powered hub where possible.