You will find on this page the drivers and utilities available for Star thermal and impact printers.
Please check the operating systems, printer models, and interfaces supported before downloading and installing the software.

Here is a short list of drivers / utilities on this page:
- StarIO Programming Tool
- Star Raster Printer Driver
- Star Line Mode Printer Driver
- OPOS POSPrinter & CashDrawer Drivers
- JavaPOS POSPrinter & CashDrawer Drivers
- USB Vendor Class Driver
- LPR Port Driver
- Logo Store Driver
- Linux Shared Library
- Ethernet Configuration Utility

If you are looking for drivers and software of newer Star printer models that are bundled with an in-box disc, such as TSP100U, TSP650, TSP700II, TSP828L and SP700, please also navigate to the Software section under Technical Support.

StarIO Programming Tool

StarIO is a high level programming tool that simplifies the development and creation of software for Star printers. StarIO exposes an easy-to-use API that gives you fundamental communications access to the printer. This API is supplied pre-formed for all the most popular programming environments including Java and .NET, and exposes the same functionality regardless of the printer model or the communications interface you're using.

To help get you started, the following programming sample projects are included:
- Visual C++ 2005
- Visual C# 2005
- Visual Basic .NET 2005
- Java
- VB6

Please refer to the Help page and the API documentation for programming and usage.

Star Raster Printer Driver

These printer drivers are based on Star's Raster Mode of printer operation, which is geared towards fast graphics printing.

The Windows 95 / 98 / ME driver includes the Microsoft USB Printer Class driver for USB printing support.

The Linux driver is based on the CUPS (Common Unix Printing System) architecture, so CUPS must be installed. It enables you to print from any standard Linux application and also from the prompt via commands like lpr. This software is released under the GNU GPL (General Public License), all project source code is contained in the tar.gz distribution. Please feel free to study & modify this driver set as needed.

The Mac driver is supported on any Mac computer running OS X version 10.1 or higher.

*1. If your Linux distribution is RPM based (most distributions are), download this software in RPM format. Once this RPM is downloaded, it can be automatically installed using your distributions RPM installer (try double-clicking it to begin with).

*2. Otherwise, download the tar.gz package and read the included documentation for instructions on how to execute the included installer. Linux CUPS driver software manuals for different models: TSP100 / 650 / 700II / 1000 Series, SP500 / 700 Series, TSP828L Series, TUP500 / 900 Series.

*3. Mac CUPS driver software manuals for different models: TSP100 / 650 / 700II / 1000 Series, SP500 / 700 Series, TSP828L Series, TUP500 / 900 Series.

Star Line Mode Printer Driver

These printer drivers are based on Star's Line Mode of printer operation, which allows for the printing of both graphics and printer device fonts, including the usage of printer generated bar code fonts.

Use this Line Mode printer driver only if you need to print using either device fonts or barcodes. If your software does not require device fonts or barcodes, please consider using the Raster Mode driver instead, which usually results in faster and better printing.

Star OPOS POSPrinter & CashDrawer Drivers

Star's OPOS or OLE for Point Of Sale drivers support the POSPrinter and CashDrawer device classes. OPOS is a driver system based on Microsoft's ActiveX architecture. The purpose of OPOS is to expose all the functionality of receipt printers and cash drawers in an Object Oriented framework.

By using Star's OPOS drivers you can:
- Use pre-built OPOS compatible applications with Star printer products.
- Easily create new Windows applications that interface with Star printer products with the maximum degree of control over the device.
- Control any cash drawers connected to your Star printer.

Please read more about the OPOS architecture at the OPOS Home Page or Microsoft's Retail & Hospitality Industry page.

Star JavaPOS POSPrinter & CashDrawer Drivers

Star's JavaPOS or Java for Point Of Sale drivers support the POSPrinter and CashDrawer device classes. The purpose of JavaPOS is to expose all the functionality of receipt printers & cash drawers in a component framework, and be platform independent. This driver can work on Windows 98 / 98SE / ME / NT4 / 2000 / XP, Linux, Unix, Mac OS X 10.2 or greater, and others with Java Virtual Machine support.

By using Star's JavaPOS drivers you can:
- Use pre-built JavaPOS compatible applications with Star printer products.
- Easily create new Java applications that interface with Star printer products with the maximum degree of control over the device.
- Control any cash drawers connected to your Star printer.

Please read more about the JavaPOS architecture at the JavaPOS Home Page.

USB (VC) - USB Vendor Class Mode.

Star USB Vendor Class Driver

Using this software, your Star USB printer will be made to emulate a serial COM port. Any application capable of communicating with serial COM ports will be able to communicate with your Star USB printer.

Star printers require USB interface cards with firmware version 2.0 installed in order to work properly with this software. You can verify the USB firmware version currently installed by executing a printer self test. This is done by holding down the feed key while turning the printer on. The second line of the self test will state the firmware version, and should read, "Interface: USB (02.00)." If your printer does not have USB firmware version 2.0 installed, please contact your Star representative for assistance.

This driver requires that your printer be in the vendor class mode of operation, which is set by dip switch.

Star LPR Port Driver

This driver allows for the use of your Star Ethernet equipped printer under the LPR protocol. After installing this software, when you add a new printer queue via the Windows Add Printer Wizard, you will be able to setup that queue's port under an LPR address.

Use this software in conjunction with one of the Windows 98 or Windows ME printer drivers available from this site.

Star Logo Store Driver

Star printers have the ability to store logo graphics within the printer for fast output at a later time. The advantage of storing logos within the printer is that when they are later printed, the printing occurs at a very fast rate. In addition, Star printers have the ability to printing in Red & Black when two color paper is installed into the printer.

These printer drivers allow you to create a document (in any Windows application) with one logo per page, and then printing that document through these drivers, to store each page as a black or red & black logo within the printer.

These printer drivers should be used only to store logos into the printer. Please do not use these drivers to print your receipts. Using these drivers for daily purposes may damage the printer.

Star Linux Shared Library

This package contains the libstario Linux shared library facilitating direct to port device control. This library exposes via the included header files a set of functions for communicating with Star's serial, parallel, and USB printer and Visual Card devices.

In order to use this software you must have the libusb architecture installed. To learn more about the libusb architecture, please visit their home page.

This software is released under the GNU LGPL (Lesser General Public License). Use of the LGPL allows you to use this library in your own project without being required to release your project's source code. All project source code is contained in the tar.gz distribution. Please feel free to study & modify this software set as needed.

*1. If your Linux distribution is RPM based (most distributions are), download this software in RPM format. Once this RPM is downloaded, it can be automatically installed using your distributions RPM installer (try double-clicking it to begin with).

*2. Otherwise, download the tar.gz package and read the included documentation for instructions on how to execute the included installer.

Star Ethernet Configuration Utility

This utility serves two purposes: to locate any Star Ethernet printers on the local area network (MAC address matching), and to configure those printers with an IP address.

When Star Ethernet printers are first setup, if there is a DHCP server available, the printer will automatically be given an IP address. So that you can know which IP address was assigned to the printer, this utility locates all Star Ethernet printers on the local area network and displays the IP addresses currently associated with those devices. If there is no DHCP server available then the printer must be assigned a static IP address.

This utility allows you to locate your printer on the local area network and then to assign that printer a temporary IP address. The address assigned through this utility will remain associated with the printer until it is turned off.

To assign a permanent IP address to the printer, navigate your web browser to http://192.168.32.96 (replacing 192.168.32.96 with whichever IP address you assigned using this software), and configure the printer via its web interface.

This software requires that the printer's main firmware support the Ethernet interface card, and that the Ethernet interface card have firmware version 2.0.2 or newer installed. You can verify that this level of support is available in your printer by executing its self test, which is done by holding down the feed button while turning the printer on. Further down the print, the Ethernet interface information is printed.