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What is required to set up SimplyPrint?

There is no single answer to this anymore. What you need to run SimplyPrint depends entirely on which printer you have. Some printers connect with nothing extra at all. Some need a small, always-on device on your network. Older printers need a Raspberry Pi. This guide walks through the options so you know what to expect before you start.


The first step is always the same: tell SimplyPrint which printer you have, and it shows you the exact setup method and any hardware you need. You rarely have to work this out on your own.


In this article:


It depends on your printer

Years ago, setting up SimplyPrint nearly always meant one thing: a Raspberry Pi running OctoPrint. That is still a great option for older printers, but it is now just one path of several.


Modern printers have changed the picture. Many ship with Wi-Fi and smart firmware, so they connect with little or no extra hardware. To connect any printer to the SimplyPrint cloud, the printer just needs a way to communicate with us, and that method differs from printer to printer.


Printers fall into roughly four groups, covered below. One important warning before you read on:


Do not assume a printer connects straight to SimplyPrint just because it has Wi-Fi or runs Klipper. Some modern printers look like they connect directly, but for full control (especially multi-material systems) you run them through the SimplyPrint Client instead. Always check your specific printer's setup page.


Smart printers that connect directly

Some printers can talk to SimplyPrint on their own. We install the SimplyPrint software on the printer itself, with no extra device in between.


These are usually "Klipper" printers. Klipper is advanced printer firmware that runs on many modern printers. It makes them faster and smarter and includes built-in Wi-Fi. If your printer has a touchscreen with a web interface, it most likely runs Klipper.


Examples: Creality K1 / K1 Max / K1C, Creality K2 Plus, Creality Ender-3 V3 (KE, Plus, Core), Sovol SV07 Plus, QIDI X-Plus 3 / X-Max 3.


What you need: For a true smart printer with no multi-material needs, nothing extra. Just follow the setup steps for your model.


Some printers in this group can connect directly, but the direct path is not always the best one, and a few are not as "direct" as they look. The Creality K1 family needs rooting or custom firmware to connect on the printer, so many people run it through the SimplyPrint Client instead to avoid touching firmware. The Creality K2 with a CFS, and the Anycubic Kobra S1 with an ACE, also run through the Client so you get full multi-material control. These are only examples, and the list keeps growing.


Bridged printers and the SimplyPrint Client

Some printers expose a local network connection, but the manufacturer does not let us install anything on the printer. For these, the SimplyPrint Client does the job. It is one small app you run on a separate, always-on device on the same network, and it bridges your printers to SimplyPrint.


This is the only way in for closed printers like Bambu Lab, where the manufacturer does not allow third-party software on the printer itself. It is also the recommended path whenever you want full multi-material control (Creality CFS, Anycubic ACE) or simply prefer not to flash any firmware.


Examples: all Bambu Lab printers (X1 / X1C, P1P / P1S, A1 / A1 mini), Elegoo Centauri and Centauri Carbon, Creality K2 with a CFS, Anycubic Kobra S1 with an ACE, Ultimaker S-line, and Duet (RepRapFirmware) boards.


What you need: a device on the same network as your printer that stays powered on to run the Client. That can be a Raspberry Pi (Pi 3/4/5 or Zero 2 W), your existing Windows, Mac, or Linux computer, a Docker container, or any always-on mini PC or server. It needs to be an actual computer, not a phone, tablet, or Arduino.


One Client can bridge many printers across different brands at once, so you do not need one device per printer.


To get started, see Connect your printers with the SimplyPrint Client.


Traditional printers that need a Raspberry Pi

Many printers, especially older ones, are not "smart" on their own. They have no Wi-Fi and no local connection we can talk to. These printers need a small external computer to bridge them to SimplyPrint, and the classic choice is a Raspberry Pi.


The Pi runs free software called OctoPrint, which handles the USB connection to your printer. SimplyPrint connects to OctoPrint to add all the cloud features. You do not need to use OctoPrint directly. It runs quietly in the background.


Examples: Creality Ender 3 (original, V2, V2 Neo), Creality Ender 5, Prusa MK3 / MK3S, Anycubic Kobra, Artillery Sidewinder.


Don't have a Raspberry Pi? If you are not sure what a Raspberry Pi is, you most likely do not have one and will need to buy one. It is a small, affordable computer that is perfect for this. See Pick the right Raspberry Pi for running SimplyPrint / OctoPrint and Which cable to use for SimplyPrint / OctoPrint.


Instead of a Raspberry Pi, some traditional printers can use a "Klipper Pad" such as the Creality Sonic Pad, BIGTREETECH Pad, Creality Nebula Smart Kit, or Co Print ChromaPad. These are touchscreen devices that upgrade your printer to run Klipper. Not every printer is compatible, so check your model before buying one. If you are unsure, a Raspberry Pi with OctoPrint is the most universal option and works with almost any printer.


Locked printers that need rooting first

A few printers have the right hardware but are locked down by the manufacturer's software, which blocks third-party integrations. Before SimplyPrint can connect, you install community-made firmware that "opens up" the printer.


This is not a SimplyPrint limitation. It is us working around the manufacturer's choices to give you back control of a printer you own. When a printer falls into this group, its setup page in SimplyPrint walks you through what to do.


Hardware you might need

Most smart printers need nothing extra. You only buy hardware for the Raspberry Pi and Client paths above.


For a Raspberry Pi and OctoPrint setup (traditional printers), here is the shopping list:


Item

Notes

Raspberry Pi

Pi 4 or Pi 5 recommended

Power supply

Official 5V 3A recommended (cheaper ones are known to fail)

MicroSD card

8GB minimum, 16GB or more recommended

USB cable

Connects the Pi to your printer (often included with the printer)


For the SimplyPrint Client (bridged printers), you do not need anything printer-specific. Any always-on computer, mini PC, or Raspberry Pi on the same network will do. A cheap Raspberry Pi is ideal here too, since the Client needs to stay on whenever you want to use SimplyPrint, and a Pi is inexpensive and sips power.


How to find the right method for your printer

You do not have to memorize any of this. The quickest way to find out exactly what you need is to let SimplyPrint tell you:


  1. In SimplyPrint, start adding a printer and pick your brand and model.
  2. SimplyPrint shows you the right connection method for that model and any hardware you need.
  3. Follow the on-screen steps for that method.


You can also browse everything ahead of time in the SimplyPrint setup guide, which lists every supported brand and connection method.


Updated on: 26/06/2026

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