# Setting Up Your Snapmaker U1 ## About Your Printer Great news! Your **Snapmaker U1** is a "smart" printer that already runs Klipper firmware. This makes setup much easier. **What this means:** Your printer already has built-in networking and runs Klipper (advanced firmware). It has a web interface (usually "Mainsail" or "Fluidd") that SimplyPrint can connect to directly. We can install the SimplyPrint companion software directly **on** the printer itself. **No extra hardware needed!** You just need to enable SimplyPrint in your printer's web interface. **What you'll need:** - Your printer connected to your WiFi network - Access to the printer's web interface (usually at `http://your-printer-ip`) - A SimplyPrint account Let's get started with the setup! --- ## Snapmaker U1 Setup Guide ### Step 1: Introduction _Detailed instructions for **Introduction** are not yet available in machine-readable form (source template: `specific_methods/simplyprint_client/step-intro.twig`). Recommend the user opens the public setup guide for the full walkthrough; links are listed under the printer at https://simplyprint.io/3d-printers ._ ### Step 2: Install the client The device running the SimplyPrint Client must always be turned on and on the same network as your printer(s). Your printer must also have a USB stick or micro SD card inserted for file transfers. Set up the SimplyPrint Client for your {brand} printer on: Set up the SimplyPrint Client on: The client runs on a device on your network and connects your {brand} printer(s) to SimplyPrint. Pick the device it will run on below. It does not have to be the one you are using now. The client runs on a device on your network and connects your printer(s) to SimplyPrint. Pick the device it will run on below. It does not have to be the one you are using now. Raspberry Pi Linux macOS Windows Docker Chromebook iPad / Tablet / Other Select the device that will run the client This does not have to be the device you're browsing from right now. You need a device that can stay turned on 24/7 to keep your printer(s) connected to SimplyPrint. Don't have a dedicated device? Most users get a Raspberry Pi (~$35-55): affordable, low-power, and built to run 24/7. Any old computer, mini-PC, NAS, or server works too. Same network: the device must be on the same network as your printer(s). Questions? See the FAQ at the bottom of this page. Raspberry Pi setup Flash our ready-to-go image to a microSD card, no operating system to set up first. Works on Raspberry Pi 3, 4 and 5. Hardware requirements: Raspberry Pi 3, 4 or 5 (arm64 image for Pi 4 & 5, armv7l image for Pi 3) 2 GB RAM (recommended minimum; less is possible with just a printer or two) A microSD card (8 GB or larger) and a card reader Setup: Insert the microSD card into your computer (use a USB card reader if it has no slot). Download and install Raspberry Pi Imager, then open it. Click "Choose OS" and use the SimplyPrint Client image - this is the easiest way: If it is listed, pick "Other specific-purpose OS" → "3D printing" → "SimplyPrint" → "SimplyPrint Client OS". Not listed? Download the image for your Pi, then choose "Use custom" in Pi Imager and select the downloaded file: arm64 image (Pi 4 & 5) armv7l image (Pi 3) Click "Choose storage" and select the microSD card (remove other USB sticks first so the wrong device is not picked). Click "Next", then on "Use OS customisation" click "Edit settings": In the "Services" tab, enable "Enable SSH" and set a username and password (write these down, they are not stored for you). Enable "Configure wireless LAN" and enter your WiFi name (SSID) and password, then set your "Wireless LAN country". Use the same network as your printers. If you use Ethernet, you can skip the WiFi part. Click "Save". Click "Yes" to write the card (confirm overwriting it) and wait for it to finish. A file explorer or popups may open while flashing, that is normal, just ignore them. Put the card in the Pi and power it on. Give it a couple of minutes to boot. On your own computer (on the same network), open the client at http://<pi-ip>:8000. Finding the Pi's IP: plug a screen into the Pi (it shows the IP on boot), log into your router and look for it, or use an IP scanner like Angry IP. Still stuck? See our helpdesk article. Linux setup (x86_64 / aarch64 / armv7l) Run the client on a Linux computer, mini-PC, or server. Hardware requirements: 2 GB RAM (minimum) systemd support (most modern distributions have this) Setup: Open a terminal window and run the following command: Follow the on-screen instructions. It installs the client as a systemd service (simplyprint-client.service) that starts on boot and keeps running in the background. Open the client interface: on your computer, open your browser and go to the client. This is where you'll link up the printer(s). If the client runs on this computer: http://localhost:8000 If it runs on another device: http://<device-ip>:8000 macOS setup (Intel & Apple Silicon) Run the client on a Mac. Download the installer for your chip: Apple Silicon (M-series) Intel Not sure which? Apple menu → About This Mac. A chip that starts with "Apple M" is Apple Silicon; an "Intel" processor is Intel. Hardware requirements: macOS 13 (Ventura) or newer, Intel or Apple Silicon 4 GB RAM (minimum) Setup: Download the installer for your Mac above and open it. Follow the installer: a welcome page, an optional "Start at login" choice, then finish. Allow it to run in the background and open on login: If macOS says the app is from an unidentified developer, allow it in System Settings → Privacy & Security. Open System Settings → General → Login Items. Add SimplyPrint Client to "Open at Login", and enable it under "Allow in the Background" so it stays connected. The client runs with a menu-bar icon. Open it from the menu bar, or go to http://localhost:8000. Prefer Homebrew? Run these in Terminal: Windows setup Run the client on a Windows computer. Download Windows installer (x64) Hardware requirements: Windows 10, 11 or newer 4 GB RAM (minimum) 64-bit processor (standard) Setup: Download the installer above and run it. Follow the on-screen instructions. Windows may warn you about the installer (common with new software): click "More info" then "Run anyway". Only install software from sources you trust. When setup is done you will see a SimplyPrint icon in your system tray. The client starts with Windows and runs in the background. Open it from the tray, or go to http://localhost:8000. Prefer not to install? A portable zip build is also available, extract it and run simplyprint-client.exe. Docker setup Deploy the client on any system that runs Docker. The official image is on Docker Hub: simplyprint/simplyprint-client. Setup: Docker Docker Compose Create and run the container (host networking lets it reach printers on your LAN): To update, pull the latest image and restart the named container: Open the client interface in your browser: or, if running on another device: Create a compose.yaml with the following content: Start the service: Updating: Open the client interface in your browser: or, if running on another device: Chromebook is not recommended for running the client Your Chromebook must stay turned on and awake at all times. If it sleeps, shuts down, or you close the lid, your printer goes offline. Better alternative: Get a Raspberry Pi (~$35-55) to run 24/7. You can still use your Chromebook to access SimplyPrint - just let the Pi handle the always-on part! Chromebook setup Chromebooks can run our Linux-based client by enabling the Linux development environment (Crostini). If you still want to proceed, follow the steps below. Video guide: Setup: Enable Linux on your Chromebook: Open Settings on your Chromebook. Go to Advanced → Developers. Turn on "Linux development environment". Follow the setup wizard to install Linux (this may take a few minutes). Open the Linux terminal: once Linux is installed, find and open the "Terminal" app from your app launcher. Run the SimplyPrint installer: Follow the instructions on the screen. Open the client interface in your browser at http://localhost:8000. These devices cannot run the client There is no way to use an iPad, tablet, phone, or similar device to run the client. But you CAN use SimplyPrint on these devices! Once the client is running on a supported device (like a Raspberry Pi), you can control your printers from any device, including your iPad, Android tablet, or phone, via the SimplyPrint web and mobile apps. The client just needs to run on a separate, always-on device. Why can't we make it work? These are hardware and operating system limitations beyond our control. If a workaround existed, we'd be the first to implement it! Why these devices don't work: Device Why it doesn't work iPad / iPhone iOS doesn't allow apps to run the background processes the client needs. Android phone / tablet Android aggressively kills background processes to save battery; the client would stop working within minutes. Arduino / ESP32 / microcontrollers These are microcontrollers, not computers. They cannot run the client software. Smart-home hubs Too limited and locked down; designed for specific tasks, not running arbitrary software. The printer itself Many printers (e.g. Bambu Lab) have a closed ecosystem, so we cannot install software on them. The client runs on a separate device instead. Only have a tablet or phone? You'll need an actual computer. A Raspberry Pi 4 is the most affordable option at ~$35-55, small, low-power, and perfect for running the client 24/7. Please select one of the supported platforms from the tabs above. View Raspberry Pi setup (recommended) /* Platform tabs - prominent, matching the proven installer styling */ #spcPlatformTabs .nav-link { border-radius: 0.25rem 0.25rem 0 0; padding: 0.85rem 1.6rem; transition: all 0.2s ease; font-size: 1rem; } #spcPlatformTabs .nav-link i { font-size: 1.15rem; margin-right: .35rem; } #spcPlatformTabs .nav-link.active { font-weight: bold; } #spcPlatformTabs + .tab-content { border: 1px solid #dee2e6; border-top: none; padding: 2rem; border-radius: 0 0 0.25rem 0.25rem; } @media (max-width: 991px) { #spcPlatformTabs { flex-direction: column; align-items: stretch; border-bottom: none; } #spcPlatformTabs .nav-item { width: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; } #spcPlatformTabs .nav-link { border-radius: 0.375rem; border: 2px solid #dee2e6; background: white; padding: 1rem 1.25rem; text-align: left; display: block; box-shadow: 0 2px 4px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.05); } #spcPlatformTabs .nav-link:not(.active) { background: #f8f9fa; } #spcPlatformTabs .nav-link:not(.active):hover { background: #e9ecef; border-color: #007bff; transform: translateX(5px); } #spcPlatformTabs + .tab-content { border-radius: 0.25rem; margin-top: 1rem; } } ### Step 3: Connect your printer Connect your printer The client takes it from here. Open it, then choose Add printer - it finds printers on your network and walks you through connecting yours. Open the client First, open the client you installed. You can reach it from: The system tray icon on Windows. The menu-bar icon on macOS. A browser at http://localhost:8000 (or http://<device-ip>:8000 on a Pi or another device). There is nothing to sign in to in the client itself. Once it is open, add and link your printers below. Make sure your printer is powered on and on the same network as the device running the client. In the client, click Add printer and pick your brand. It lists printers it finds on your network, or you can enter the details by hand. Follow the on-screen steps. Brand-specific prompts (an access code, a serial number, a password, or an "Allow" tap on the printer) appear right in the client. Finish linking in SimplyPrint Each printer you add shows up in the client as Pending with a short setup code. Open SimplyPrint, go to your printers, and enter that code to link the printer to your account. That is it, the printer comes online and you can start printing. What each brand needs Bambu Lab One time on the printer, turn on LAN-only mode and Developer Mode. Then enter its IP, 8-character access code, and serial number (all on the printer's screen). Cloud login is monitor-only on current firmware. Works with: X1, X1C, X1E, P1P, P1S, P2S, A1, A1 Mini, A2L, H2D, H2D Pro, H2S, H2C. Creality Auto-discovered, or enter the printer's IP. The model is detected automatically, no code or password. Works with: K1, K1C, K1 Max, K2, K2 Pro, K2 Plus, CR-10 SE, Ender-3 V3 Plus, Ender-3 V3 KE, Ender 5 Max, Hi. The Ender-3 V3 and Ender-3 V4 are not supported yet. Anycubic Auto-discovered, or enter the printer's IP. The model is detected automatically, no code needed. Works with: Kobra 2 Pro, Kobra 2 Plus, Kobra 2 Max, Kobra 3 V2, Kobra 3 Max, Kobra S1, Kobra S1 Max, Kobra X. Elegoo Enter the printer's IP, then pick your model. Works with: Centauri Carbon, Centauri Carbon 2. Snapmaker Enter the printer's IP, no code or password needed. Works with: Snapmaker U1. Ultimaker Enter the printer's IP, then press Allow on the printer's screen to authorise. Works with: Ultimaker S3, S5, S7, Ultimaker 3, 3 Extended, and 2+ Connect. Duet Enter the board's IP. If you set a Duet Web Control password, enter it; otherwise leave it blank. Works with: Duet 3 (6HC, 6XD, Mini 5+), Duet 2 (WiFi, Ethernet, Maestro), and other RepRapFirmware boards. .bg-gradient-dark-blue { background: linear-gradient(135deg, #2c3e50, #4a6491); }