Client Installation

Before proceeding with the installation, please ensure your hardware meets the Hardware Requirements. If you are installing on a Raspberry Pi, prepare it first using the Prepare Raspberry Pi guide.

Printerhive now supports client installation on Windows, macOS, and Raspberry Pi / Linux. New installations do not require a client API key. The client uses secure Printerhive login and lets you choose the location interactively during setup.

Windows Installation

1. Open the Printerhive Guide: Log in to the Printerhive web application and open the interactive installation guide.
2. Choose Windows: In the client installation step, select Windows.
3. Download and Run the Installer: Download the Windows installer and run the Printerhive-client-setup.exe file.
4. Sign In: Open the Printerhive client and sign in with your Printerhive account.
5. Select Location: Choose the location this Windows client should manage.
6. Continue Setup: Once the client is connected, continue to Connect Printer.

Microsoft Defender

Microsoft Defender may show a warning on first launch. If you downloaded the installer from the Printerhive app, you can safely allow it to run.

macOS Installation

1. Open the Printerhive Guide: Log in to the Printerhive web application and open the interactive installation guide.
2. Choose Mac: In the client installation step, select Mac.
3. Download and Open the Installer: Download the .dmg file and open it.
4. Install the App: Drag Printerhive into the Applications folder.
5. Sign In: Open the Printerhive client and sign in with your Printerhive account.
6. Select Location: Choose the location this Mac client should manage.
7. Continue Setup: Once the client is connected, continue to Connect Printer.

Raspberry Pi / Linux Installation

1. Connect via SSH: Access the command line of your device using SSH. Instructions for connecting from Windows, macOS, and Linux are included at the end of the Preparing Raspberry Pi OS Lite guide.

2. Run the Installation Script: Log in to the Printerhive web application and follow the interactive installation guide. The Linux installation command is:

   curl -o install-printerhive.sh https://app.printerhive.com/install && bash install-printerhive.sh

3. Follow the Interactive Setup: The installer will guide you through secure Printerhive login and location selection. You no longer need to paste a client API key into the command or installer.

4. Wait for Completion: The installation process is quick. Most time is spent installing Docker and Docker Compose (if not already present). The Printerhive client itself installs almost instantly.

5. Installation Complete: Once the script finishes, the Printerhive client is installed and running.

   The client will automatically:

   • Connect the selected location to your account
   • Scan your network for Bambu Lab printers
   • Add newly discovered printers to your account
   • Synchronize with existing printers in your account

   You can now close the SSH connection and manage your printers through the Printerhive web application.

Troubleshooting Installation Issues

The following issues may occur during installation:

• Login problem: Ensure you are using the correct Printerhive account and that the client device has internet access.
• No location available: Create a location in Printerhive first, then restart the client setup and select it during installation.
• Wrong location selected: Reopen the client setup and select the correct location, or reinstall/reconfigure the client if needed.
• Unstable internet connection: The installation script downloads necessary packages and Docker images. If your internet connection is unstable or slow, a download error may occur, and the installation will fail. Ensure a stable internet connection throughout the installation.
• Insufficient SD card or disk space: Make sure you have enough free space on your client device. Minimum Raspberry Pi SD card size requirements are listed in the Hardware Requirements section.
• Permission issues on Linux: The installation script requires sudo privileges for some operations.
• Power interruption: A sudden power loss to the Raspberry Pi during installation can lead to an inconsistent state and installation failure.
• Previous failed installation: If you are attempting to reinstall after a previous failure, fragments may remain on the system that cause conflicts. In such cases, the simplest solution might be to start with a fresh installation of Raspberry Pi OS.

If problems persist, we recommend checking the installation script or desktop client output for specific error messages that might indicate the cause of the problem.

If you encounter any issues or have questions during the process, feel free to join our community:

• Discord: Join our Discord server