Keep the BizPrint Android app running so it can print

This page explains how the BizPrint Android app keeps running in the background and what to do when it stops receiving print jobs. It is for merchants and staff who use an Android phone, tablet or Sunmi device as a station.

Before you start

Update the BizPrint Android app from Google Play to the latest version.
Install and connect the app. See Install and connect the BizPrint Android app to your station.

The BizPrint is running notification

While the app is running, Android shows a notification that says BizPrint is running, with the text Tap for more information or to stop the app. It shows that the app is listening for print jobs while you use other apps or the screen is off.

Leave the notification in place while you want the device to print.
Tap the notification when you want more information about the app or want to stop it.
When the app is stopped, the station is offline and nothing prints on this device.

Allow notifications for BizPrint. The notification shows that the app is running, and the app uses notifications to warn you, for example when it goes offline or a job does not print. If notifications are turned off for BizPrint, the main screen shows Notifications are off:

Tap Fix on the card.
Allow notifications for BizPrint.

The app starts by itself when the device restarts.

Allow BizPrint to run in the background

Android can pause apps to save battery when the screen is off. If it pauses BizPrint, orders do not print. The setup assistant asks for this on its Keep printing in the background step. If it is still needed, the main screen shows Printing may stop in the background.

Tap Fix on the Printing may stop in the background card. Android opens its battery settings, and the app shows a short tip at the bottom of the screen.
Follow the tip. Depending on your Android version, it says:
- Find BizPrint and choose Unrestricted.
- Find BizPrint, turn on Allow background usage, then tap it and choose Unrestricted.
- Find BizPrint and choose Don’t optimize.
Return to the BizPrint app. The card is gone when the setting is right.

Check the connection

Open the BizPrint app.
Look at the top of the main screen. It shows your station’s name, with the connection status under it.

The status is one of these:

Connected: the device is ready to receive print jobs.
Connecting…: the app is connecting. Wait a moment.
Not connected: the app lost its connection. BizPrint keeps retrying.
Paused: someone tapped Disconnect. Print jobs won’t arrive until you connect.
Not set up: the app is not connected to a station yet. See Install and connect the BizPrint Android app to your station.

Tap the station name to open the Connection sheet. It shows the same status. Its buttons depend on the status:

Paused: Connect and Edit keys.
Connected, Connecting… or Not connected: Check connection, Disconnect and Edit keys.
Not set up: Enter keys.

Reconnect the app

Read this before you reconnect. When a station reconnects, BizPrint can send it print jobs that are still pending, and they print automatically. This happens when Archive offline print jobs is off. Before you reconnect or restart the device, look at the printer for printouts, check job statuses in the BizPrint dashboard, and do not reprint anything that is still pending. See Choose what happens to BizPrint print jobs when a station is offline.

What to do depends on the status at the top of the main screen.

If it shows Paused

Tap the station name at the top of the main screen. The Connection sheet opens.
Tap Connect.
Check that the status changes to Connected.

If it shows Not connected

BizPrint keeps retrying by itself, and it reconnects when the device gets a network connection again. To connect now:

Tap Connect on the Not connected card on the main screen.
Check that the status changes to Connected.

To find out what is wrong:

Tap the station name at the top of the main screen. The Connection sheet opens.
Tap Check connection.
Look at each line of the check: Server reachable, Keys accepted and Listening for print jobs.

If the main screen shows BizPrint isn’t running, tap Start on the card.

If it keeps failing

The Not connected card shows the reason:

Can’t reach the server. Check this phone’s internet or Wi-Fi. Connect the device to the internet.
These keys don’t match a station. Copy both again from the dashboard. Connect the app to your station again. See Install and connect the BizPrint Android app to your station.
This app version is no longer supported. Update BizPrint. Update the app from Google Play.

If it still fails, contact BizPrint support.

Keep printing reliable

Keep the device powered on and connected to the internet.
Keep network printers on the same Wi-Fi as the device, and Bluetooth printers close to it.
Leave the BizPrint is running notification alone.
Act on the cards at the top of the main screen. Each one has a button that fixes the problem.
After you restart the device, open the BizPrint app once and check that it says Connected.
To hear when something goes wrong, tap the BizPrint logo at the top right of the main screen, tap Sounds, tap BizPrint goes offline or An order doesn’t print, and turn on Play a sound.

Check before you print again

If the device was offline, jobs may have waited for it. Before you reprint anything:

Look at the printer for paper and for printouts that already came out.
Check the job’s status on the Print Jobs page in the BizPrint dashboard.
Wait for the station to finish anything it is still printing.
Go to WooCommerce > Print Manager in WordPress, if the order came from WooCommerce.
Click the Support tab.
Check Queue Status in Print Job Queue.
Wait for any pending or processing jobs to finish.

Never place an order again or repeat a payment to get a print.

Need help? Contact BizPrint support at https://getbizprint.com/support/.