Automatic Label Printing In the Background
Labels print automatically without a browser tab. The Print Agent runs in your Mac menu bar or Windows system tray and sends labels to your printer the moment you ship.
macOS 12+ (Apple Silicon & Intel) · Windows 10+ · Free with ShipWave account
4
Supported Formats
PDF, PNG, ZPL, EPL
10s
Default Polling
Near real-time queue checks
<2 min
Setup Time
Token + printer + done
Built-in
Recovery Safety
Stale print job re-queue
How It Works
Install & Connect
Download the app for Mac or Windows, install it, and paste your agent token.
Select Your Printer
Choose from a dropdown of detected printers. Supports thermal and standard.
Labels Print Automatically
Ship an order in ShipWave and the label prints within about 10 seconds.
Why ShipWave
Print Agent Is One Piece of a Faster Fulfillment Stack
Rate Shopping Built In
Compare carriers and services in one workflow instead of juggling separate shipping tabs.
Try Calculator →Operational Automation
Pair automatic printing with quick ship and rule-based workflows to reduce manual fulfillment steps.
View Automation →Returns + Tracking Experience
Improve post-purchase experience with branded tracking and a customer-friendly returns portal.
Explore Features →Print Agent Features
Set It Up Once, Keep Shipping
Background Printing
Labels print automatically when you ship - no browser tab, no manual downloads.
Menu Bar & System Tray App
Lives in your Mac menu bar or Windows system tray. Zero disruption, always ready.
All Label Formats
Supports PDF, PNG, ZPL, and EPL formats for any printer type.
Secure Connection
Encrypted token auth with one-time token display during generation.
Real-Time Status
See queue size, last check time, and recent jobs at a glance.
Auto-Recovery
Stale in-progress jobs are safely re-queued after timeout to prevent stranded labels.
Compare Label Printing Workflows
If you are deciding between manual browser printing, browser-based local printing, and a background app workflow, this shows the practical tradeoffs.
| Capability | Browser + Manual | Browser + QZ Tray | ShipWave Print Agent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Works when browser is closed | No | No | Yes |
| Setup complexity | Low | Medium | Low |
| Duplicate protection | Manual only | Limited | Atomic claim flow |
| Crash/stuck-job recovery | Manual reprint | Manual reprint | Automatic stale-job recovery |
| Best for | Occasional labels | Browser-driven sessions | Daily fulfillment teams |
Supported Printers
Works with any printer your Mac or Windows PC can see - thermal or standard.
- Any printer installed on your Mac or Windows PC (USB, network, AirPrint)
- Optimized for thermal printers: Brother QL, DYMO, Zebra, Rollo
- Standard inkjet and laser printers for PDF and PNG labels
- ZPL and EPL support for direct thermal printing
Setup Guide
Up and running in under two minutes.
- 1
Download & Install
Download the installer for your computer. On Mac, open the DMG and drag ShipWave Print Agent to Applications. On Windows, run the Setup installer.
- 2
Generate Your Token
In ShipWave, go to Settings > Printing > Generate Agent Token. Copy the token right away.
- 3
Configure the Agent
Open the app from your Mac menu bar or Windows system tray, paste the token, select your printer, and send a test print.
- 4
Ship Orders
Every label you purchase in ShipWave automatically prints to your selected printer.
Windows SmartScreen
If Windows shows "Windows protected your PC," click "More info," then "Run anyway." The installer is not code-signed yet.
macOS Gatekeeper
On first launch, macOS may show a security warning. Right-click the app and select "Open," or go to System Settings > Privacy & Security and click "Open Anyway."
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a thermal label printing app for Mac and Windows?
Yes. ShipWave Print Agent is a desktop app for macOS and Windows that prints thermal formats like ZPL and EPL, plus PDF and PNG labels.
Can I auto print shipping labels without keeping a browser tab open?
Yes. The app runs in your Mac menu bar or Windows system tray and processes pending print jobs in the background.
Do I need a separate paid plan to use Print Agent?
No separate fee for the app itself. It is included with your ShipWave account.
Which printers are supported?
Any printer installed on your Mac or Windows PC, including common thermal printers like Zebra, DYMO, Rollo, and Brother.
How does ShipWave help beyond printing labels?
ShipWave also helps with rate comparison, quick shipping workflows, branded tracking pages, and returns operations.
Ready to Automate Your Label Printing?
Download the Print Agent and run fulfillment on a faster, more reliable workflow.