Badge printing runs through the Guest Manager iOS app paired with a Brother QL-series label printer. The badge prints the attendee’s name plus up to two custom fields; the layout itself is fixed.
Requirements: The Guest Manager iOS app, a supported Brother printer, and a supported paper roll. Each badge print costs 1 credit — see Credits and free tickets.
Supported printers and paper
Only Brother QL-series thermal label printers are supported. Thermal printing uses no ink.
- Models: Brother QL-820NWB (recommended), QL-810W, and other Brother QL models. The QL-710W and QL-720NW also work but are discontinued. USB-only models such as the QL-800 do not work.
- Connection: Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Wi-Fi is faster and lets several iPads share one printer (2–4 devices per printer). Bluetooth is one device per printer.
- Paper rolls: The app prints to three media sizes — 54mm, 62mm (DK-2205, a continuous adhesive roll), and 60×86mm (DK-1234, a 2.3×3.4” die-cut adhesive label). The roll bundled with a new printer is often a different size and will not print — check the part number on the roll, not just its width.
Printers do not count toward your device limit — only iPads and iPhones count. See Device management and limits.
Non-Brother printers (Zebra, Dymo) are not supported.
What prints on a badge
The badge design is fixed. You cannot change the layout, font, font size, alignment, or label orientation. First and last name always print together on one line.
The only customization is up to two custom fields printed below the attendee name. These come from your ticket custom fields.
Not supported on the badge:
- Logos or images
- QR codes or barcodes
- Font or font-size changes
- Text wrapping for long values, such as long company names
- The event name (it does not print natively — import it as a ticket custom field to show it)
- The attendee note field (only ticket custom fields print, not notes)
If you need barcoded badges or a custom layout, export your attendee list as a CSV and produce the badges externally — the export includes each attendee’s barcode number.
Choose which fields print
Ticket custom fields control what appears below the name. Set their visibility and order in the backend, then sync the iOS app.
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Open the ticket field you want to print and edit it.
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Turn on the print toggle so the field shows on the badge.
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Set its Position to control the order — the lower number prints first.
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Save, then manually sync the iOS app. The app does not refresh field order on its own.
The field now prints on badges from the iOS app, in the position you set.
Related articles
- Credits and free tickets — what each badge print costs and how credits work.
- Device management and limits — why printers don’t count toward your device limit.
- Check-in app configuration and devices — pairing and setting up onsite devices.
FAQ
A field prints twice on the badge
This happens when the same value — often Company Name — was imported into both a Contact custom field and a Ticket custom field. Delete the duplicate from your Contact fields. Position controls ticket custom fields only, not contact fields.
Can I print badges for walk-up attendees added onsite?
Yes. Add them as attendees in the app and print on demand. A contact import alone is not enough — they must exist as attendees.
Why do I see “Could not init printer”?
This is a device or connection failure, not a paper problem — the app could not initialize the printer. Re-seat the printer, unpair and re-pair it, reboot the printer, and confirm it is connected in the Name Badge role in the app’s settings.
Why do I see “Found unsupported paper” or “Incorrect paper roll type”?
The loaded roll is not one the app recognizes. Load a supported roll. The DK-22205 looks nearly identical to the DK-2205 but is a different size and will not work — check the part number carefully.
Can multiple iPads print to the same printer?
Yes, over Wi-Fi only — 2–4 devices can share one printer. Bluetooth pairs one device to one printer, so each iPad needs its own printer.
Can I use lanyard badge holders?
Yes. With the DK-1234 die-cut label, leave the sticker on its paper backing and slide it into a standard plastic lanyard holder.
Does Guest Manager rent or sell printers?
No. Rent from a provider such as choose2rent.com for one-off events, or buy a Brother QL-820NWB from Amazon or an office-supply retailer. Barcode scanners are available to rent from Guest Manager, but printers are not.
