Strange characters printed on label via MAC with Zebra label printer

8 min read·Updated 18/05/2026

Strange characters printed on label via MAC with Zebra label printer

Windows: Set Zebra printer as "Raw" printer

  1. 1

    Go to:Control Panel → Devices and printers

  2. 2

    Right-click on your Zebra printer(e.g. "Zebra ZD421 (ZPL)").

  3. 3

    Choose Print Properties.

  4. 4

    Go to the Advanced tab.

  5. 5

    Click Change new driver or driver.

  6. 6

    From the list, choose the generic driver:Generic → Generic / Text Only

→ This is Windows' standard "raw" driver.

7. Confirm and restart the application that prints.

Your printer does not appear literally as "Local Raw Printer", but it does behave like a raw printer that accepts ZPL directly (without conversion).

macOS: Add Zebra as RAW printer

1. Open System Preferences → Printers and scanners.

2.Click + to add a printer.

3.Select the Zebra printer from the list.

4.Click on "Use":

5. Choose "Generic PostScript" or "Raw Printer".

6.Add.

macOS now prints "raw" (ZPL is forwarded immediately).

Example steps on MacIn combination with anZebra label printer Zebra ZD420 203dpi ZPL.

**Problem:**Weird characters are printed because they are. "LanguageFrom the printer on"Zebra ZPL LabelPrinter""State. This is a Zebra printer but still the Printer setting should be on RAW via CUPS.

Solution:

1, Click the search icon in the top right corner of the Mac.Searchon:"Terminal"

2, We run the following command in the Terminal:CupsctlWeb interface= yes

3, We then go to the website http://localhost:631/printers/

We look at the list of printers.

Zebra_Technologies_ZTC_ZD420-203dpi_ZPLZebra Technologies ZTC ZD420-203dpi ZPLZebra ZPL label printerIdle
Zebra_ZD420_203dpi_ZPLZebra ZD420-203dpi ZPLMacBookPro ofJumelleLocalRawPrinterIdle
Zebra_zd420_pnZebra Technologies ZTC ZD420-203dpi ZPLoffice1LocalRawPrinterIdle

Now we see that in the second printer:MacBookPro

Thatthere'Local,RawPrinter."sTaatThis is JUIST.

If heon:Zebra ZPL label printerIf you are not right.

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

To change this, we do so as follows:

We click onAdministration -> Manage printers ->

You can see two dropdowns.

FirstDropdown:Maintanance

SecondDropdown:ModifyPrinter

You should see USB:/// which means that this can be adjusted via CUPS.

Then click on Zebra ZPL Label Printer on Continue

You can now see:

Modify Zebra_ZD420_203dpi_ZPL

Description:Zebra ZD420-203dpi ZPL
Location:MacBookPro ofJumelle
Connection:usb:/Zebra%20Technologies/ZTC%20ZD420-203dpi%20ZPL?serial=50J204000758
Sharing:DoNotShareThisPrinter
Make

The cup MAKE is important.

He should not stand on Zebra, buton:Raw.

Clickon:"Continue"

It should look like this:

Description:Zebra ZD420-203dpi ZPL
Location:MacBookPro ofJumelle
Connection:usb:/Zebra%20Technologies/ZTC%20ZD420-203dpi%20ZPL?serial=50J204000758
Sharing:DoNotShareThisPrinter
Make:Raw
Model:CurrentDriver - {current_make_and_model}:RawQueue(s)
OrProvideA PPD File:

Click now onModifyPrinter

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