Zebra ZQ310 Plus troubleshooting guide: errors, faults and fixes

Short answer: In the Zebra guide, a solid yellow error icon means the paper has run out. Replace the roll with a roll no wider than 58 mm, then close the cover until it clicks, with the end of the paper sticking out.

Likely cause

The out-of-paper sensor, present on all versions of the ZQ310 Plus, no longer sees paper under the printhead. If the cover is open at the same time, the icon flashes: Zebra gives priority to the “cover open” state.

Caution: Zebra warns that the tear bar has very sharp edges.

What to do

1. Push the release button forwards: the paper compartment cover opens.
2. Remove the empty core and drop in a new roll in the direction shown in the illustration in the guide.
3. Check the width: 58 mm maximum, or 50.8 mm (2 inches) with the spacer kit (see loading the roll).
4. Pull a little paper out of the printer and close the cover: it latches and the paper feeds out on its own.

Zebra also asks you to dust the inside with a brush and keep the sensor windows clean (cleaning table).

Sources: Operator Controls (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) · Loading the Media (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) · Control buttons (opens in a new window) – ZQ300 Series – User Guide (P1093810-04FR) (official documentation).

Short answer: The printer detects that the paper cover is not latched. Close it firmly until it clicks: the paper then comes out a few millimetres and the icon goes off.

Likely cause

All versions of the ZQ310 Plus have a cover open sensor (Media Door Open). Zebra gives this state priority over the out-of-paper state. A cover that is not properly latched also appears in the troubleshooting table as a cause of paper not feeding and of partial printing.

What to do

1. Check that the paper compartment cover is fully closed along its whole length.
2. Open it again with the release button and check that the roll is in place, with the paper coming out of the printer.
3. Close it until it latches: the paper should feed out on its own.
4. Make sure the roll is not catching against the sides (entry paper does not come out).

Sources: Operator Controls (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) · Troubleshooting Topics (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) · Control buttons (opens in a new window) – ZQ300 Series – User Guide (P1093810-04FR) (official documentation).

Short answer: The printhead has overheated: the printer protects itself by suspending printing. Just wait; Zebra states that printing restarts on its own once the printhead has cooled to 62 °C.

Likely cause

Thermal shutdown as described by Zebra: at 70 °C (158 °F), the printer stops printing; at 62 °C (144 °F), it resumes. This flash pattern is shared with the “faulty printhead element” state (Head Element Out) and takes priority over all other states.

Caution: After a long series of prints, the printhead can be very hot: do not touch it until it has cooled, in line with Zebra's warning.

What to do

1. Do not send a new print job and let the printhead cool down.
2. Wait: according to Zebra, printing resumes automatically at 62 °C.
3. Check the interrupted ticket or label: according to the English guide, the data being printed may be lost at the moment of shutdown.
4. If the icon is still flashing once the printer has cooled, check the printhead with the configuration label (entry test the printhead).

The English guide states both that the label data may be lost at shutdown and that printing resumes without data loss; the French guide only mentions resuming without loss.

Sources: ZQ300 Plus Series Technology (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) · Operator Controls (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) · ZQ300 Series technology (opens in a new window) – ZQ300 Series – User Guide (P1093810-04FR) (official documentation).

Short answer: First rule out the simple causes: roll missing, printhead or cover not properly latched. If everything is in order, Zebra explains that the printer program is missing or damaged and must be reloaded.

Likely cause

The Zebra troubleshooting table (“Flashing amber error indicator”) covers this case: with paper present and the latch closed, the icon flashes because no application is loaded or the application is corrupted.

What to do

1. Open the cover, check that the roll is there, then close it until it latches.
2. Count the pattern: one flash per second points to an open cover, one every 2 seconds to an overheated printhead or a faulty printhead element.
3. If none of these causes applies, reload the printer program in forced download mode.

For this case, Zebra does not specify how fast the icon flashes.

Sources: Troubleshooting Topics (opens in a new window) · Operator Controls (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) (official documentation).

Short answer: Not all ZQ310 Plus printers can detect the gap between two labels: according to Zebra, only the Retail and Distribution versions (indoor use) have this sensor. The guide does not give a calibration using the buttons, but it does set rules for the black mark and for sensor maintenance.

Likely cause

Zebra describes two families. Transportation and Logistics (outdoor use, black housing): out-of-paper, black bar and cover open sensors; printing of receipts and linerless labels. Retail and Distribution (indoor use, silver and black): an additional gap sensor, standard labels accepted. The black bar sensor reads the back of the paper along the centre line of the roll; a dark pre-printed graphic in that position fools it.

Checks given by Zebra

1. Check that your version accepts the paper you use: gap labels are reserved for the Retail and Distribution versions.
2. For black mark tickets, place the mark on the back, centred across the width of the roll, with the dimensions given in the guide (“Designing Labels” section).
3. For pre-printed tickets, leave a 15 mm strip blank in the centre of the back: no graphics, text, barcodes or dark solid areas.
4. Dust the inside with a brush and check that the sensor windows are clean.
5. Print a configuration label: its “Sensors” section shows the sensor readings (front bar, black bar, gap).

There is no calibration procedure in the ZQ310 Plus/ZQ320 Plus guide. The black mark dimensions differ between pages of the guide: at least 15 mm wide by 4.8 to 6.0 mm long in the text, 12.7 mm wide by 2.4 to 11.0 mm long in the specifications.

Sources: Introduction to the ZQ300 Plus Series (opens in a new window) · Designing Labels (opens in a new window) · Using Pre-Printed Receipt Media (opens in a new window) · ZQ300 Plus Series Cleaning (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) (official documentation).

Short answer: Release the cover with the release button, drop the roll into the compartment, then close the cover with the paper sticking out. The ZQ310 Plus takes rolls up to 58 mm wide and 40 mm in diameter; a spacer kit allows 50.8 mm paper.

Zebra loading procedure

1. Push the release button forwards to open the cover.
2. Place the roll in the compartment, oriented as shown in the illustration in the Zebra guide.
3. Leave the end of the paper sticking out and close the cover until it clicks: the paper feeds automatically.
4. For 50.8 mm (2-inch) paper, first fit the KIT-MPM-MD2SPR5-01 spacer kit: slide the spacers into the slots provided, with the rear lugs engaged in the grooves on each side.
5. To remove a spacer, lever it upwards with a flat-blade screwdriver inserted in its top slot.

Zebra data for the ZQ310 Plus: paper 58 mm ±0.75 mm (50.8 mm with spacers), outside diameter 40 mm maximum, core 15.875 to 22.22 mm, minimum receipt length 12.5 mm, printable width up to 48 mm.

Sources: Loading the Media (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) · Media Spacers (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) · Specifications (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) · Loading the paper (opens in a new window) – ZQ300 Series – User Guide (P1093810-04FR) (official documentation).

Short answer: Two causes according to Zebra: paper cover not properly latched, or roll rubbing against the sides of the compartment. Latch the cover and let the roll turn freely.

Likely cause

“Media does not feed” item in the Zebra troubleshooting table: cover not closed or not latched, paper tight against the sides of the compartment.

What to do

1. If the error icon flashes once per second, the cover is not latched: close it.
2. Open the compartment and check that the roll is not pressing against the sides.
3. Close the cover with the end of the paper outside.
4. On a linerless version, if the paper stays stuck to the platen roller, follow the linerless entry.

Source: Troubleshooting Topics (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) (official documentation).

Short answer: With the printer switched off, open the paper cover and apply medical alcohol where the label is stuck: this is the method in the Zebra guide. Never scrape with a sharp object.

Likely cause

Zebra files this case under “Label jam”: an adhesive label has stuck inside.

Caution: No sharp or pointed objects inside the printer. Beware of the very sharp edges of the tear bar and of the printhead, which can be very hot after prolonged use. Zebra also prohibits pouring liquid directly onto the printer or letting it seep into the circuits.

What to do

1. Switch off the printer: Zebra requires this before any cleaning operation.
2. Release the cover with the release button.
3. Apply medical alcohol to the area where the label is stuck, then remove it.
4. Put the roll back in place (entry loading the roll).

Sources: Troubleshooting Topics (opens in a new window) · General Cleaning Instructions (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) (official documentation).

Short answer: A linerless ZQ310 Plus gets dirty more quickly: Zebra asks you to clean the printhead with every roll, and the scraper and the inside every five rolls. When the paper no longer comes away from the platen roller, cleaning with soapy water is provided for, but only as a troubleshooting measure.

Likely cause

The adhesive on linerless paper builds up on the printhead, the scraper and the platen roller. According to Zebra, a roller soiled by oils or dirt can hold on to the paper.

Caution: According to Zebra, washing with soapy water is an emergency solution that shortens the life of the platen roller, to the point of wearing it out completely. Switch off the printer before any cleaning.

Zebra maintenance for linerless versions

1. Switch the printer off.
2. After every roll, clean the printhead (method described in the faded print entry).
3. Every five rolls, or more often if needed, clean the scraper with the adhesive side of the paper, and the inside with a fibre-free cotton bud soaked in 90% medical alcohol.
4. Only if there is a problem (paper not releasing): turn the platen roller while cleaning it with a fibre-free cotton bud dipped in 1 part liquid soap to 25 parts water, then go over it with clean water.
5. If the paper still jams after this cleaning and after feeding 1 to 2 m of paper, Zebra says to replace the platen roller.

When to call a technician: if linerless labels still jam after cleaning the platen roller and feeding 1 to 2 m of paper, the roller needs replacing according to Zebra.

With linerless media, the ZQ310 Plus prints at 50.8 mm/s (2 inches/s) maximum, compared with 101.6 mm/s with lined paper.

Sources: ZQ300 Plus Series Cleaning (opens in a new window) · Specifications (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) (official documentation).

Short answer: Start by cleaning the printhead with a Zebra cleaning pen or a cotton bud with 90% medical alcohol. Zebra then has you check the battery, the paper quality and, for labels, the “Tone” setting (value 50).

Likely cause

“Poor or faded print” item in the Zebra guide: dirty printhead, damaged or low battery, unsuitable paper, or a “Tone” setting other than 50 with labels.

Caution: Printer switched off, printhead cooled: the printhead can become very hot. Nothing sharp or pointed inside the printer; the tear bar is very sharp. No liquid poured directly onto the printer, and only the products listed by Zebra.

Official printhead cleaning procedure

1. Switch off the printer and wait for the printhead to cool.
2. Release the paper compartment cover: the printhead becomes accessible.
3. Wipe the thin grey line on the printhead, working from the middle towards each end, with a Zebra cleaning pen (sold separately) or a cotton bud soaked in 90% medical alcohol.
4. With lined paper, also clean the platen roller while turning it, using a fibre-free cotton bud or a lint-free cloth barely moistened with medical alcohol of 90% or more.
5. Inspect the battery; recharge or replace it if necessary.
6. Check the quality of the roll and, for labels, that “Tone” is set to 50.

Zebra maintenance schedule: printhead and platen roller every five rolls (more often if necessary), printhead with every roll for linerless. Zebra also advises adjusting contrast and speed to the paper in use.

Sources: Troubleshooting Topics (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) · General Cleaning Instructions (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) · ZQ300 Plus Series Cleaning (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) · General cleaning instructions (opens in a new window) – ZQ300 Series – User Guide (P1093810-04FR) (official documentation).

Short answer: The Zebra guide has you check three points: the position of the paper, the condition of the printhead and the cover latch. Straighten the roll, clean the printhead and close the cover until it clicks.

Likely cause

“Partial or missing print” item: misaligned paper, dirty printhead or cover not latched.

What to do

1. Check the alignment of the paper in the compartment.
2. Clean the printhead following the Zebra method.
3. Latch the cover.
4. If gaps remain, print a configuration label: the line of interlocking “x” characters at the top checks each element of the printhead.

On the ZQ310 Plus, the printable area is at most 48 mm wide according to Zebra.

Sources: Troubleshooting Topics (opens in a new window) · Specifications (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) (official documentation).

Short answer: Print the configuration label: its first line, made up of interlocking “x” characters, is used to check each of the printhead elements. An error icon flashing every two seconds can also indicate a faulty element.

Likely cause

Zebra attributes this flash pattern either to a faulty printhead element (Head Element Out) or to an overheated printhead (Head Over Temp). It takes priority over cover open and out of paper.

Caution: Switch off the printer and let the printhead cool before cleaning it.

What to do

1. After a long series of prints, first let the printer cool down: the cause may be an overheated printhead.
2. Load a roll without a black mark (journal paper) and print the configuration label.
3. Examine the line of interlocking “x” characters: Zebra prints it to check all the printhead elements.
4. Clean the printhead as described in the faded print entry, then print the label again.

When to call a technician: if the configuration label will not print or if the fault is not covered by the Troubleshooting section, Zebra refers you to its technical support.

Sources: Operator Controls (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) · Verify the Printer Is Working (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) · Calling Technical Support (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) · Checking that the printer is working properly (opens in a new window) – ZQ300 Series – User Guide (P1093810-04FR) (official documentation).

Short answer: Zebra suggests three lines of enquiry: a replacement battery, the cable to the host device and, for wireless, re-establishing the link. For a communication error, also check the paper, that the printhead is closed and the Wi-Fi or Bluetooth icon.

Likely cause

Two items in the Zebra troubleshooting section: “No print” (battery, cable, wireless link interrupted) and “Communication error” (no paper, printhead open, wireless icon off, USB cable at fault).

Caution: Connect and disconnect the communication cable with the printer switched off, as Zebra instructs.

What to do

1. If an error icon is lit, identify it in the lookup table.
2. Install a charged battery.
3. Over USB, check the cable to the computer or mobile computer; replace it if there is a communication error.
4. Wireless link: paper present, printhead closed, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth icon lit? Then reconnect the printer (Bluetooth and Wi-Fi entries).
5. The configuration label shows the status of the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi links.

Sources: Troubleshooting Topics (opens in a new window) · Cable Communication (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) (official documentation).

Short answer: Stay within about ten metres and check that the printer is visible (discoverable). The simplest method, on an NFC smartphone, is to tap the Print Touch icon on the side of the printer.

Likely cause

Zebra quotes a range of about 10 m. A printer that is not discoverable can only be paired by a device that already knows its Bluetooth address (BDADDR) or has already paired with it. The minimum security mode chosen on the printer also matters: in modes 3 and 4, only numeric comparison is accepted.

What to do

1. Wake the printer from sleep with a short press (less than 3 seconds) on Power; a Bluetooth-only version also wakes up on its own when a Bluetooth connection arrives.
2. Bring the mobile computer within about 10 m.
3. Get the Bluetooth address by scanning its barcode on the printer, or from the configuration label (“Address”, “Discoverable” and “Minimum Security Mode” lines).
4. With numeric comparison, confirm the pairing only if the same six-digit number appears on both sides.
5. On a smartphone (Android or iOS), the free Zebra Printer Setup Utility app manages the connection; on a Windows PC, Zebra Setup Utilities changes the Bluetooth settings, including the security mode.
6. The pairing is remembered after switching off (bonding enabled by default): there is no need to redo it on every round.

Bluetooth 4.0 Classic and Low Energy; the ZQ310 Plus is MFi certified for Apple devices running iOS.

Sources: Bluetooth Networking Overview (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) · Operator Controls (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) · Zebra Printer Setup Utilities (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) · Bluetooth networking overview (opens in a new window) – ZQ300 Series – User Guide (P1093810-04FR) (official documentation).

Short answer: Bring the device closer: Zebra sets the read distance at no more than 7.62 cm (3 inches) from the Print Touch icon, located on the side of the printer. Beyond that, the NFC link is not established.

Likely cause

The printer's NFC tag is passive: it contains, in a URL, the Bluetooth address that the smartphone reads in order to pair. The “No NFC connectivity” item in the Zebra troubleshooting section cites distance as the cause.

What to do

1. Use a smartphone or tablet with NFC.
2. Bring it up to the Print Touch icon on the side of the printer, no more than 7.62 cm away.
3. The device reads the Bluetooth address and pairs without any further action.
4. If NFC pairing does not succeed, pair the printer using standard Bluetooth (entry Bluetooth).

According to Zebra, the NFC tag can also open an app (Zebra or third-party) or a support web page.

Sources: NFC Use Cases (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) · Troubleshooting Topics (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) · NFC applications (opens in a new window) – ZQ300 Series – User Guide (P1093810-04FR) (official documentation).

Short answer: First check that your ZQ310 Plus actually has Wi-Fi: models fitted with it carry the words “Wireless Network Printer” on the serial number label. If the Wi-Fi icon keeps flashing red or yellow, association or authentication is failing: redo the network configuration with Zebra Setup Utilities.

Likely cause

The Zebra guide reserves the dual Wi-Fi and Bluetooth radio for the Retail and Distribution versions; the Transportation and Logistics versions only have Bluetooth. The Wi-Fi icon flashes red while the printer associates with the network, yellow during authentication, then stays green once both steps have succeeded.

What to do

1. Read the serial number label: without the words “Wireless Network Printer”, the printer has no Wi-Fi module.
2. Print a configuration label: the wireless section gives the radio, the MAC address, the IP address and the association status (“Associated”).
3. Set up the network with Zebra Setup Utilities, the reference tool for WLAN, or Zebra Net Bridge 2.8 and later.
4. For details of the commands, Zebra refers you to the “Wireless Configuration for 802.11n and Bluetooth Radios” guide (P1048352-001).
5. The WLAN address can be read by scanning the barcode provided under the printer.

USB communication does not light any indicator: only the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth links show their activity.

Sources: WLAN Overview (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) · Operator Controls (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) · Introduction to the ZQ300 Plus Series (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) · Wireless local area network (WLAN) overview (opens in a new window) – ZQ300 Series – User Guide (P1093810-04FR) (official documentation).

Short answer: The Zebra guide points to the communication speed (baud rate). To find out what the printer is actually receiving, put it in DUMP mode, the communications diagnostics provided by Zebra.

Likely cause

“Garbled print” item in the Zebra troubleshooting section: communication speed to be checked.

What to do (DUMP mode)

1. Compare the baud rate shown on the configuration label with that of the application.
2. Start printing the configuration label using the two-button method (entry configuration label).
3. At the end of the second diagnostic report, press the paper feed button within 3 seconds: “Entering DUMP mode” is printed. If you are too late, the printer prints “DUMP mode not entered” and returns to normal mode.
4. Send the print again from the application: each item of data received is printed as ASCII hexadecimal code with its text equivalent (a full stop if the character is not printable). A “.dmp” file is also saved; the Label Vista application can open it.
5. Exiting DUMP mode: switch off, wait 5 seconds, switch back on.

Sources: Troubleshooting Topics (opens in a new window) · Communications Diagnostics (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) (official documentation).

Short answer: Keep your finger on Power until the light comes on, check that the battery is seated correctly, then recharge or replace it. Note: a new battery leaves the factory in sleep mode and must first be put on charge.

Likely cause

The Zebra troubleshooting section (“No power”) cites a battery that is badly installed or flat. New batteries are shipped in sleep mode, with their contacts protected by insulating tape. Only genuine Zebra PowerPrecision+ batteries will run the ZQ310 Plus.

Caution: Remove the battery with the printer switched off, to limit the risk of corruption. Do not short-circuit its terminals (risk of burns, injury or fire); do not burn it, open it or expose it to more than 65 °C.

What to do

1. Hold Power until the light comes on: all the icons light up while the button is pressed.
2. Do not exceed 5 seconds during start-up, otherwise the sequence stops and everything switches off.
3. Check the battery: its clip towards the rear of the printer, the front engaged in the compartment, the rear pushed in until it clicks. If a belt clip is in the way, swivel it.
4. New battery: peel off the insulating tape starting from the tab underneath, then activate it by charging it (AC-to-USB adapter and Type-C cable, or 1-slot or 3-slot charger). Give it a full charge before the first round.
5. Recharge or replace the battery.

Sources: Troubleshooting Topics (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) · Installing/Removing Battery and Battery Tape Insulator (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) · Battery Safety (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) · Installing/removing the battery and the battery insulating tape (opens in a new window) – ZQ300 Series – User Guide (P1093810-04FR) (official documentation).

Short answer: Connect the AC-to-USB adapter to the USB Type-C port, hidden under a rubber flap: the Power ring stays yellow while charging and turns solid green when the battery is full. For a fleet, Zebra offers 1-slot and 3-slot chargers and 1-bay and 5-bay cradles.

Caution: Only use chargers approved by Zebra: an unapproved charger can damage the battery or the printer and voids the warranty. Keep chargers away from liquids and from metal objects that could fall into the slots.

Zebra charging procedure

1. Connect the USB cable to the AC adapter and plug the adapter in.
2. Rotate the rubber flap in an anticlockwise direction so as to uncover the USB port.
3. Insert the reversible Type-C plug: charging starts whether the printer is on or off. Printing while charging makes it take longer.
4. Spare batteries: 1-slot or 3-slot charger, less than 4 hours for a full charge.
5. In a cradle: 1-bay (about 3 h 30 min) or 5-bay (less than 4 hours). The paper compartment cannot be accessed while in the cradle; remove the shoulder strap before placing the printer in it.
6. Keep to the 0 to 37 °C range for charging: around 37 °C, charging may cut out intermittently to protect the battery, which the light indicates.
7. Are the three bars of the Battery icon flashing together, twice per second? No battery is in place: install one.

The guide mentions three charging temperature ranges: 0 to 37 °C (charging section), 0 to 40 °C (specifications), 0 to 45 °C (battery overview). A vehicle adapter is also available.

Sources: Charging the Battery (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) · Charger Safety (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) · Operator Controls (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) · Charging the battery (opens in a new window) – ZQ300 Series – User Guide (P1093810-04FR) (official documentation).

Short answer: Two red flashes per second: this is Zebra's code for a charge fault. Check the ambient temperature and the charger, then recharge or replace the battery.

Likely cause

Zebra uses this code for a charge fault, whether or not the battery is healthy; the 1-slot and 3-slot chargers display it in the same way.

Caution: Zebra warns that an unapproved charger may damage the battery or the printer, and that it voids the warranty.

What to do

1. Charge within the range specified by Zebra (0 to 37 °C in the charging section): as it approaches 37 °C, charging may be interrupted.
2. Only use a charger approved by Zebra.
3. Check that the battery is a genuine Zebra PowerPrecision+ and that it is properly clicked in.
4. Restart charging or fit another battery.

When to call a technician: if the charge fault reappears after these checks, Zebra asks you to contact its technical support for any problem that the Troubleshooting section does not solve.

Zebra does not provide a specific procedure for charge faults: these checks follow its charging and troubleshooting instructions.

Sources: Printer Status Indicators (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) · Charging the Battery (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) · Charging the battery (opens in a new window) – ZQ300 Series – User Guide (P1093810-04FR) (official documentation).

Short answer: Yes: according to Zebra, a solid red ring indicates an unhealthy battery, both while charging and once charged. Replace it with a genuine Zebra PowerPrecision+ battery.

Likely cause

Each PowerPrecision+ battery tracks its own wear in real time: cumulative cycles, charging time and when it should be taken out of service. A healthy battery shows yellow then green; an unhealthy battery stays solid red.

Caution: Do not burn or open the used battery, and protect its terminals from any short circuit, which can cause burns, injury or fire according to Zebra.

What to do

1. Check the “Battery Health” and “Battery Cycle Count” lines on the configuration label.
2. Install a genuine Zebra PowerPrecision+ battery: Zebra specifies that the printer only works correctly with this model.
3. Take the old battery to a recycling scheme, as the disposal instructions in the guide require.

The guide points out that any rechargeable battery can only take a limited number of charges before it needs replacing.

Sources: ZQ300 Plus Series Technology (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) · Operator Controls (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) · Printing a Configuration Report (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) · ZQ300 Series technology (opens in a new window) – ZQ300 Series – User Guide (P1093810-04FR) (official documentation).

Short answer: Three green bars indicate 66% or more, two bars 33% or more, one bar 15% or more. When the first bar flashes, less than 15% is left: recharge or change the battery.

Likely cause

Three-bar charge indicator described by Zebra, off when the printer is switched off.

What to do

1. Recharge the battery or replace it with a fully charged battery (entry recharge the battery).
2. If all three bars flash together twice per second, there is no battery in the printer.
3. Low battery or cold: printing may also slow down (entry slow printing).

Sources: Operator Controls (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) · Control buttons (opens in a new window) – ZQ300 Series – User Guide (P1093810-04FR) (official documentation).

Short answer: First look at the battery date code: after one year, Zebra considers that a drop in battery life may be due to normal ageing. Recharge or replace it, then follow the usage advice in the guide.

Likely cause

Over time, a rechargeable battery holds its charge less well and can only be recharged a limited number of times.

Zebra advice

1. Check the battery date code; recharge or replace the battery.
2. Protect the battery from direct sunlight and from temperatures above 40 °C.
3. Only charge it with a Zebra charger for lithium-ion batteries.
4. Set the print contrast and speed to suit the paper, and enable XON/XOFF software flow control if possible.
5. For a logo or text repeated on every label, consider pre-printed paper.
6. If the printer is not going to be used for at least a day, remove the battery (except for maintenance charging); keep a spare battery available.

Sources: Troubleshooting Topics (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) · Extending Battery Life (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) · Extending battery life (opens in a new window) – ZQ300 Series – User Guide (P1093810-04FR) (official documentation).

Short answer: It does not switch off: it goes into sleep mode after 20 minutes without activity, a setting enabled by default. A press of less than 3 seconds on Power wakes it up; Zebra Setup Utilities lets you change the delay.

Likely cause

Automatic sleep after 20 minutes of inactivity is enabled at the factory (power.sleep.enable parameter).

What to do

1. Wake the printer with a short press (less than 3 seconds) on Power; a Bluetooth-only version also wakes up when a Bluetooth connection arrives.
2. To switch off completely, press for about 3 seconds: the error icon lights up, the ring flashes, then everything goes off.
3. Change the delay with power.sleep.timeout (value in seconds), or disable sleep mode with power.sleep.enable, from Zebra Setup Utilities.

Sources: Operator Controls (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) · Control buttons (opens in a new window) – ZQ300 Series – User Guide (P1093810-04FR) (official documentation).

Short answer: The battery is under strain (low voltage or cold): the printer activates its power-saving mode and prints each line in several segments, and therefore more slowly. Recharge the battery; this behaviour is set by the SGD command print.cold_temp_comp.

Likely cause

Power Save mode as described by Zebra: when the battery condition drops because of low voltage or cold, the printer splits the lines to prevent the battery from shutting down, at the cost of speed.

What to do

1. Fit a charged battery or recharge the one in place.
2. Power-saving mode is switched on or off with the SGD command print.cold_temp_comp.

Zebra also describes a draft mode (media.draft_mode, off by default), optimised for text-only tickets with no reversed images, solid black areas or barcodes. Maximum speed of the ZQ310 Plus: 101.6 mm/s with lined media, 50.8 mm/s with linerless.

Sources: Power Save Mode (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) · Draft Mode (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) · Power save mode (opens in a new window) – ZQ300 Series – User Guide (P1093810-04FR) (official documentation).

Short answer: Zebra recommends installing the driver before connecting over USB for the first time. If it is too late, use Device Manager: update the printer driver by pointing it to the folder of the downloaded Zebra driver.

Likely cause

If it is connected before the driver is installed, Windows lists the printer as an unspecified device in “Devices and Printers”.

Caution: Switch the printer off to connect or disconnect the USB cable.

What to do

1. Get the Windows driver for the ZQ310 Plus from the Zebra support page (v10 driver recommended) and install it before connecting the printer.
2. The installation wizard has you accept the licence, then choose the model (shown on the printer label) and the USB port.
3. Printer already connected: open Device Manager, select the printer and update its driver by browsing to the folder of the downloaded driver.
4. Connect the USB 2.0 cable (Type-C on the printer, Type-A on the computer) with the printer switched off; the Type-C plug fits either way round, without forcing.
5. Zebra Setup Utilities can also add the printer (Install New Printer) and change its settings.

Sources: What to Do If You Forget to Install Printer Drivers First (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) · Installing Drivers and Connecting to a Windows-Based Computer (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) · Cable Communication (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) · ZQ310 Plus/ZQ320 Plus Mobile Printer Support (opens in a new window) – Zebra ZQ310 Plus/ZQ320 Plus support page (official documentation).

Short answer: A combination of the paper feed and Power buttons puts the ZQ310 Plus into forced download mode, which Zebra provides for when the printer no longer works. The firmware (Printer OS) and the ZDownloader utility are available on the Zebra support page.

Zebra procedure: forced download mode

1. Press and hold the paper feed button, then hold Power until the power light flashes (about 1/4 of a second).
2. Release Power: the error icon starts pulsing.
3. Keep pressing the paper feed button until the Wi-Fi icon turns yellow then green; then release it.
4. The Wi-Fi icon alternates yellow and green: send the firmware.
5. During the transfer, the Wi-Fi icon flashes green; it turns solid green at the end, then the printer restarts.

Same combination as for the configuration label: for the label, you release the paper feed button as soon as the icon turns yellow. Firmware listed on the Zebra support page at the time of consultation: Printer OS v101.21.30Z (Link-OS v6.9). No factory reset is described in the guide.

Sources: Forced Download Description and LED Behavior (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) · ZQ310 Plus/ZQ320 Plus Mobile Printer Support (opens in a new window) – Zebra ZQ310 Plus/ZQ320 Plus support page · Description of forced download and LED indicator behaviour (opens in a new window) – ZQ300 Series – User Guide (P1093810-04FR) (official documentation).

Short answer: Zebra calls this the two-key method: with the printer switched off and journal paper loaded, hold down the paper feed button, press Power until the light flashes and release it, then release the paper feed button when the Wi-Fi icon turns yellow. “Building Two-Key Report” is printed, followed by the report.

Two-key method (Zebra procedure)

1. Switch off the printer and load a roll of journal paper, with no black mark on the back.
2. Press and hold the paper feed button.
3. While holding it, press Power until the power light flashes (about 1/4 of a second), then release Power: the error icon pulses.
4. Keep the paper feed button pressed until the Wi-Fi icon lights up yellow, then release it: the Wi-Fi icon goes off and the error icon stops pulsing.
5. The Zebra logo, “Building Two-Key Report” and then the report are printed: a line of interlocking “x” characters (printhead test), software version, model, serial number, baud rate, Bluetooth and wireless settings, battery status.

When to call a technician: if the configuration label does not print, or if the fault is not covered in the Troubleshooting section, Zebra asks you to call its technical support with the model, the serial number and the 15-digit product configuration code (PCC).

Serial number and PCC code: on the label on the back of the printer. The report also shows the serial number.

Sources: Printing a Configuration Report (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) · Verify the Printer Is Working (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) · Calling Technical Support (opens in a new window) – ZQ310 Plus and ZQ320 Plus User Guide (P1131153-01EN) · Checking that the printer is working properly (opens in a new window) – ZQ300 Series – User Guide (P1093810-04FR) (official documentation).