Quick start with PrintWatch

Sign in to the dashboard and generate a Bridge key. Install PrintWatch Bridge on a PC or Mac on the same Wi-Fi as your printer. Set the server URL to the PrintWatch WSS bridge endpoint, paste your bridge key, scan LAN, and start the bridge. In the dashboard, add a printer from the tunnel list and enter the 8-digit LAN access code.

How the PrintWatch tunnel works

PrintWatch Bridge discovers supported LAN printers (Bambu Lab today) and forwards camera and MQTT through an encrypted WebSocket to the server. The monitoring agent reads the camera stream, runs AI spaghetti detection, and sends alerts to the dashboard. Any printer can use a USB camera without a tunnel.

Setting up PrintWatch Bridge

Download PrintWatch Bridge from the download page. Set the WSS server URL to wss://printwatch.space/bridge, paste your bridge key from the dashboard, scan LAN, and start the bridge. The app runs in the system tray while monitoring.

Enable Developer Mode on the printer (Bambu)

Developer Mode (LAN Only) is required for PrintWatch to pause or stop a print over MQTT. Enable it in Bambu Studio under Connection settings or in Bambu Handy under Network / Advanced. Without it you still receive failure alerts.

PrintWatch troubleshooting

If no tunnel printers appear, verify the bridge app is running with the correct WSS URL and bridge key on the same Wi-Fi. For no video, check the access code and that Video is enabled on the printer. For alerts without pause, confirm Developer Mode is enabled on both the printer and in PrintWatch settings.

Documentation

Help & setup

Connect Bambu Lab printers through PrintWatch Bridge — no IP addresses or router port forwarding required.

PrintWatch monitors your printer through a secure tunnel — you do not enter a printer IP address or configure router port forwarding.

Sign in to the dashboard and open the sidebar → generate your Bridge key.
Install PrintWatch Bridge on a PC or Mac on the same Wi‑Fi as your printer.
In the bridge app: set the server URL to wss://printwatch.space/bridge, paste your bridge key, click Scan LAN, then Start bridge.
In the dashboard: Add printer → under video settings pick your printer from the tunnel list and enter the 8-digit LAN access code.
Start a print — live camera and AI detection appear when the tunnel and agent are online.

Still stuck? Open the dashboard and check the Bridge key panel in the sidebar.