Zebra Printers and EU RED Security Enhancements | What Businesses Must Know

In modern retail, logistics and hospitality environments, label, receipt and mobile printers play a crucial role in everyday operations. Printers from Zebra Technologies are widely used across stores, warehouses and hospitality venues to support scanning, labelling, stock control and point of sale.

From 1 October 2025, Zebra introduced enhanced security functionality in many of its printers to comply with the European Union’s updated Radio Equipment Directive (EU RED). These changes have practical implications for any business using network-connected Zebra devices. Understanding what is required and how to configure your devices will help protect your network and keep operations running smoothly.

What Is the EU Radio Equipment Directive (EU RED)?

The EU RED is a regulatory framework that sets safety and cybersecurity standards for radio-enabled devices sold within the European Economic Area. It covers equipment that uses technologies such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and RFID. The aim is to reduce vulnerabilities and secure devices against unauthorised access or manipulation.

For retailers, this matters because many Zebra printers include wireless connectivity, and older default settings do not meet the new EU RED security criteria. This can affect any business using wireless or networked printing for barcode labels, receipts, stock tracking or RFID printing.

What Is Changing in Zebra Printers?

To meet the EU RED requirements, Zebra has updated its firmware — starting with Link-OS version 7.4.2 — to incorporate additional security protections. All new Zebra devices coming into the EMEA region after mid-September 2025 are factory-shipped with this compliant firmware.

Key updates include:

• Protected Mode enabled by default: Devices require an admin password on first setup before network services are available.
• Network services are disabled by default: Services such as FTP, SNMP, HTTP and raw TCP are not enabled until authorised by an administrator.
• Security features persist after factory reset: Settings remain active even after resets to avoid accidental misconfiguration.
• Stronger Wi-Fi security: Outdated wireless protocols such as WPA/TKIP are removed; at minimum WPA2 (AES) is required for wireless connections.
• Control panel PIN: Printers remain locked at the front panel until an admin PIN is set.

These changes improve the overall security posture of the device and reduce the risk of unauthorised access, which is increasingly important in networked retail and warehouse environments.

Which Zebra Printers Are Affected?

The EU RED enhanced firmware applies to a broad range of Zebra products sold in the EMEA region with radio or network functionality. These include:

• Industrial models: ZT111, ZT211, ZT231, ZT411, ZT421, ZT510, ZT610, ZT620, ZE511, ZE521
• Desktop label printers: ZD220, ZD230, ZD411, ZD421, ZD611, ZD621
• Mobile printers: ZQ310 Plus, ZQ320 Plus, ZQ511, ZQ521, ZQ610 Plus, ZQ620 Plus, ZQ630 Plus

ZD510 and some card printer models: Zebra has indicated they will communicate specifics about these separately, which means they are likely to be included but may not be fully listed in early guidance.

Devices without radio functionality (e.g., USB-only printers or non-networked models) are generally not subject to these EU RED network/security changes.

What This Means for Businesses

In practical terms, if you operate any Zebra printers with wireless or networked capability, you should be aware of the following:

Initial Setup Will Require Administrator Credentials

On first use, a protected mode login must be configured before network services are available. This means devices will not operate fully on a network until the admin password and any required PIN are set. Further information on how to set this up is available from Zebra – https://asr.zpc.zebra.com/index.html

Network Services Are Disabled by Default

Services that many systems previously relied on (e.g. raw TCP, FTP or HTTP) will not be active until explicitly authorised. If your printing workflows depend on these protocols, they must be enabled through authenticated access.

Wireless Connectivity Is Stronger by Default

Modern encryption standards are required, helping protect sensitive data transmitted over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

Configuration Tools and Wizards May Be Required

Manufacturers and retailers often provide setup tools (such as Zebra’s Security Control Wizard and setup utilities) that assist with secure configuration, particularly in larger fleets.

Best Practices for Zebra Printer Security in Your Business

To ensure compliance and smooth ongoing operation:

• Set administrator credentials on all new devices before connecting them to your network.
• Review which protocols and services are necessary for your operational workflows, enabling only what is required.
• Use strong Wi-Fi security settings (WPA2 or better) to protect wireless connections.
• Deploy configuration scripts or management tools if you operate large numbers of printers to standardise settings.
• Plan firmware updates in line with official guidance to maintain security compliance and feature support.

These measures help reduce risk while keeping your Zebra printing infrastructure aligned with the latest regulatory expectations.

Conclusion

The EU RED security enhancements represent a significant step forward in protecting networked printing devices in retail, wholesale and hospitality settings. For businesses operating Zebra printers in the EMEA region, understanding and applying the new protected mode, network settings and password requirements is essential to remain compliant and secure.

Regularly reviewing device configuration and security, and planning firmware updates as part of your IT strategy, will help maintain both operational reliability and regulatory compliance.

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Information correct at the time of publication.