Guide
Bambu Connect, and whether you need it
Bambu Connect is the app Bambu Lab made for sending prints from other slicers. Whether you need it depends on one question: which slicer do you use?
In short
Bambu Connect is a free app from Bambu Lab, for Mac and Windows, that sends print jobs from third-party slicers such as OrcaSlicer to a Bambu Lab printer on current firmware.
- You use Bambu Studio: you don't need it. Studio talks to the printer itself.
- You use OrcaSlicer on current firmware: you need it to start prints, or LAN Only mode with Developer Mode on.
- You want to watch prints from your Mac or PC: you don't need it. Bambu Bar works without Bambu Connect installed.
What Bambu Connect does
Bambu Connect sits between a third-party slicer and your printer. You slice in OrcaSlicer (or another slicer), hand the file to Bambu Connect, and it sends the job to the printer, on your Bambu Lab account or on your local network.
It's a sender, made for one job: getting prints from other software onto a Bambu Lab printer. It isn't a slicer, and it isn't where you keep an eye on a print.
Why it exists
On current firmware, Bambu Lab printers only accept print jobs from Bambu Lab's own software, unless you change that yourself on the printer. Bambu Connect is Bambu Lab's answer for people who prefer another slicer: their slicer prepares the file, and Bambu Connect, as Bambu Lab software, sends it.
Do you need it?
| Your setup | Bambu Connect? |
|---|---|
| Bambu Studio only | No: Studio sends jobs itself |
| OrcaSlicer, printer on current firmware | Yes, to start prints, or use LAN Only with Developer Mode |
| OrcaSlicer, LAN Only with Developer Mode on | No: OrcaSlicer reaches the printer directly |
| Watching prints from your Mac or PC with Bambu Bar | No |
Bambu Connect vs Bambu Studio
They do different jobs. Bambu Studio is a full slicer: you prepare the model, slice it and send it, and its Device page follows the print. Bambu Connect doesn't slice at all; it only sends what another slicer prepared. If Bambu Studio is your slicer, Bambu Connect adds nothing. More in Bambu Studio on your Mac.
Bambu Connect vs LAN Only and Developer Mode
The other way to print from OrcaSlicer is to put the printer in LAN Only mode and turn on Developer Mode. Third-party apps on your network can then reach the printer directly, no Bambu Connect needed.
The trade-off: in LAN Only, Bambu Handy, remote printing and print history aren't available. If you want to keep the cloud and your phone, Bambu Connect is the way; if you'd rather keep everything on your network, Developer Mode is. See Bambu Lab LAN mode and Developer Mode.
Where Bambu Bar fits
Bambu Bar doesn't send print jobs, so the Bambu Connect question never comes up. It reads the printer's status straight from the printer on your network, in cloud mode or LAN Only mode, and shows it where you'll actually see it:
- Progress and time left in the Mac menu bar or the Windows tray, at a glance.
- Temperatures, the AMS spools with grams left and the live camera one click away.
- Desktop widgets and a notification when a print finishes, fails or runs out of filament.
- Pause, resume, stop and speed when the printer is in LAN Only with Developer Mode on.
Slice in OrcaSlicer, send with Bambu Connect, watch with Bambu Bar: the three work side by side. Still choosing a slicer? See OrcaSlicer vs Bambu Studio. It's free to use, on Mac (macOS 26 or later, Apple silicon and Intel) and on Windows 10 and 11. Get Bambu Bar for Mac · Bambu Bar for Windows
Install Bambu Connect
Download Bambu Connect from Bambu Lab's own website, and only from there: like Bambu Studio, it's free, and download sites that repackage it are best avoided. Then point your slicer at it, following Bambu Lab's instructions for your slicer.
Questions, answered
What is Bambu Connect?
A free app from Bambu Lab, for Mac and Windows, that sends print jobs from third-party slicers such as OrcaSlicer to Bambu Lab printers on current firmware. It doesn't slice; Bambu Studio users don't need it.
Do I need Bambu Connect if I use OrcaSlicer?
On current Bambu Lab firmware, yes, to start prints, unless the printer is in LAN Only mode with Developer Mode on. LAN Only turns off Bambu Handy, remote printing and print history.
Do I need Bambu Connect with Bambu Studio?
No. Bambu Studio is Bambu Lab's own slicer and sends jobs to the printer itself.
Do monitoring apps like Bambu Bar need Bambu Connect?
No. Bambu Bar works without Bambu Connect installed. It reads the printer's status over your local network and doesn't send print jobs.
Read next
- OrcaSlicer on a MacWhere to get OrcaSlicer for Mac, how it connects to Bambu Lab printers, and how Bambu Bar uses the printers it saved.
- Developer Mode and locked controlsWhy pause, stop and speed show a lock in Bambu Bar, what Developer Mode changes on the printer, and whether you need it.
- LAN mode explainedCloud mode, LAN Only, LAN Only Liveview and Developer Mode: four different settings, and which ones you actually need.
- Bambu Studio on a MacWhere to download Bambu Studio for Mac, how to connect your printer, and how to follow prints without keeping it open.
- Bambu Lab apps on a Mac, comparedBambu Studio, Bambu Handy, Bambu Connect and Bambu Bar side by side: what each one does on a Mac, and which to install.
Stop walking to the printer
Track Bambu Lab print progress, time left, temperatures, AMS filament and the live camera on your Mac. Get print alerts and desktop widgets without opening Bambu Studio.
Print progress, alerts and filamentmacOS 26+, Apple silicon & Intel Also on Windows · Linux coming next
Stop walking to the printer
Track Bambu Lab print progress, time left, temperatures, AMS filament and the live camera on your PC. Get Windows notifications and desktop widgets without opening Bambu Studio.
Print progress, alerts and filamentWindows 10 and 11, x64 & ARM64 Also on the Mac · Linux coming next