Print from a Personal Mac or Windows Computer

Questions

  • How do I print to a Bowdoin printer from my personal computer?
  • How do I print from my own Mac or Windows laptop on campus?
  • Can I use a Bowdoin printer if my computer wasn't issued by the college?
  • How do I install PaperCut on a computer I own?
  • How do I add a Bowdoin printer to my personal Mac?
  • How do I add a Bowdoin printer to my personal Windows computer?
  • I'm a student — how do I print from my own laptop?
  • What is the setup URL for printing from a personal device at Bowdoin?
  • How do I connect to Find-Me-Print from a non-Bowdoin computer?

Environment

This article applies to Bowdoin College students, faculty, and staff who want to print to campus PaperCut printers from a personally owned Mac or Windows computer. Your computer must be connected to the Bowdoin campus network (Bowdoin-Devices Wi-Fi or a wired connection) to complete setup and send print jobs.

  • macOS: Sequoia (15.x) and Tahoe (26.x) or newer
  • Windows: Windows 11
  • Applies to: Personally owned computers only — Bowdoin-issued computers use Print Deploy to install printers (see How to install or delete a Bowdoin printer in the Related Articles section)

Resolution

Tap or click a section below to jump directly to it:

Step 1 — Install PaperCut and Add the Printer Step 2 — Send a Print Job Step 3 — Release at the Printer

Step 1 — Install PaperCut and Add the Printer

Open a browser on your personal computer and go to:

https://p-papercut-a.bowdoin.edu:9164/setup

Sign in with your Bowdoin username and password when prompted. The setup page will detect your operating system and walk you through two things:

  1. Downloading and installing PaperCut Client — the background app that identifies you when you print
  2. Adding the Find-Me-Print printer to your computer
What is Find-Me-Print? Find-Me-Print is a virtual print queue. Jobs you send to it are held securely until you release them at any PaperCut-enabled campus printer using your OneCard or Bowdoin login. This lets you send a job from your desk and pick it up at any campus printer.
Must be on campus network: You must be connected to Bowdoin-Devices Wi-Fi (or a campus wired connection) to complete setup and to send print jobs. This workflow is not supported over VPN from off campus.

Follow all prompts to completion. When finished, Find-Me-Print (macOS) or Find-Me-Print[Bowdoin](Mobility) (Windows) will appear in your list of available printers.

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Step 2 — Send a Print Job

  1. Open the document or file you want to print.
  2. Open the print dialog — press Command + P (macOS) or Ctrl + P (Windows).
  3. Select Find-Me-Print (macOS) or Find-Me-Print[Bowdoin](Mobility) (Windows) as the printer.
  4. Adjust any print settings such as number of copies or color, then click Print.

A PaperCut Client window may appear asking for your Bowdoin username and password. Enter your credentials and click OK. Your print job will be held in your personal queue until you release it at a printer.

Jobs expire after 48 hours. If a print job is not released within 48 hours of being sent, it is automatically deleted from the queue. You will not be charged for expired jobs.

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Step 3 — Release at the Printer

Go to any PaperCut-enabled campus printer. To release your held job:

  • Tap your OneCard on the card reader attached to the printer, or
  • Log in manually by touching the printer's screen and entering your Bowdoin username and password.

Your held print jobs will appear on the printer's touchscreen. Select the job or jobs you want to print, then tap Print or Print All.

Prefer to release from your computer? You can also release jobs through the PaperCut web portal without walking to a printer first. See Releasing a print job from the PaperCut portal in the Related Articles section.

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Additional Help

If you need further assistance, you have several options:

  • Bowdoin Bot: Chat with Bowdoin Bot directly from any KB page for instant answers.
  • Phone: Call the Bowdoin College Service Desk at (207) 725-3030.
  • In person: Visit the Tech Hub in Smith Union during business hours.
  • Submit a ticket: Request assistance through the Service Catalog.
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Related Articles (7)

How to install or delete a Bowdoin printer
How to install or delete campus printers on a Bowdoin-issued Mac or Windows 11 computer using the Print Deploy application. Covers printers that are installed automatically, how to manually add additional printers, and how to remove printers that are no longer needed. Requires being on campus or connected to the Bowdoin VPN.
PaperCut Client
Explains what the PaperCut Client (PCClient) application is, why it is required for printing on campus, and how to tell whether it is running on a Mac or Windows 11 computer. Applies to all Bowdoin students, faculty, and staff.
Printers available for student printing
Reference list of printers available to Bowdoin students on campus, including building locations, PaperCut printer names, and printer types (black and white, color, or multi-function). Explains the difference between Find-Me-Print and individual printer queues, and notes which printers support scanning and copying.
Printing to a PaperCut printer
The end-to-end workflow for printing to a campus PaperCut printer from a Bowdoin-issued Mac or Windows 11 computer. Covers signing in to PaperCut, sending a job, and releasing it at the printer. Links to other articles for installing printers, charging a department, and troubleshooting.
Releasing a held document printed to a PaperCut printer
Step-by-step instructions for releasing a held print job to a campus printer. Covers three methods: releasing at the printer using your OneCard or Bowdoin ID, releasing through the PaperCut web portal, and releasing from a mobile device. Applies to all Bowdoin students, faculty, and staff
Releasing a print job from the PaperCut portal
How to release a held print job using the PaperCut web portal at papercut.bowdoin.edu. Covers signing in, viewing queued jobs, selecting a physical printer, and using the mobile release site on a phone or tablet. Useful when releasing at the printer is not possible or when you want to choose which printer your job prints to. Requires a Bowdoin account and connection to the Bowdoin network or VPN.
Student print fund allocation
Overview of the PaperCut print allocation for Bowdoin students. Explains the $60/semester allocation, printing rates, how color jobs charge to OneCard rather than the allocation, what happens when the allocation runs out, how to request additional funds through Bowdoin Bot or the Service Catalog, and when unused funds clear. Faculty and staff printing is not covered here.