First Time Setup Guide

Step 1: Unboxing & inspection

Box contents differ by model. Typical items: the printer, power cable, build plate, sample filament, Allen keys and tools, a quick start guide and a microSD card (inside the printer on the P1S, pre-installed on the A1 mini). The A1 arrives as base and frame that you screw together; the other models come largely assembled.

• Check the exterior for shipping damage
• Remove all protective foam and tape, check inside the print area carefully
• Look for loose components
• Verify all accessories are present

Step 2: Placement

• Stable surface: Desk or table that doesn't wobble. Vibration directly affects print quality.
• Away from drafts: No AC vents, open windows, or fans nearby. Drafts cause warping and layer separation.
• Room temperature: keep the room above about 20 °C. Bambu says that below that even PLA and PETG can warp; on an open-frame printer such as the A1 it suggests raising the bed temperature by another 10 °C (Bambu).
• Ventilation: Good airflow, especially for ABS, ASA, or any material with strong fumes.
• Power: Dedicated outlet; avoid daisy-chaining power strips.

Step 3: Physical setup. A1 / A1 mini

1. A1: screw the frame to the base as the quick start guide shows, cut the zip tie under the heatbed and the ties at the toolhead and X axis, and remove the Z-axis stoppers if fitted (H2.0 key).
2. A1 mini: remove the 4 screws of the Z-axis limiter, cut the toolhead zip tie, and tighten the 3 screws under the heatbed.
3. Install the build plate magnetically
4. Attach the filament spool holder
5. Plug in power

Step 3: Physical setup. P1S / P1P / X1 Carbon

1. Cut the zip tie(s) at the toolhead, then remove the three transport screws at the Z axis next to the lead screws (marked with red-arrow stickers, H2.0 key) to unlock the bed. Take out the foam under the heatbed when the on-screen setup prompts you.
2. For P1S/X1C: install glass panels if not pre-installed
3. Install the build plate
4. Connect spool holder or AMS
5. Plug in power

Step 3: Physical setup. P2S / X2D

1. P2S: with the H2.0 key remove the transport screws marked in red (3 on the P2S; the P2S Combo also has a transport fixture and a separate heatbed screw). The screw at the back can drop into the chassis, so keep a magnetic screwdriver or tweezers ready.
2. P2S: take out the desiccant and tape inside, pull the red plastic protectors down off both lead screws and cut all zip ties.
3. X2D: remove the 3 screws marked in red (the rear one can drop into the chamber) and the two lead screw fixtures, take out desiccant and tape, pull the red protectors off both lead screws, cut the zip ties on the linear rod and the toolhead and remove the foam behind the rod. There are no panels to fit; just peel the protective film off the side windows.
4. Both: plug the touchscreen cable into the screen port, push the cable back into the slot, insert the screen and slide it left to lock.
5. X2D: install the auxiliary extruder (plug in its cable, loosen the nut, insert the PTFE tube about 22 mm, press the extruder in, tighten the nut until it clicks), mount both spool holders and the external exhaust fan with its 6-pin cable.
6. P2S: slide in the spool holder assembly and connect the short PTFE tube (Combo: set the AMS 2 Pro on top, connect PTFE tube and 6-pin cable), and place a box under the purge chute at the back.
7. Power on and follow the on-screen calibration. Remove the foam under the heatbed only after it finishes.

Step 4: Wi-Fi, firmware & Bambu Studio

1. Power on. The screen shows the Bambu Lab logo, then guides you through setup.
2. Language: Select your language.
3. Wi-Fi: Connect to your network for cloud printing and remote monitoring. On touchscreen models, pick your network on the screen. On the P1P and P1S, open Account Configuration in the printer's settings menu, scan the QR code with Bambu Handy (Bluetooth on) and choose your network in the app.
4. Firmware update: If prompted, update before doing anything else. It often fixes known issues.
5. Bambu Studio: Download and install on your computer. Log in with the same account. Once the printer is bound to that account (in Bambu Handy, or in Studio, see Bambu Studio basics), it shows up on the Device tab.

Step 5: Load filament

Load the included sample filament to verify everything works before loading expensive spools:

1. Cut the filament end at a 45° angle for easier feeding
2. For direct load: on the printer screen open the Filament tab, select the external spool, tap Load and push the filament in when prompted
3. For AMS: insert spool, push filament into the slot, let the AMS pull it in
4. Confirm filament is extruding from the nozzle before starting a print

Step 6: Calibration

• X1: Settings → Print Calibration (older firmware: Control → Calibrate); P1: Settings → Calibration; A1/A1 mini: Settings → Maintenance → Calibration; H2/P2S/X2D: Settings → Calibration → Print Calibration
• It runs vibration compensation, motor noise cancellation and auto bed leveling (X1: plus Micro Lidar calibration)

Step 7: First print

Use a pre-sliced test file: from the included microSD card on the A1, A1 mini, P1 and X1 series, from Print Files on the touchscreen on the P2S, X2D and H2 series (no card slot, internal storage and a USB port instead), or from MakerWorld. The Bambu "Bunny" or "Rook" models are good test prints: sized appropriately and using settings optimized for each printer. Don't use someone else's profile for your first print; let the printer use its own defaults.

Watch the first layer carefully. Check that it's adhering well and the Z-offset looks right. If it looks off, see first layer troubleshooting.

Spare card for the A1, A1 mini, P1P, P1S, X1C or X1E: the SanDisk High Endurance microSD 32 GB. Format it in the printer, because Bambu supports only FAT32 on microSD. The P2S, X2D and H2 series have no card slot and use a USB drive instead.

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