Starting in May, UniPrint and OTDI will be upgrading all Follow-Me-Printing printers from swipe functionality to tap-to-release. As communicated earlier this semester, Ohio State is modernizing BuckID access control readers across the Columbus campus, replacing all legacy magnetic stripe readers with more secure tap technology.
What’s New
Printers in student spaces will be upgraded beginning on May 11, followed by staff printers on a department-by-department basis. Contactless tap-to-release technology is faster, more secure and more accessible, providing a better experience every time you, print a document. By the start of fall 2026 semester the upgrade will be complete and swipe-only BuckIDs will no longer work.
In general, the printing process will remain the same. Users still log in the same way, but using tap-to-release instead of swiping. Manual login is still available if a card doesn’t work, which requires you to enter your Ohio State lastname.# and password. The print workflow itself does not change—only the badge interaction
Do you need a new card?
Tap-enabled BuckIDs have been the standard on the Columbus campus since summer 2023, so most students and newer faculty and staff already have the tap-enabled cards. If you received your BuckID before summer of 2023 or you received your card on a statewide (regional) campus, it’s likely magnetic stripe only. The good news? Upgrading is easy and completely free for students and employees as part of this upgrade. Refer to the “Upgrade now to the tap-enabled BuckID card” page for full details.