ZPL RFID commands: lock, serialise, power and log
ZPL RFID commands beyond ^RF and ^RS: locking tag memory, TID-based serial numbers, read/write power, tag calibration and the RFID data log.
RFID commands write to or read from the chip embedded in the label, not the printed image, so a visual preview cannot show them. ^RL can lock tag memory permanently — test lock commands on spare tags first. The guide documents the RFID commands in its own chapter; ^RF (read/write) and ^RS (setup) have their own pages linked below.
Commands on this page: ^RL · ^RU · ^RW · ^RI · ^RT · ^HL / ~HL · ^HR
^RL — Lock/Unlock RFID Tag Memory
Syntax: ^RLP · ^RLB,s,n · ^RLM,… · In Labelixa's preview: Not applied in the preview (ZPL1002)
Locks RFID tag memory: ^RLP permanently locks all memory the chip requires, ^RLB permanently locks n sections of user memory from section s, ^RLM locks or unlocks a password or a whole memory bank, permanently or reversibly.
Zebra ZPL II Programming Guide (P1134473-11EN Rev A), page 431. Zebra guide page →
^RU — Read Unique RFID Chip Serialization
Syntax: ^RUa,b · In Labelixa's preview: Not applied in the preview (ZPL1002)
Reads the chip's TID and builds a unique 38-bit serial number in the lowest 38 bits of the EPC: a is a binary prefix (default from the chip maker), b the special character (#) for #S, #H and #E in ^FD.
Zebra ZPL II Programming Guide (P1134473-11EN Rev A), page 439. Zebra guide page →
^RW — Set RF Power Levels for Read and Write
Syntax: ^RWr,w,a · In Labelixa's preview: Not applied in the preview (ZPL1002)
Sets the RFID read and write power (0–30 or H/M/L, depending on firmware) when tag calibration does not reach the right level: too little power fails encoding, too much can encode the wrong tag.
Zebra ZPL II Programming Guide (P1134473-11EN Rev A), page 441. Zebra guide page →
^RI — Read RFID tag ID
Syntax: No syntax in the guide · In Labelixa's preview: Not applied in the preview (ZPL1002)
Read RFID tag ID. The guide mentions ^RI only in a ^RF example; it has no page or syntax of its own.
Mentioned in the Zebra guide on page 429; no page of its own.
^RT — Read RFID tag
Syntax: No syntax in the guide · In Labelixa's preview: Not applied in the preview (ZPL1002)
Read RFID tag. The guide mentions ^RT only on the ^RS page, next to ^RF for reading tag data; it has no page or syntax of its own.
Mentioned in the Zebra guide on page 434; no page of its own.
^HL / ~HL — Return RFID Data Log to Host
Syntax: ^HL · ~HL · In Labelixa's preview: Printer setting — no visual effect
Returns the RFID data log from RAM to the host — ~HL at once, ^HL after the previous formats. Each line: date and time, operation (read, write, lock …), programming position, antenna, power, status and data. From firmware X.20.16Z logging is off by default.
Zebra ZPL II Programming Guide (P1134473-11EN Rev A), page 413. Zebra guide page →
^HR — Calibrate RFID Tag Position
Syntax: ^HRa,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,i · In Labelixa's preview: Printer setting — no visual effect
Runs RFID tag calibration: the printer moves the media, reads the TID, finds the programming position, antenna and read/write power, and returns a results table between the start and end strings. It can take up to five minutes; load RFID media and calibrate first.
Zebra ZPL II Programming Guide (P1134473-11EN Rev A), page 415. Zebra guide page →
^RF · ^RB · ^RS · ^RR
ZPL commands list and reference →
Try ZPL in the online viewer
