At a proper age he was bound apprentice for five years to Breitkopf and Hartel, of Leipzig, as compositor and printer; but after serving for four and a quarter years, he was released from his engagement because of his exceptional skill, which was an unusual occurrence.
During the later years of his apprenticeship, Koenig was permitted to attend the classes in the University, more especially those of Ernst Platner, a physician, philosopher, and anthropologist.

After that he proceeded to the printing-office of his uncle, Anton F.Rose, at Greifswald, an old seaport town on the Baltic, where he remained a few years.

He next went to Halle as a journeyman printer,--German workmen going about from place to place, during their wanderschaft, for the purpose of learning their business.

After that, he returned to Breitkopf and Hartel, at Leipzig, where he had first learnt his trade.
During this time, having saved a little money, he enrolled himself for a year as a regular student at the University of Leipzig.
According to Koenig's own account, he first began to devise ways and means for improving the art of printing in the year 1802, when he was twenty-eight years old.

Printing large sheets of paper by hand was a very slow as well as a very laborious process.