Running a retail store with Shopify Point of Sale (POS) is a common question among business owners. Many wonder if they need to stick to mobile devices or if they can manage their store operations from a computer. Can you use Shopify POS on a computer? This guide will clear up the confusion about using Shopify POS on desktop computers and laptops. We’ll uncover available options and practical ways to handle your in-person sales through Shopify POS.
Highlights:
- You can use Shopify POS on a computer for management tasks, but it can’t handle payment transactions.
Can You Use Shopify POS on a Computer?
Yes, Shopify POS works on computers, though in a different way than you might expect. Instead of a standalone desktop app, you’ll access the POS functions through the Shopify admin panel in your web browser.
The system was built mainly for mobile devices like iPads and iPhones, but the computer version lets you manage your inventory and orders well. The browser-based interface keeps your business running smoothly when you need to work from your desktop.
What Shopify POS Lets You Do on Desktop
Can you use Shopify POS on a computer? The Shopify Admin panel on your computer gives you control over POS functions and tasks. Let’s look at managing POS apps through your desktop:
- POS App Management
Through the desktop admin panel, you can:
- Install new POS apps
- Turn apps on or off
- Remove apps you don’t need
- Add Action and Block Extensions for more POS functions
The main app settings stay in the desktop admin area. Once you install apps, you can adjust some settings directly in Shopify POS, but most changes happen through your computer’s admin panel.
- Location Control
Your Shopify plans set the limit on how many store locations you can create. The Locations page in Shopify admin shows all your stores in one place. You can:
- Search stores by name
- Sort stores by status or POS plan
- Add new stores
- Remove existing stores
- Change store details
- Turn stores on or off
- Product Setup and Allocation
The Shopify admin lets you work with products in many ways. You can:
- Create new products
- Make product copies
- Change product information
- Set when products are available
- Move products to archive
- Remove products
- Update product options
Choose where to sell your products based on your business needs. Pick the Online Store option to sell through your website, or select Point of Sale for in-store purchases. You can use both channels to sell online and at physical locations.
- Tracking Stock in Shopify
The Shopify admin and POS work together to monitor your stock. When inventory tracking is active, the POS warns staff if they try to sell items that aren’t in stock. Staff members can still complete these sales after confirming their choice.
The Shopify admin is your main tool for stock control. When you update quantities in the admin, these changes show up right away in your POS system.
- Staff Management
Store owners can restrict staff access to the POS app through the Shopify admin for security. Staff with limited admin rights or POS-only access must wait for the store owner to log in first before they can use the POS.
You can set up and change POS roles from the Point of Sale channel in the Shopify admin. Each role comes with specific permissions. When you create POS roles, you can give the same set of permissions to many staff members at once.
- Taxes
Setting the correct tax rate for your store location in Shopify admin helps keep your store revenue calculations accurate. This basic setup affects all your sales tax reporting.
After linking your POS device to a specific store location in the system, the matching tax rates will apply to all transactions automatically based on that assigned location.
- Shipping and Delivery
Local customers can pick up items in-store or get them delivered when they buy from your online store. Through Shopify admin, you can turn on local delivery for online orders. Your staff can handle deliveries, or you can work with outside delivery services to send orders to customers.
- Reporting and Analytics
The Shopify POS app shows basic daily sales data like net sales, average order value, items per order, and top-selling products. For more detailed reports and data analysis, log in to Shopify admin where you’ll find complete business insights.
ConnectPOS – Reliable Shopify POS for Retailers
ConnectPOS integrates seamlessly with Shopify and works on both desktop and mobile POS devices. It supports real-time data synchronization between online and in-store sales while allowing retailers to manage inventory across multiple locations from a single system.
Retailers appreciate its intuitive interface and user-friendly features, making daily operations more efficient. The system processes high transaction volumes without slowdowns, making it suitable for both small boutiques and large retail chains.
Key benefits:
- Real-Time Synchronization – Keeps inventory, orders, and customer data updated across all sales channels.
- Fast Checkout Process – Streamlines transactions to reduce wait times at the counter.
- Built-In Inventory Management – Tracks stock movement across multiple locations to prevent overselling.
- Detailed Sales Reports & Analytics – Provides insights into business performance for better decision-making.
- Secure Payment Processing – Supports multiple payment methods, including cash, credit cards, and mobile wallets.
- Multi-Store & Multi-Warehouse Support – Ideal for businesses with several locations or warehouses.
With ConnectPOS, retailers can maintain accurate records, improve sales efficiency, and scale their operations while keeping data synchronized across all touchpoints.
To Conclude
Can you use Shopify POS on a computer? Yes, but it is primarily for managing retail operations rather than processing in-person payments. The desktop version lets you monitor sales, inventory, and customer data on a larger screen, making it easier to oversee store performance. However, payments must be handled through a mobile device or external hardware.
If you need more advanced features, third-party POS solutions like ConnectPOS provide multi-store management, real-time synchronization, and offline mode to support growing businesses. Contact us today to see how ConnectPOS can help!
FAQs: Can You Use Shopify POS on A Computer
- Can a computer work during Shopify POS setup?
The Shopify POS app works only on mobile devices for sales transactions. Your computer lets you handle backend tasks in Shopify admin, such as managing products, orders, and reports.
How to process sales through Shopify on a computer?
You can create and process draft orders through Shopify admin on your computer. This manual method takes longer than completing sales on a mobile device with Shopify POS.
Is it possible to connect Shopify POS hardware to a computer?
No. Shopify POS hardware (card readers and barcode scanners) pairs with mobile devices running the POS app. These tools don’t work with computers for sales transactions.
ConnectPOS is a all-in-one point of sale solution tailored to meet your eCommerce POS needs, streamline business operations, boost sales, and enhance customer experience in diverse industries. We offer custom POS with features, pricing, and plans to suit your unique business requirements.
