Barcode printers

Barcode labels can be used to make checkout and inventory management easier in your retail store. You can use a supported label printer to print barcode labels for your products. The printer needs to be connected to a desktop computer, and you need to install the appropriate software.

Tip

If you prefer to use a standard desktop printer, then you can design barcode labels by using the Retail Barcode Labels app from Shopify and print to Avery Standard (5160) labels.

Supported barcode label printers

To print barcode labels for your Shopify products, you need to use a supported printer and associated software. Shopify supports the following barcode label printers:

The label printer connects to a desktop computer with a wireless or wired connection, depending on the model that you choose. The printer needs to be connected to a desktop computer with the required software installed, even if you start printing from your mobile device.

Software requirements for printing labels

To print barcode labels, you need to set up one of the following before connecting your printer to a desktop computer:

• The Retail Barcode Labels app — Design and print simple barcode labels from within Shopify.
• The Dymo Label software — Design and print comprehensive barcode labels. You can print the labels from a desktop or mobile device.

Note

You can't print barcode labels by using Retail Barcode Labels from the Shopify mobile app on an iPad. To print barcode labels using a supported Dymo label printer, use the Dymo Connect iPad app. The printer needs to be connected to a desktop computer with Dymo label software installed.

Connecting your printer to a desktop computer

To connect your printer, follow the quick start guides from the manufacturer:

Note

You need to set up barcode label software before you can connect a printer to your computer.

Supported barcode label sizes for Dymo printers

To print barcode labels with either supported Dymo printer, you need to use Dymo brand labels in one of the following sizes:

• Small (1" x 1"), maximum of 6-8 digits
• Medium (1" x 2 1/8"), maximum of 22 digits
• Large (1 1/8" x 2 1/8"), maximum of 40 digits
• Butterfly/Barbell (3/8" x 3/4"), maximum of 8 digits (not available in the United Kingdom)

You might need to use fewer characters if you use letters or symbols because some of them take up more space than numbers.

Supported barcode label sizes for Zebra printers

To print labels with either the ZD220 or ZD420 Zebra printer, you need to use Zebra brand labels in one of the following sizes:

• Barcode - 10010037 (1.2" x 0.85")
• Barcode - 10010038 (1.25" x 1")
• Barcode - 10010039 (2" x 1")
• Barcode - 10015340 (2.25" x 0.75")
• Barcode - 10010043 (3" x 1")
• Barcode - 10010044 (3" x 2")
• Shipping - (4" x 6")

To print labels with a Zebra ZSB Series printer, you need to use Zebra brand labels in one of the following sizes:

• Zebra Barcodes ZSB-LC6 (2.25" x 1") - 57mm x 25mm
• Zebra Multipurpose ZSB-LC7 (1.25" x 1.25") - 32mm x 32mm
• Zebra Jewelry ZSB-LC8 (2.25" x 0.5") - 57mm x 13mm
• Zebra XL Shipping ZSB-LC1 (4" x 6") - 102mm x 152mm

Add barcodes to your Shopify products

You can add barcodes to your products in Shopify by using the following methods:

Troubleshooting barcode printers

Note

You can get help with Dymo Label software and printers at dymo.com and Zebra software and printers at zebra.com.

If you're having trouble printing barcode labels, then try these steps:

1. Are you using a supported printer? These are the only barcode label printers that Shopify supports.
2. Is the printer properly connected? Make sure that its connected to both a power outlet and the USB port of the computer that you're printing from.
3. Do you have an internet connection? You can't print labels for your products unless your computer can connect to Shopify.
4. Are you using supported barcode labels? Your labels won't print correctly unless you're using supported barcode labels and you select the correct label size in your barcode template.
5. Do all the products and variants that you're printing labels for have barcode numbers assigned to them? If there are any products without a barcode number in Shopify, then add the barcodes before printing their labels.
6. Is the printer paused? Check the status of your label printer, and make sure that it's not paused and there are no printing jobs in its queue.
7. Is the printer printing blank labels? You might need to clean your printer. You can find instructions for cleaning your printer in the [manufacturer's user manual (Dymo or Zebra).
8. For the Dymo LabelWriter Wireless Printer: are you noticing any flashing lights on the side of the printer? If so, please use the manufacturer’s troubleshooting manual to find the source of the issue.

Note

You can get help with Dymo Label software and printers at dymo.com and Zebra software and printers at zebra.com.

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