Setting up your network for Shopify POS

Setting up your network ensures that both Shopify POS and connected hardware work reliably. A stable, properly configured network helps prevent disruptions during sales, keeps your payment hardware connected, and allows Shopify POS data to sync with your Shopify admin. Review these requirements and tips to help your store operate smoothly in person.

Internet and Wi-Fi requirements

For reliable Shopify POS performance, confirm that your network meets the following requirements:

  • Minimum bandwidth: 5 Mbps download. Higher bandwidth is recommended for larger product catalogs or multiple registers running at the same location.
  • Backup connection: Have a cellular hotspot or secondary internet connection available, especially for launch day. A backup connection keeps payment processing online if your primary network goes down.
  • Same network for networked peripherals: Shopify POS devices and any peripherals that connect over Wi-Fi or Ethernet, such as Shopify POS Terminal, networked receipt printers, and Wi-Fi barcode scanners, must be on the same network. VLANs, guest networks, and network segmentation can prevent these peripherals from being discovered by Shopify POS. Bluetooth and USB peripherals connect directly to the host device and aren't subject to this requirement.
  • 2.4GHz support for Wi-Fi peripherals: Confirm that any Wi-Fi receipt printers or barcode scanners support 2.4GHz. Some peripherals can't connect on networks that only broadcast 5GHz.

Check your firewall settings

If you have a firewall activated on your network, then it can interfere with POS functionality.

Adding domains to your allow list ensures that Shopify POS works correctly. In your firewall settings, add all ports for all hostnames on the following domains to your allow list:

  • shopify.com
  • shopifyapps.com
  • shopifycs.com
  • shopifysvc.com
  • shopifyinc.com
  • shopifycloud.com
  • myshopify.com
  • pos.api.myshopify.com
  • cdn.shopify.com
  • extensions.shopifycdn.com
  • stripe.com
  • stripecdn.com
  • stripe.network
  • hcaptcha.com
  • bbpos.com
  • bugsnag.com
  • clients3.google.com
  • storage.googleapis.com
  • your store's custom domains

You need to add your store's custom domains to the allow list because Shopify POS and apps often use your custom domain name to connect with Shopify services.

If you need help to add these domains to your allow list, then contact your network administrator.

Set up Stripe's domain allowlist

Stripe is the payment processor that Shopify Payments uses to process payments. Your network needs to meet Stripe's network configuration requirements.

Set up Verifone's domain allowlist

If you use Verifone payment hardware with Shopify POS, then add all ports for all hostnames on the following domains to your firewall allow list:

  • verifone.com
  • verifone.cloud
  • verifonehq.net
  • vfcarbon.com

Geographic IP address filtering

The services used by POS might be hosted worldwide. If your firewall filters out IP addresses based on geographical location, then you need to deactivate this filter.

If you need help to change your firewall settings, then contact your network administrator.

Network Set up for POS Terminal

POS Terminal communicates with the Shopify POS app over your local network. In addition to the general network requirements, your network needs to meet the following requirements for POS Terminal to connect and process payments reliably.

Set up your ports

If you're using POS Terminal, then you need to set up your ports. Port numbers are used in the internet protocols to specify different services. They're part of the addressing information in the network and they help to direct network messages to the correct application on a device.

The following ports must be open for Shopify POS to work on your network:

  • 4443
  • 8080
  • 27000
  • 27001

If you need help to open these ports, then contact your network administrator or internet service provider.

Check your DNS settings

Some DNS providers block the resolution of local IP addresses, which prevents POS Terminal from connecting to the POS app. If you're seeing a DNS error, then change your network's DNS settings to use a provider that allows local IP resolution, such as:

  • Cloudflare DNS: 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1
  • Google Public DNS: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4

Shopify recommends making this change on your router so that all devices at your location receive the correct DNS configuration. If you can't access your router settings, then change the DNS settings on your POS device directly. If you need help changing your DNS settings, then contact your network administrator or internet service provider.

Troubleshooting Shopify POS network issues

If your Shopify POS experiences connectivity issues after setting up all of the network requirements, then refer to the advanced firewall troubleshooting article.