# Set up devices - printers, scanners, displays, phones

> Connect receipt printers, barcode scanners, label printers, the customer display, kitchen screens and the SmartPOS Business app to your SmartPOS Hub account.

Source: https://docs.smartposhub.com/start/devices-and-printers/  
Last updated: 2026-10-30  
Product: SmartPOS Hub (https://smartposhub.com)

This guide shows how to connect the hardware a shop or restaurant uses with SmartPOS Hub: receipt printers, barcode scanners, label printers, the customer display, kitchen screens and staff phones with the SmartPOS Business app. It is for owners and managers setting up a till. Most devices work in minutes with no drivers to install in SmartPOS Hub.

## What you can connect

| Device | Where to set it up | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Receipt printer (80 mm / 58 mm) | Location **Settings** button, and **Settings › Receipt Printers** | Browser printing works with any printer |
| Barcode scanner | Nothing to set up | Scans into the POS search like a keyboard |
| Phone or tablet camera | POS camera button, or the Business app | Needs a secure page and camera permission |
| Label printer / label sheets | **Settings › Barcode Settings**, then **Products › Print Labels** | Sheets (A4, Letter) or rolls |
| Customer display (second screen) | **Sales › Screens & displays** | Opens from the POS top bar |
| Kitchen screens | **Sales › Screens & displays** | One link per kitchen station |
| Staff phones and tablets | **Online & apps › Business app** | SmartPOS Business app for Android |
| Cash drawer | Usually connected to the receipt printer | Opens when the receipt prints, if the printer supports it |

## Receipt printer

### The simple way: browser printing

1. Install the printer on the computer the way you would for any program, and set it as the default printer.
2. In SmartPOS Hub, open **Settings › Business Locations** and click **Settings** next to the location.
3. Set **Receipt Printer Type** to **Browser Based Printing**.
4. Set **Auto print invoice after finalizing** to **Yes** if the receipt should open for printing after every sale.
5. Choose the **Invoice layout** (receipt design) for this location and click **Update**.

![Business Location Settings with Auto print invoice after finalizing set to Yes and Receipt Printer Type set to Browser Based Printing](https://docs.smartposhub.com/_astro/location-receipt-settings.YwpPxewK.png) (web app page: `/business-location/…/settings`)
*Receipt settings per location.*

**Tip:** 
In the browser's print window, pick the receipt printer and its paper size once and turn off headers and footers. Most browsers remember these choices for the next receipt.

### Direct printing to a network or USB printer

Use this when you want receipts to go straight to a receipt printer without the browser's print window.

1. Open **Settings › Receipt Printers** and click **+ Add Printer** (or **Import prebuilt** to add common 80 mm, 58 mm and kitchen printers in one go).
2. Enter a **Printer Name**, the **Capability Profile** and **Characters per line** (42 or 48 for 80 mm paper, 32 for 58 mm).
3. Choose the **Connection Type**: for **Network**, enter the printer's **IP Address** and **Port** (most use 9100); for Windows or Linux, enter the printer path on the computer running the POS.
4. Click **Save**, then choose this printer on the location's **Settings** page.

![Add Printer page with Printer Name, Capability Profile, Characters per line set to 42, Connection Type Network, IP Address and Port 9100](https://docs.smartposhub.com/_astro/add-receipt-printer.DpMfn2oW.png) (web app page: `/printers/create`)
*Add Printer: most network receipt printers use port 9100.*

More detail: [Receipt printers and barcode printers](https://docs.smartposhub.com/settings/receipt-printers-and-barcode-printers/).

## Barcode scanner

1. Plug the USB scanner into the computer (or pair the Bluetooth scanner).
2. Open the **POS** and click in the product search box.
3. Scan a product. It is added to the cart.

If the product is not found, the POS offers **Add new product with this barcode** or **Link to an existing product** (when your role allows it). See [Barcodes and labels](https://docs.smartposhub.com/catalog/barcodes-and-labels/).

**Camera scanning**: on a phone or tablet browser the POS shows a camera button next to the product search. Tap it, allow the camera, and point at the barcode. Turn on **Continuous** to scan many items in a row.

## Label printer

Set the label size once under **Settings › Barcode Settings** (or **Import prebuilt** for common sheets and rolls), then print from **Products › Print Labels**. See [Barcodes and labels](https://docs.smartposhub.com/catalog/barcodes-and-labels/) and [Receipt printers and barcode printers](https://docs.smartposhub.com/settings/receipt-printers-and-barcode-printers/).

## Customer display and kitchen screens

**Sales › Screens & displays** lists every screen your business can run, with **Open**, **Copy link** and **QR** buttons and a **Setup guide**:

- **Customer display** (second monitor at the till): turn on **Show on POS** under **Customise**, open the POS, click the monitor icon in the top bar, drag the new window to the customer screen and press **F11**.
- **Kitchen screens** (one per station), **Host floor screen**, **Hotel front desk** and **Customer boards** (order status on a TV), when those modules are on.

![Screens and displays page with cards for Customer display, Kitchen screens, Host floor screen, Hotel front desk and Customer boards, and kitchen station links with Open, Copy link and QR buttons](https://docs.smartposhub.com/_astro/screens-and-displays.D80vHpEn.png) (web app page: `/screens`)
*Sales › Screens & displays.*

**Note:** 
Kitchen and host screens need a signed-in user. Create a user with a kitchen-only role for each screen so it sees only the kitchen.

## Staff phones: the SmartPOS Business app

> **How to turn it on**
> 1. **Plan:** Your plan includes Mobile app (Settings › Package Subscription)
> 2. **Switch:** Settings › Business Settings › Modules › Mobile app
> 3. **Permission:** Every staff member who can sign in, or only roles with "Use the SmartPOS Hub mobile app"
> - **Mobile app:** SmartPOS Business for Android

1. Open **Online & apps › Business app**.
2. Under **Who can use the app**, choose **Every staff member who can sign in** or **Only roles I allow** (then tick the permission on those roles).
3. Optional: set **Maximum signed-in devices**, the **Big discount alert from (%)** and low-stock alerts. Click **Save**.
4. Under **Get the app**, staff scan the QR code or open the link on their Android phone, then install the app.
5. In the app, staff sign in with the same username (or e-mail) and password they use on the web. No web address is needed.

![Mobile app settings with Signed-in devices, People using the app, Who can use the app options, Maximum signed-in devices, Alerts and a Get the app QR code](https://docs.smartposhub.com/_astro/mobile-app-settings.Qqj9xEu7.png) (web app page: `/mobile-app/settings`)
*Online & apps › Business app: who may use the app, alerts and the download QR code.*

![SmartPOS Business sign-in screen with Username or e-mail and Password](https://docs.smartposhub.com/_astro/sign-in.B1zQ3hb2.png)
![SmartPOS Business home screen with today's sales, payments due, cash register, low stock and bottom tabs Home, Sell, Customers, Products, More](https://docs.smartposhub.com/_astro/home-owner.bOaq-XWa.png)
*Signing in to the SmartPOS Business app and its home screen.*

Everything in the app follows each person's role and locations, exactly like the web. Signed-in phones are listed at the bottom of **Online & apps › Business app**; signing one out stops it at once. Full guide: [SmartPOS Business app](https://docs.smartposhub.com/business-app/overview/).

## Tips and mistakes to avoid

- **Test print from each till** before opening; check the logo and that text is not cut at the edge (adjust **Characters per line**).
- **Give each printer a fixed IP address** in your router, otherwise network printing stops when the address changes.
- **Use a kitchen-only role** for kitchen screens, never the owner's login.
- **Set a device limit** if staff might sign in on personal phones.

## Related pages

  - [Receipt printers and barcode printers](https://docs.smartposhub.com/settings/receipt-printers-and-barcode-printers/)
  - [Barcodes and labels](https://docs.smartposhub.com/catalog/barcodes-and-labels/)
  - [Screens and displays module](https://docs.smartposhub.com/modules/screens-and-displays/)
  - [Offline selling](https://docs.smartposhub.com/selling/offline-selling/)

## Frequently asked questions

### Do I need a special receipt printer?

No. With Browser Based Printing any printer your computer can print to works, including 80 mm and 58 mm thermal printers. For printing straight to a network or USB receipt printer, add it under Settings, Receipt Printers.

### Which barcode scanners work?

Any USB or Bluetooth scanner that types the code and presses Enter, like a keyboard. Plug it in, click the POS search box and scan. No setup is needed in SmartPOS Hub.

### Can I scan barcodes with a phone camera?

Yes. On the POS opened in a phone or tablet browser, tap the camera button next to the product search. The SmartPOS Business app also has a built-in scanner.

### How do I show the customer their items on a second screen?

Turn on the customer display in Settings, Screens and displays, open the POS, click the monitor icon in the top bar and drag the new window to the screen facing the customer.

### Is the SmartPOS Business app free?

The app is included when the Mobile app module is in your plan and switched on. Staff sign in with their normal username or e-mail and password.

### Is there an iPhone app?

Not yet. The SmartPOS Business and SmartPOS Shopper apps are for Android phones and tablets. On an iPhone or iPad use the web app in Safari.

### How do I sign a lost phone out?

Open Settings, Mobile app, find the phone under Signed-in devices and sign it out. It stops working at once.

### Can I keep selling when the internet goes down?

Yes, with the Offline POS module. It keeps sales on the device and sends them when the connection is back. See the Offline selling guide.