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Label Printers

Admin

Brother POS supports network-connected label printers for printing product labels with barcodes, pricing, and product information. Label printing is an optional feature controlled by a feature flag.

Hardware Settings

Prerequisites​

Before setting up a label printer:

  1. Enable the Label Printing feature flag under Settings > Edit Settings > Hardware & System tab.
  2. Ensure your label printer supports one of the following formats: ZPL (Zebra), TSPL (Munbyn), ESC/POS (Generic), Dymo, or Brother native formats.
  3. Connect the printer to your local network.

Supported Printers​

PrinterLanguageConnectionLabel Width
Zebra ZD220ZPLEthernet / USB1" - 4"
Zebra ZD421ZPLEthernet / Wi-Fi / USB1" - 4"
Zebra GK420tZPLEthernet / USB1" - 4"
Zebra ZT230ZPLEthernet1" - 4"
MunbynTSPLEthernet / USBVaries
DymoDymo nativeUSBVaries
BrotherBrother nativeUSB / NetworkVaries
Any ESC/POS label printerESC/POSNetworkVaries
Choosing a Label Printer

The Zebra ZD421 is a good all-around choice for dispensaries. It is compact, supports multiple label sizes, and offers both Ethernet and Wi-Fi connectivity. For budget setups, the Zebra ZD220 provides basic ZPL support at a lower price.

Network Setup​

Label printers communicate over your local network.

Step 1: Connect to Network​

  1. Connect the label printer to your router or switch via Ethernet cable.
  2. Power on the printer.
  3. Print a configuration page (usually by holding a button during power-on -- see your printer's manual).
  4. Note the printer's IP address.

Step 2: Set a Static IP​

  1. Access your router's admin panel.
  2. Create a DHCP reservation for the label printer's MAC address.
  3. Assign a static IP (e.g., 192.168.1.201).
  4. Restart the printer.

Step 3: Configure in Brother POS​

  1. Log in to the Admin Panel.
  2. Navigate to the Printers page. Receipt and label printers are managed on the same page.
  3. Click Add Printer and select the label printer type.
  4. Enter:
    • Name -- A descriptive name (e.g., "Back Office Label Printer").
    • IP Address -- The static IP of the printer.
    • Port -- Use the default value provided by Brother POS.
    • Label Printer Type -- Select from: Generic ESC/POS, Munbyn TSPL, Zebra ZPL, Dymo, or Brother.
  5. Click Save.

Step 4: Test Print​

  1. Click the Test Print button.
  2. The printer should produce a test label with your store name and a sample barcode.
  3. If the label prints correctly, your printer is ready.
USB Label Printers

If your label printer connects via USB, you need the Printer Bridge utility running on a Windows PC. The bridge exposes the USB printer over the network for Brother POS to communicate with.

Label Templates​

Label templates control the layout and content of your printed labels.

Default Template​

Brother POS includes a default label template that includes:

  • Product name
  • Price
  • Barcode (generated from the product SKU)
  • Category name
  • THC/CBD percentages (if cannabis features are enabled)
  • Weight (for weight-based products)

Customizing Label Templates​

You can create and edit label templates at /label_templates, accessible from the Products page dropdown.

Configurable options include:

ElementConfigurable?Notes
Product NameYesFont size and position
PriceYesFont size and position
BarcodeYesType (Code 128, EAN-13, UPC-A) and position
SKUYesShow/hide, font size
CategoryYesShow/hide
THC/CBDYesShow/hide (respects display settings)
WeightYesShow/hide
Store NameYesShow/hide
Custom TextYesAdd custom lines

Label Dimensions​

Configure label dimensions to match your physical labels:

  1. Measure your label stock (width x height in millimeters or inches).
  2. Enter the dimensions in the template settings.
  3. Common label sizes:
    • 2" x 1" (50mm x 25mm) -- Small product labels
    • 2" x 1.5" (50mm x 38mm) -- Standard dispensary labels
    • 3" x 2" (76mm x 50mm) -- Larger labels with more information
    • 4" x 2" (100mm x 50mm) -- Shelf labels
Barcode Scanning

For barcode scanning to work at the POS, the barcode on the label must encode the product's SKU. Ensure your products have unique SKUs assigned before printing labels.

Printing Labels​

From the Product List​

  1. Navigate to Products in the admin panel.
  2. Select the product(s) you want to print labels for.
  3. Click Print Labels.
  4. Set the quantity (number of labels per product).
  5. Select the template to use.
  6. Click Print.

From the POS​

If label printing is enabled in the POS:

  1. Find the product in the POS catalog.
  2. Open the product detail view.
  3. Tap Print Label.
  4. The label prints on the configured label printer.

Bulk Printing​

For printing labels for multiple products at once:

  1. Go to Products in the admin panel.
  2. Use the checkboxes to select multiple products.
  3. Click Print Labels in the bulk actions menu.
  4. Set the quantity per product.
  5. Click Print.

Label Printer Maintenance​

Paper Loading​

  1. Open the printer cover.
  2. Load the label roll with labels facing up.
  3. Thread the label stock through the guides.
  4. Close the cover and press the feed button to advance to the first label.

Calibration​

If labels are printing misaligned or the printer is skipping labels:

  1. Power off the printer.
  2. Hold the feed button while powering on (this starts auto-calibration on most Zebra printers).
  3. The printer will feed several labels to detect the label size.
  4. Once calibration is complete, print a test label to verify alignment.

If labels appear faded or have streaks:

  1. Power off the printer and open the cover.
  2. Clean the print head with an isopropyl alcohol wipe.
  3. Allow to dry for 30 seconds.
  4. Close the cover and power on.
  5. Print a test label to verify quality.

Troubleshooting​

Labels Not Printing​

  1. Check power and status lights on the printer.
  2. Verify network connection -- ping the printer's IP address.
  3. Check paper -- ensure labels are loaded and the cover is fully closed.
  4. Verify port -- confirm the correct port (9100 or 9101) in Brother POS.

Barcode Not Scanning​

  1. Check SKU -- ensure the product has a SKU assigned.
  2. Check barcode type -- verify the barcode format in the template matches your scanner's supported formats.
  3. Check print quality -- a faded or streaked barcode will not scan. Clean the print head.

Label Alignment Issues​

  1. Run the printer's auto-calibration (feed button hold during power-on).
  2. Verify label dimensions in the template match your physical label stock.
  3. Ensure the label roll is loaded straight and not skewed.

What's Next?​