Getting Started with Medusa POS
· 7 min read
What you need
To get started, you will need:
- A Windows, macOS, or Linux computer at the checkout counter — a touchscreen is ideal
- A running Medusa store (v2.21.x) with products and a sales channel set up
- Your Medusa Admin login (email and password)
Optional hardware (recommended for a full retail setup):
- A thermal receipt printer - an 80 mm or 57 mm printer on your network (Wi-Fi or Ethernet), on USB, or added to your computer as a system printer (for example, Epson TM-series or BIXOLON models)
- A barcode scanner - any standard USB scanner that types like a keyboard, or one on a serial (COM) port
- A cash drawer - connected to your thermal printer via the standard RJ-11 cable
Get started - setup in minutes
- Download and install the app from pos.nari.ge - choose the version for your operating system.
- Enter your store address - on first launch, the app asks for your Medusa backend URL
(for example,
https://admin.mystore.com). Type it in and save. You can add more stores later from the store box on the sign-in screen. - Sign in with your Medusa Admin email and password.
- Add your printer - open Settings -> Printers, tap Add printer, enter the printer's address, and run a test print. The printer then shows its live status - ready, out of paper or cover open - on the Printers page and in the top bar.
- Test the cash drawer - from the same printer settings screen, tap Test drawer. If a drawer is connected to the printer, it should pop open.
- Check your payment methods - under Settings -> Store, each payment method from your Medusa backend gets a name and an icon at the till: cash, card, bank transfer and more.
- Start selling - go to the Checkout screen, search or scan your first product, and you are ready.
Daily checkout flow
Once you are set up, a typical sale takes about 30 seconds:
- Pick your store and sign in. If you have more than one location, choose the right one from the store box, then enter your credentials.
- Find and add products. On the Checkout screen, scan the barcode on the product packaging or type the name in the search bar. You can also browse the catalog, or tap a quick key for your best sellers.
- Review the cart. Change a quantity with the large - and + buttons or apply a discount. Removed something by mistake? Tap Undo.
- Tap Payment. Pick the payment method first. For cash, enter the amount received on the keypad and the change is shown in large numbers; for card or bank transfer, confirm once the payment has gone through.
- Receipt prints; drawer opens if configured. The receipt prints right after payment, and a success screen shows the change to hand back. Tap New sale, or simply scan the next item.
- Order saved. The completed sale appears in your Medusa order history immediately.
Checking past orders
Every completed transaction is stored and searchable. Tap Orders in the sidebar to browse your sales history. Search, or tap a quick filter such as Unpaid or To fulfil, and tap any row to see the full detail - items, totals, payment and history.
From the order page you can preview and reprint the receipt, save it as a PDF, take a payment later, refund, or handle a return or exchange.
Settings and printers
Everything you need to configure lives under Settings:
- Printers - add network, USB or system printers, mark a default, run a test print and test the cash drawer. Each printer shows its live status.
- Scanner - choose a keyboard-style or serial scanner, and scan anything to check it works.
- Connection - the sales channel and stock location this till sells from.
- Store - your name, address, phone number and logo (printed on every receipt), the payment methods, and your bank details for bank transfers.
- Quick keys - pin up to eight products as one-tap buttons above the cart.
- Preferences - language, theme (Light, Dark or System), display size, sounds, currency and date format, and the cash register.
FAQ
Why does Windows or macOS show a warning when I install the app?
The Windows installer is code-signed, but SmartScreen may still ask once while the signature builds its reputation. The macOS app is not notarized yet, so macOS asks too. If you downloaded the file from pos.nari.ge, you can safely proceed.
What printers are compatible?
Any 80 mm or 57 mm thermal receipt printer that speaks ESC/POS - on your network (port 9100), on USB, or set up on your computer as a system printer. For example, Epson TM-series or BIXOLON printers. Thermal printer = the till-roll type that prints receipts without ink cartridges.
Is barcode scanning required?
No - it is completely optional. Any product can be found and added using the search bar. A USB scanner that types like a keyboard works straight away; a serial (COM) scanner is chosen under Settings -> Scanner. Full barcode-to-product lookup additionally requires the optional @narisolutions/medusa-plugin-pos companion plugin installed on your Medusa server.
Does the cash drawer always open after a sale?
It opens when configured correctly: the cash drawer must be connected to your thermal printer via the standard cable, and the printer must be set up in Settings -> Printers. When those conditions are met, the app sends the open command to the printer at the end of a completed sale.
Does it work on a touchscreen?
Yes - it is designed for one. Every button is large enough for a finger, amounts are entered on a keypad, and a display size setting makes everything bigger or smaller to suit your screen. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux computers, including touchscreen all-in-one tills.