If your cash drawer isn't popping open when you take a cash sale, here's how to get it kicking.
Before you start.
- Make sure your receipt printer is connected to your computer by USB.
- Make sure your receipt printer is connected to your cash drawer with its kick cable (it looks like a phone cable).
The drawer only opens through the printer, so if the printer can't send it the signal, the drawer won't kick. If you're not sure your printer and drawer can connect this way, ask your printer's manufacturer, it's usually a quick call.
The steps from here depend on whether you're on a Mac or a PC.
On a Mac.
Macs use CUPS to configure printers:
- Open http://localhost:631/printers in your browser.
- Click your receipt printer's name in the list.
- From the drop-down menu, choose Set Default Options.
- Choose Cash Drawer Control, set it to Open Drawer 1, then click Set Default Options to save.
You can also download Star Micronics' step-by-step guide for setting this up on a Mac.
How to open a cash drawer on Mac (Star Micronics).
On Windows.
Epson has instructions on setting the cash drawer to kick from the Printer Driver settings:
- Go to Devices and Printers.
- Right click your printer (for example, TM-T20) and choose Printing Preferences.
- Go to the Peripherals tab.
- Select Open on both Cash Drawer options.
- Click Apply, then OK to close.
Test it.
Once you've set it up, go to POS, and click Open Drawer to check the drawer pops open.
Still having trouble?
If you need more help connecting your POS hardware, your printer's supplier is the best person to ask, they know their hardware inside out.
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