Written by Jason Feemster, POS specialist with 15+ years of experience helping restaurants and retailers troubleshoot POS systems, payments, and hardware issues.
Common Issue: Shopify POS inventory not updating, showing wrong stock, not syncing with the online store, or products missing from POS entirely.
Fast Fixes: Assign products to the correct Location, enable POS sales channel, reload data, fix stock tracking settings, and reset POS app cache.
Need official help? See our Shopify Customer Service Guide.
Want guided troubleshooting? Try the POSUSA POS Support Assistant (Free).
Shopify POS inventory not updating? You may see mismatched stock counts, items stuck at “0,” products missing from the POS app, or online store quantities not reflecting in-store sales. These issues most often come from location settings, catalog assignment, or syncing delays inside the POS app.
Here’s how to fix Shopify POS inventory sync problems fast.
Table of Contents
Common Reasons Shopify POS Inventory Doesn’t Update
- Product not assigned to the POS Location
- Product not assigned to the POS Sales Channel
- Inventory tracking turned off
- POS app cache outdated or corrupted
- Staff permissions limiting product editing
- Sync delays caused by Wi-Fi issues
How to Fix Shopify POS Inventory Not Syncing
1. Assign the Product to the Correct Location
This is the #1 cause of Shopify POS inventory problems. Each product must be assigned to the physical store location to appear in POS with the correct quantity.
- Go to Products in Shopify Admin
- Select the product
- Scroll to Inventory
- Check the box for your POS Location
- Enter the correct quantity
If the location is unchecked, Shopify POS will always show “Unavailable” or “0 in stock.”
2. Make Sure the Product Is Assigned to the POS Sales Channel
Even if inventory is assigned, the product won’t show in POS unless it’s published to the POS channel.
- Open the product in Shopify Admin
- Go to Sales Channels
- Ensure POS is checked
- Save
This fixes missing products in the POS app instantly.
3. Turn On Inventory Tracking
If tracking is disabled, Shopify POS may ignore inventory changes.
- Edit product
- Scroll to Inventory
- Check Track quantity
- Save
Shopify won’t update stock counts unless tracking is enabled.
4. Reload Data in the Shopify POS App
If the POS app is showing outdated numbers, reload the catalog data.
- Open Shopify POS
- Tap ≡ → Settings
- Select Reload Data
This refreshes stock, pricing, and product visibility instantly.
5. Restart the Shopify POS App
Closing and reopening the POS app clears temporary sync issues.
- Swipe up from the bottom of the iPad
- Swipe Shopify POS upward to close it
- Reopen the app
If inventory updated in Shopify Admin but not POS, this usually fixes it.
6. Check Internet Connection (Required for Sync)
Slow or unstable Wi-Fi causes delayed inventory syncing between Shopify Admin and POS.
- Move closer to the router
- Toggle Wi-Fi off/on
- Restart router if needed
Inventory updates may take several minutes on weak networks.
When to Contact Shopify Support
- Inventory numbers never match POS, even after resets
- Products disappear from POS entirely
- Location settings won’t save
- Stock updates fail during busy hours
Shopify Customer Service – Phone, Chat & Help Center
Shopify POS Inventory Not Updating – FAQs
Why is Shopify POS showing 0 stock?
Why are items missing from Shopify POS?
How long does Shopify take to sync inventory?
Do I need to reload POS data?
Try the POSUSA POS Support Assistant
Need help fixing stock sync issues?
- POSUSA POS Support Assistant
- Select Shopify POS
- Type: “inventory not updating”
- Follow the guided troubleshooting flow
It’s fast, free, and built for real retail environments.
Thinking About Switching POS Systems?
If you’re dealing with repeated POS issues, it might be time to compare more reliable options built for restaurants and retail businesses.
Takes 30 seconds • No sales pressure
