Shopify POS / New foundation & APIs

Cash management in POS has been rebuilt
Register sessions, reason codes, and a safe + ledger model

Cash management has been rebuilt on both POS devices and Admin (POS channel). New register extension targets and APIs have also been added. With register sessions, reason codes, and the new cash drawer / ledger model, cash can now be tracked, controlled, and reconciled.

On this page
  1. What's changing (30-second summary)
  2. The big picture: the new register session → safe → ledger model
  3. New POS device features (3)
  4. New Admin (POS channel) features
  5. New foundation, APIs, and extension targets
  6. Old vs. new model comparison
  7. 5 key points for developers
  8. 3 use cases you can apply to operations
  9. A one-line summary you can use in pitches

1What's changing

You can now trace cash in physical stores end-to-end: when, who, and how much was moved.
Register sessionsdivide operations into clear units,reason codesattach explanations to cash movements outside of orders, and the safe (drawer) + ledger modelrolls up cash across multiple devices into one auditable view.

Track

Records the breakdown of payments and cash movements per session. Even when and by which staff member the drawer was opened is logged.

Control

Reason codes are required for cash operations outside of orders. Whether the drawer auto-opens can also be controlled per device.

Reconcile

View opens, closes, and expected balances in Admin's Register sessions tab. Filtering and export speed up accounting and reconciliation.

2The big picture: the new register session → safe → ledger model

Device A Session Device B Session Device C Session One safe Cash Drawer Sessions from multiple devices roll up into a single safe Ledger Opening / float deposit Cash received from sales Cash in/out (with reason codes) Closing / variance A complete audit trail (auditability) Payment reports remain per-device Cash reports are aggregated across devices
The biggest change is moving away from "1 device = 1 session". With the updated data model and APIs, sessions across multiple devices are consolidated into a single drawer.
Reports take a two-tier shape: payments = per-deviceas before, whilecash = aggregated across the devices that contributed, and every cash event becomes auditable in the ledger.

3New features on the POS device (3)

Updated register UX

Each register session's summary is shown clearly on the device. You get improved cash tracking, a payment breakdown, andwhen and which staff member opened the drawer, with fine-grained visibility into cash activity.

Native cash reason codes

Opening or adjusting the drawer andany non-order cash operation can be required to have a reason code. Enable and customize codes from the POS channel to keep the audit trail you need.

OFF

Automatic drawer-open setting

Control whether the deviceautomatically opens the cash drawer after an order. Useful for staff using mobile devices on the sales floor.

4New features on the Admin (POS channel) side

Register sessions tab

A dedicated tab has been added to Admin showingopen and closed sessions, along withexpected cash balances across locations and per locationFilters and exports have been improved, making accounting and reconciliation faster.

Cross-location visibility

Even when running multiple stores, cash open/close and balances are consolidated on a single screen.per storeandoverallYou can check expected balances at both granularities, providing a starting point for reconciliation work.

5New foundation, APIs, and extension targets

① Safe (drawer) + ledger model

Multiple devices cancontribute to a single cash drawerGoing beyond "1 device = 1 session," sessions spanning multiple devices are rolled up into a single drawer through an updated data model and API.Payment reports remain per-device,Cash reports are aggregated across contributing devicesand the ledger provides complete auditability of all cash events.

② Register extension targets

Open / close Hook into procedures Threshold alerts float / min / max Notify on exceedance Extend line items Custom logic / reports Apps Connect to new POS targets

With new POS targets, apps canhook into open/close procedures,display alerts when balances exceed float / min / max thresholds, and extend session details with custom logic or reports.

③ Automated workflows via API

Using the API, you canopen and close sessions programmatically,create cash drawers and reason codes,assign devices to drawers,and retrieve custom reports. Integration with back-office and accounting systems, and automation of routine close-out processes, are within reach.

6Legacy vs. new model comparison

ItemPreviouslyNew cash management foundation
Terminals and sessions 1-to-1 1 terminal = 1 session Many-to-1 Multiple terminals consolidated into 1 drawer
Cash operations outside of orders Sparse records Reason codes required Audit trail secured
Drawer operation logging Unclear who opened it and when Fine-grained logging Down to staff and timestamp
Cash reports Closed at the terminal level Aggregated across contributing terminals (payments remain per-terminal)
Reconciliation in Admin Tends to be scattered Dedicated tab Open/close, expected balance, export
Automation / extensions Not specified API + POS extension targets for open/close, assignment, reports, and alerts

75 key points engineers should know

1. Data model redesigned around "drawer + ledger"

Sessions occur per terminal, but they roll up into a single drawer.Payments = terminal-level granularity,Cash = drawer-level granularityDesign your aggregation logic on the premise of this two-layer structure.

API

2. Session operations can be automated via API

Opening/closing sessions, creating drawers/reason codes, assigning terminals to drawers, and retrieving custom reports are all available via API. Closing procedures and accounting integrations can be put on batches/workflows.

3. Threshold alerts are implemented via extension targets

Alerts for when the balance exceeds float/min/max are injected by apps via POS extension targets. In-house logic such as prompting cash pickups or detecting theft can be hooked into the open/close procedures.

4. Reason codes are the core of the audit trail

By requiring reason codes for cash operations outside of orders, the ledger retains "why the money moved." Design the code taxonomy (deposits, withdrawals, adjustments, change replenishment, etc.) on the POS channel side.

5. Check the developer changelog and target list for detailed specs

This article is a feature overview. Specific API schemas, the list of available POS extension targets, and supported plans/countries areNot specified in the article body. Verify against the developer changelog and the POS UI extension targets documentation before implementing.

8Three use cases you can apply to your business

1. Cash safe
USE CASE 1

Consolidate drawers shared across multiple registers and staff into one to speed up closing

Challenge
Busy stores run multiple devices and staff rotate while handling the same cash, so sessions get split per device and end-of-day reconciliation takes time.
Approach
Assign multiple devices to a single cash drawer and aggregate cash reports across devices. Use the register session tab in the Admin to review expected balances and close out.
Impact
Closing is faster and discrepancies are easier to investigate. A record of who opened the drawer and when remains, making accountability clear.
Tech notes
Payment reports remain per-device, so per-device sales analysis continues as before. The aggregation applies to the cash report side.
USE CASE 2

Use reason codes to formalize "cash discrepancies" and strengthen internal controls

Challenge
Cash movements that don't involve orders — such as change replenishment, sales pickups, and petty cash expenses — go unrecorded, leaving unexplained cash variances at month-end.
Approach
Enable and customize reason codes on the POS channel and require entry for non-order cash actions. Turn off automatic drawer opening on mobile devices on the sales floor.
Impact
Every cash event is recorded in the ledger with a reason, so variance tracking and internal controls (fraud and miskey detection) actually work.
Tech notes
Design the code taxonomy upfront and tune the required on/off setting to match store operations. The audit trail is centralized in the ledger.
API
USE CASE 3

Automate and monitor cash operations with the API + extension targets

Challenge
Opening and closing session operations and report output are manual. The more stores you have, the more it becomes dependent on individuals and prone to gaps.
Approach
Use the API to automate opening/closing sessions, creating drawers, assigning devices, and retrieving custom reports. Use POS extension targets to surface float/min/max threshold alerts at the storefront.
Impact
Routine cash operations are standardized, leading to optimized pickup timing and earlier detection of theft and over/short risks.
Tech notes
Check the API schema and available targets in the developer changelog and the extension targets list. This article does not cover the details. Validating in a sandbox first is recommended.

9One-line summary for proposals

"Shopify POS cash management has been overhauled.
Register sessions, reason codes, and a cash safe + ledger modellet you consolidate cash across multiple devices into one andtrack, control, and reconcileit, and with the
API and POS extension targetsyou can build automated closing and threshold alerts in-house."