The Packing App is designed to simplify the setup and configuration of your packing stations. Allowing ShipHero to communicate directly with your local printer and scale. This process is more efficient than a standard Workstation setup because all print requests are processed locally.
The latest version of the app includes faster printing speeds and automatic updates, ensuring your station is always running the most current version.
Getting Started with the Packing App
Follow these steps to download, install, and configure your Packing App.
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Download and Install the App: The Packing App is available for Windows and macOS. To download the Packing App go to the My Account > Apps page and select the option for your operating system: Windows, Mac-Intel and Mac-Apple Silicon (M chips)
Windows Users: You may see a warning that the app might be malicious. This is a general Microsoft caution for new applications. Please dismiss the warning and proceed with the installation; the application is digitally signed and safe.
- Select Your Printers: Once you have installed and launched the application, you'll be prompted to select your hardware from the dropdown menus at the top of the page. This selection is saved locally to your packing station, meaning you won't need to change it unless you replace your hardware.
- Test Printing and Navigation: There is no dedicated "test print" button. To test your setup, try shipping an order, printing an invoice, or printing an item barcode from the packing screen.
Packing App vs. Workstation App: What's the Difference?
The Packing App is not a complete replacement for the Workstation App. They serve different printing needs and maintain independent configurations. Please review our article, How to Set Up a Workstation, for more information about the Workstation App.
| Feature | ShipHero Packing App | ShipHero Workstation App (Print Listener) |
| Main Goal | Streamline and simplify packing setup and local desktop printing from the Packing App interface. | Serve as a bridge/listener for the web and mobile apps to communicate with local hardware (printers/scales). |
| Recommended Use | General printing of labels and invoices from a desktop using the Packing App interface. | Necessary for printing from the ShipHero Mobile App or from other parts of the web application. |
| Printing Method | Communicates directly to local printer and scale, often considered more efficient for the packing process. | Mediates the communication between the ShipHero cloud/apps and the local hardware. |
Hardware & System Troubleshooting
Use this guide to resolve common issues with hardware connectivity and configuration within the Packing App.
| Issue | Resolution Action |
| Hardware not in list | Open the Utilities menu and select Reload Hardware to refresh the list of available printers and scales. If it still doesn't appear, ensure the hardware is correctly configured on your computer's operating system, and try again. |
| Printer configuration in the Packing App is different than the Workstation | The Packing App maintains its own settings. It does not sync with Workstation settings. |
| Scale is unresponsive | Scales can occasionally freeze. Unplug the scale from the power or USB source and plug it back in to reset the connection. |
| Accessing support logs | Open the Utilities menu and select Open Log Directory. |