SKU and barcode generator

Generate missing SKU or barcode values for selected Shopify variants. Assign writes these values back to your store.

Choose the destination field

Choose barcode to fill the variant’s Barcode field, or sku to fill its SKU field for inventory tracking. In your label template, link the barcode element to the field you filled: Barcode or SKU. Assigning a value does not change the template’s data link.

Shopify POS supports scanning and searching by both barcode and SKU. Use a value that identifies the intended variant, and test a printed label in your POS workflow before printing a batch. See Shopify’s product search guide.

Assign missing values

Which screen do you see?

Choose the description that matches your app to see its steps.

New interfaceAssign... with Field to Update and Update Option Earlier interfaceAssign barcodes & SKUs with Assign to and Create code using

New interface

1. Open Product labels → Product selection and add the variants to Ready to print.
2. Choose Assign… in the bottom action bar. On smaller screens, open More actions first.
3. Select sku or barcode under Field to Update.
4. Choose an Update Option: 13-digit number, 8-digit number, or a sync option.
5. To copy SKU into barcode, select barcode → Sync with sku. To copy barcode into SKU, select sku → Sync with barcode.
6. Review the counts and click Update. Existing destination values are skipped; a sync also skips a blank source value.

Earlier interface

1. Open Product labels and use Import → Products to add the variants to the table.
2. Open Assign → assign Barcodes & SKUs.
3. In Assign barcodes & SKUs, choose Barcode or SKU (Stock keeping unit) under Assign to.
4. Under Create code using, choose 8-digit number or 13-digit number.
5. Click Assign. Existing values in the chosen field are skipped.

This old dialog does not offer the new interface’s sync options. To copy an existing SKU or barcode in this interface, edit the corresponding Shopify variant field.

Before assigning

• The generator fills missing values; edit existing values in Shopify if they need changing.
• Both 8-digit number and 13-digit number can produce values that duplicate codes already in your store or values from another assignment. Neither option guarantees uniqueness across your store. Check for duplicates before printing, and correct any duplicates in Shopify.
• Sync copies the source value as it is. If several variants share a SKU or barcode, syncing that field also copies the duplicates.
• Generated numbers are internal identifiers, not assigned retail GTINs. If a retailer or marketplace requires a GTIN, use the product’s assigned GTIN or obtain one through GS1.
• An 8- or 13-digit length alone does not make a value valid for EAN-8 or EAN-13. Use CODE128 for internally generated values unless your workflow requires another format and you have a valid value for it.
• If supplier barcodes already exist, keep those values and link your barcode element to the correct field.

See Barcode Formats and Link to Data.