# Allocate an order to another account (child account)
URL: https://support.starshipit.com/articles/115001657023-allocate-an-order-to-another-account-child-account
Canonical: https://support.starshipit.com/articles/115001657023-allocate-an-order-to-another-account-child-account
Markdown: https://support.starshipit.com/articles/115001657023-allocate-an-order-to-another-account-child-account.md
Updated: 2026-10-28

> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://support.starshipit.com/llms.txt).

> Manually allocate orders to a linked account or automate allocation with shipping rules.

Allocate an order to another linked Starshipit account manually or with a shipping rule. Starshipit calls linked sub-accounts **child accounts** in the app.

## Before you begin

* [Set up or link the destination account](/articles/360001575375-set-up-a-child-account) first.
* Work in the account that holds the order, with access to assign orders.
* Use an order in **New**. Direct sibling assignment excludes printed, shipped, archived, deleted and return orders.
* For a direct move between child accounts, both accounts must be eligible linked accounts under the same parent. Multi-user and multi-workstation accounts are excluded.

## Allow direct assignment between child accounts

Direct sibling assignment is available in **UI 2.0** and is off by default. The parent enables it separately for each child account that will **send** orders:

1. In the parent account, go to **Settings > [Child accounts](https://next.starshipit.com/settings/child-accounts)**.
2. Edit the sending child account.
3. Select **Allow sending orders to other child accounts**.
4. Select **Save child account**, then reopen the account to confirm the setting.

This permits the sending account to assign eligible New orders to other eligible child accounts under that parent. It does not enable the reverse direction; enable the option on the other account too if it needs to send orders back.

When the option is off, use the existing two-step route: assign the New order back to the parent, then assign it from the parent to the destination child account.

## Manually assign an order

<!-- tabs:start -->

<!-- tab:Classic UI -->

1. Go to **Orders > New** in the account holding the order.
2. Right-click the order or selected orders and choose **Assign** to another account.
3. Select the destination from the available accounts.

Classic UI uses the parent-to-child and child-to-parent assignment routes. For a direct move between sibling accounts, use UI 2.0.

<!-- tab:UI 2.0 -->

1. Go to **[Orders](https://next.starshipit.com/)** and open the New order you want to move.
2. Select **More actions > Assign to account**.
3. Select the destination account.
4. Select **Assign** and check the result.

<!-- tabs:end -->

Only destinations available to the current account appear. Parent accounts can assign to their linked child accounts; eligible children can assign back to the parent and, when enabled, directly to siblings.

## Verify the assignment

Open the destination account and find the order in **New**. Check its items, delivery address, shipping service and package details before printing. Confirm the order has moved out of the sending account's New list.

If an assignment fails, check the order in both accounts before trying again. Do not create a replacement order just because a transfer result is uncertain.

## Allocate imported orders with a rule

Use a rule in the parent account when orders should be routed consistently as they import. For example, route a group of destination postcodes to one child account:

1. Go to **Settings > [Rules](https://next.starshipit.com/settings/rules)** and add a rule.
2. Select **Destination postcode** and enter the postcodes.
3. Select **Assign to Another Account** as the action.
4. Select the destination account and save the rule.
5. Import an eligible order and confirm it reaches the intended account.

## Troubleshooting

### The sibling account is missing

Check the option on the **sending** child account, that both accounts belong to the same parent, and that neither is a multi-user or multi-workstation account. Reopen the order after saving the account setting. Use the parent route if direct sibling assignment is unavailable.

### The order cannot be assigned

For a sibling move, check that the order is still in New and is not a return or deleted order. An enabled account option does not make printed or shipped orders eligible.

### Orders re-import into the parent account

Manual assignment does not change your integration import logic. If auto-import and webhooks are still enabled on the parent account, the same order can be imported again.

To avoid this, use one approach consistently:

* **Manual workflow:** manually import and manually assign orders (with auto-import/webhooks disabled where required).
* **Automated workflow:** use **Assign to Another Account** rules with auto-import/webhooks enabled.

Avoid mixing both workflows for the same order stream.