Time needed: 3–5 minutes. You'll need: a Xero subscription with permission to authorise apps, and a Sterling account.
Step 1 — Sign up for Sterling
Go to app.histerling.com/signup/xero and create your account. You can use a work email, or click Sign in with Xero to create your account from your Xero identity.
When you choose Sign in with Xero, Sterling redirects you to Xero and asks for a minimal identity-only authorisation (your name and email — no accounting data is shared at this point).
Screenshot: Sterling signup page with "Sign in with Xero" option.
Step 2 — Choose "Connect your accounting system"
After signup, Sterling's onboarding wizard opens on Step 1 of 3 — Connect your accounting system. Click the Xero card.
Not ready? Click Skip for now — you can connect from Skills → Ledger Connections at any time.
Step 3 — Authorise Sterling in Xero
You'll be redirected to Xero's authorisation screen.
Choose the organisation to connect. If you have access to multiple Xero organisations, pick the one you want from the dropdown.
Review the Organisation data and User account information Sterling is requesting. (For the full list of scopes and why each is needed, see Data sharing, permissions and security.)
Click Allow access.
Xero sends you back to Sterling. You'll see a confirmation that the organisation is connected.
Step 4 — Let Sterling sync your Xero data
As soon as the connection is active, Sterling pulls the pieces of your organisation it needs:
Chart of Accounts — so it can code transactions correctly.
Tax rates — so it applies the right rate for your jurisdiction.
Contacts — so it can match invoices to existing suppliers.
Recent invoices & bills — so it can detect duplicates.
Organisation settings — for multi‑currency, tracking categories, etc.
A small organisation typically finishes syncing in 1–2 minutes. Large Charts of Accounts may take longer. You can start using Sterling as soon as you see the Connected status — syncing continues in the background.
Step 5 — (Optional) Enable Xero SSO for your team
If you want everyone on your Sterling team to sign in with their Xero account:
Go to Settings → Security.
Under How should your team sign in?, select Xero — Sign in with Xero accounts.
Add your allowed email domain(s) and click Save changes.
From now on, team members type their email on Sterling's login page and Sterling redirects them to Xero to authenticate.
How Sterling behaves after setup
Drafts only. Sterling files bills as Draft in Xero. A human approves them — Sterling never posts approved bills, moves money, or reconciles.
No deletion. Sterling never deletes anything in Xero. If you disconnect, Sterling's local copy is soft‑deleted; your Xero records are untouched.
Granular consent. Sterling only requests the scopes it needs for the features you use. Payroll scopes, for example, are requested only if you enable the Payroll skill.
You're ready
Connect additional organisations: Managing your Xero connection(s).
Questions about what Sterling can see and do: Data sharing, permissions and security.