When a restaurant POS stops syncing, orders, inventory, and reporting can break quickly. Use this practical checklist to isolate the issue and restore stable operations.
1) Check Internet Stability First
Intermittent connectivity is a common cause. Confirm router uptime, packet drops, and local network congestion before changing POS settings.
2) Verify Device Time and Date
Incorrect device clock settings can break sync tokens and API calls. Ensure all terminals use automatic time sync.
3) Confirm POS App Version Consistency
Mixed app versions across devices may cause sync conflicts. Update all terminals to the same supported version.
4) Re-authenticate User Sessions
Expired authentication sessions can silently fail. Sign out/in on affected devices and re-test core workflows.
5) Review Integration Status
If accounting, delivery, or menu integrations fail, sync queues can back up. Check integration dashboards and API error logs.
6) Inspect Offline Queue Behavior
Some systems queue transactions offline and sync later. Confirm queue depth and whether failed records need manual retry.
7) Validate Menu and Modifier Changes
Large bulk edits or malformed modifier groups can cause publish/sync failures. Roll back recent menu changes and test again.
8) Restart Critical Hardware
Reboot terminals, network switches, and receipt printer hubs in sequence. This often clears stale local service states.
9) Escalate with a Structured Ticket
Send support a clear report: timestamps, affected devices, error messages, recent changes, and failed transaction IDs.
Preventive Best Practices
- Schedule updates outside peak hours
- Maintain a documented incident playbook
- Monitor sync health daily on manager checklist
- Keep at least one fallback payment flow ready
Bottom Line
Most POS sync failures are recoverable quickly with a disciplined troubleshooting sequence. Start with connectivity, then app consistency, then integration health.
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