The POS is offline or "can not communicate with the others

What the pink terminal name and the red sign-in warning mean, what keeps working without the internet, and what to do.

There are two different signs:

• The terminal name turns pink: the internet is down. The POS keeps working; see below for what waits until it's back.
• A red warning on the sign-in screen: "This terminal can not communicate with the others. Do not use unless necessary." This terminal has lost the internet and can't reach the other terminals. Use another terminal if you can.

#If you see the red warning

1. Check the terminal's network: is the cable plugged in, or is Wi-Fi connected?
2. Use another terminal for now. The warned terminal still works, but its orders and sales won't show on the other terminals or in closeout numbers until it reconnects.
3. Once it's back on the network, the warning clears by itself and its sales catch up.

#What still works without the internet

• Signing in, clocking in and out, and taking orders. Time punches are sent when the connection returns.
• Sending orders to kitchen printers and kitchen screens that have an IP address, over your own network.
• Terminals keep sharing orders and tables with each other over your own network. The terminal that coordinates this shows - Main after its name on the sign-in screen.
• Cash payments, and card payments if Store and Forward is on. See Card payments while the internet is down.

#What waits for the internet

• Card payments when Store and Forward is off.
• Gift card lookups, payments and loading.
• Text and email receipts.
• Changes made in the back office, and the back office reports.
• Closing the card batch.

Related: A kitchen screen isn't getting orders.