A POS crash during dinner service or a WiFi drop during a busy Saturday can cost hundreds in lost sales. This page covers the most common restaurant tech failures in San Diego, what to check yourself first, and when it's time to call a pro.
Check internet connection first — most cloud POS systems (Toast, Square, Clover) require live internet. Restart the router, then the POS terminal. If on cellular backup, confirm signal strength. If the problem persists across a reboot, contact your POS vendor's 24/7 support line — not a generic IT shop.
Check paper roll (most common cause), then USB/ethernet cable. Clear any paper jam. If the printer is network-connected, confirm it has the same IP address the POS is pointing to — routers sometimes reassign IPs after a restart. Set a static IP on the printer to prevent this permanently.
Restaurant environments are tough on WiFi — thick walls, metal equipment, microwave interference. Solutions in order of cost: (1) move your router to a central location, (2) add a mesh node or access point in the kitchen, (3) use 5 GHz for front-of-house tablets, 2.4 GHz for back-of-house (better range). Budget $150–$400 for a proper restaurant-grade mesh setup.
Force restart the device (hold power button 10 seconds). Check that the POS app hasn't logged out. If running iPads, confirm iOS auto-updates haven't changed permissions for the POS app. Many restaurant POS outages after iOS updates are actually permissions issues, not connectivity.
Tap the chip reader gently on the counter to clear debris — this solves about 30% of card reader errors. Re-pair Bluetooth readers. If errors continue, the card reader may need a firmware update from your payment processor. Call their support line with your serial number ready.
For general tech help across your San Diego business, see our Tech Help Hub or San Diego Tech Support page.
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