Test Mode Overview

Last updated: Mar 25, 2026, 1:46 PM

Learn how to enable and disable Test Mode for onboarding and training purposes.

This article is for customers who are both live (customers that are already using Toast, but go back into Test Mode to validate that your restaurant is set up properly) and pre-live (customers that are still onboarding with Toast, and are in Test Mode). If you are a pre-live customer, you can use your terminal in test mode on Wi-Fi before it is hardwired during your installation appointment. 

If your restaurant is in Test Mode and you're ready to go live ahead of your scheduled go-live date, please reach out to your Onboarding Consultant for additional assistance. If you're unsure of who your Onboarding Consultant is, please start a live chat here with our Customer Support team. Chat is available in Toast Web and Payroll Web (blue support button in bottom right of every page) and the Support tab in the Toast Now app.


For more information on how to contact support view "How to Contact Customer Support" or go to support.toasttab.com.

If your account is doing Self-Service Onboarding, then you may disable Test Mode whenever you're ready. Please see the Go-Live section of the Self-Service Onboarding Guide to verify that you are good to go.



In this Article:

 

Test Mode Overview

Test Mode allows you to take your restaurant from being live and fully operational to being able to validate that your restaurant is set up properly before going live. In Test mode, you can simulate workflows and payments without affecting your sales data. You can use Test Mode as a tool to validate your settings and menu setup before going live with Toast. Settings like active discounts and promo codes will also be available in Test Mode.

Any orders placed and payments taken while in Test Mode will be removed and voided upon disabling Test Mode. If you are open for business and have left test mode, but choose to re-enter for any reason, any test payments applied to live orders while in test mode will be removed when you return to live mode. 
 
If you enable Test Mode from a device in your restaurant, it will put your entire restaurant in Test Mode. Test Mode cannot be isolated to a single device. We strongly discourage enabling Test Mode during your service hours at the risk of losing orders and payment data across your restaurant. If you're using it to train employees, it's critical to disable Test Mode when you are finished with training.

Note:

  • Test Mode does not automatically disable Online Ordering, which means you may want to turn off Online Ordering temporarily to prevent guests from placing and paying for orders while you're working in Test Mode. To learn how to turn off Online Ordering temporarily, please see this Support Center article Check Online Ordering Status. 
  • If Test Mode is enabled, cash management functionalities such as closing a drawer or starting a new drawer will be disabled, and inventory and/or item stock count will not be affected.


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Using Test Mode

Enable Test Mode

  1. You can enable Test Mode from the main menu on your POS by navigating to the Setup section and selecting Enable Test Mode.

    Enable Test Mode Option under Toast POS Dashboard - Setup Section

  2. Once selected, you'll be asked to confirm that you are enabling or disabling Test Mode. In the following example, we want to turn on Test Mode so we're going to select Enable Test Mode to confirm the change.
  3. After you clock in with Test Mode, you'll see a pop-up informing you that any payment taken in this mode will not be processed (to make it very clear that you are in Test Mode). This will appear on both the terminal and Toast Go® handheld.

    Restaurant in Test Mode pop-up Message

  4. When you select I understand, the dialog will close. If you select Switch user, you'll be brought to the passcode screen.
    1. Note: Only users with permission 7.2 Advanced Terminal Setup will have permission to exit Test Mode at this time. This is what users with these permissions will see:

      Restaurant in Test Mode pop-up Message

 

They can then disable Test Mode, which is covered in the next section.


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Disable Test Mode

  1. You can disable Test Mode from the main menu on your POS by navigating to the Setup section and selecting Disable Test Mode.

    Disable Test Mode Option under Toast POS Dashboard - Setup Section

  2. You'll then be asked to confirm that you are disabling Test Mode. Select Disable Test Mode to confirm the change.

Please note, test mode CANNOT be disabled during a service disruption or offline event.

 

If you need further assistance disabling Test Mode and returning to live mode, please start a chat with our Customer Support team in Toast Web by clicking the blue button on the bottom right corner of any page or by selecting the Support icon at the bottom of the screen in the Toast Now App. Don’t have the app yet? Download it today on Apple App Store or on the Google Play Store. 


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How Do I Know If My Restaurant is in Test Mode?

Test Mode on Toast POS

Test Mode will be indicated on your POS by the words "TEST MODE: PAYMENTS WILL NOT BE PROCESSED" displayed in the check details. The top of the screen will also show a persistent red banner reading "Restaurant in Test Mode. Orders placed should be for testing only". A modal will appear when you tap on the red test mode banner if you want to learn more.

 

Test Mode on Toast POS

 

If you use Orders Hub, this is what your TEST MODE screen will look like:
 

Orders Hub test mode screen

 

Printed kitchen tickets will also have TEST MODE displayed at the top of the ticket.  

 

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Test Mode on Toast Web

Test Mode will be indicated by a yellow banner displayed at the top of your Toast Web homepage, similar to the banner shown below.  

 

Test Mode yellow banner

 

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