POS Device Setup Overview
Last updated: Jan 29, 2026, 1:39 PM
Initial Device Setup Workflow
The device setup tool is available on each Toast device. When the Toast app is restarted, your device will walk you through a series of setup questions, including:
- Primary Mode: What screen should employees see first
- Device Name
- Digital Receipts: Help your guests checkout, sign, and pay faster
- Pre-Authorization: Allow credit card pre-authorization on the device
- Auto-Fire Device: Primary device to fire scheduled and online orders
- Receipt Printer: Where should this device print guest receipts?
- Open Cash Drawer: Open the cash drawer when a cash payment is made?
After completing the flow described above, take the time to go through the Device Setup tool. The settings below are device-specific and can only be configured on each individual device. By selecting each line item on the device, you can easily set your preferred setting.
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Device Setup
Follow these steps on any terminal (including a Kitchen Display System (KDS) to enter Device Setup:
- After entering your passcode on your Toast Point of Sale (POS) device, select the back arrow in the upper-left corner of the screen.
- Scroll down and select Device Setup under the Setup header.
Device Name - Name your device so your staff can easily distinguish them apart. The name of your device will appear in the Closed Drawer Report and other areas as well.
Primary Mode - Select the default screen to appear upon logging in with a passcode. They include:
- Table Service
- Quick Order
- Payment Terminal
- Pending Orders
- Kitchen Display/Expo
- Orders Hub
Screen Timeout - Customize the time in minutes/seconds Toast will wait before returning to the passcode login screen. Shorter times are typically more secure. You can still select switch user and manually log yourself out before the timeout. Note that a device set up as a KDS screen will not return to the passcode login screen automatically. The screen timeout setting will be used to determine whether the device transitions to the main menu or the passcode screen when a user hits the back arrow button to close the KDS. If the KDS has been opened beyond the screen timeout setting without interaction, the back arrow button will return the user to the passcode login screen.
If you'd like to force your employees to be logged out of your POS screen as soon as they're idle, be sure to select the shortest time available.
Receipt Printer - Choose the printer this device should print to. All pre-configured printers will show up and can be selected.
Digital Receipts - When set to yes, the guest will be able to enter a tip, sign (if required), and input their information to receive a text or email receipt. Restaurants will also need to set up digital receipts in Toast Web. Learn setup steps in this Toast Central article, .
Guest Feedback - This will allow the Guest Feedback workflow to appear on your handheld device. Note, that this feature must also be enabled on Toast's back end. For more information, see .
Show Suggested Tip Amounts - This setting only appears when Digital Receipts is set to Yes. This allows you to enable or disable suggested tip amounts on your digital receipts.
Always Print Receipt - This allows restaurants to always print a physical copy of the receipt if the SMS/email/no receipt option is selected.
Allow Cash Payments - Select yes if this device has a cash drawer assigned to it in Toast Web and takes payments in cash. If you previously set up cash drawers in Toast Web, then you'll only need to select yes or no here. For more information on setting up cash drawers, check out this article, .
Cash Receipt Options - Choose to prompt, print, or not print a receipt for cash payments. This gives the ability to speed up cash payments.
Open Cash Drawer - Select yes if the device is attached to a cash drawer and needs to open for each cash payment. This will assign all cash payments to the drawer selected. Keep this disabled if staff keep their cash until the end of the shift.
Re-enabled Hidden Menus - This option will appear when you have a menu that has been hidden from everyone. The prompt will allow you to re-enable any hidden menus you need access to from this device.
Order Auto-Firing - Important for Online Ordering - Set the device as the auto-firing device for the restaurant. This device will then be able to manage scheduled or auto-approved online orders by auto-firing tickets to the kitchen when necessary. Only one device should be set as the auto-firing device. Once you’ve selected an auto-firing device, make sure to navigate to the page in Toast Web and set it there as well in addition to the Approval Mode.
Revenue Center - Assign the device to a specific revenue center to better understand what portion of sales comes from each service area of the restaurant. This is especially helpful if a device is dedicated to each area of the restaurant. Learn more:
Primary Service Area - Assign each device to a default service area. Service areas that were configured prior to the firmware update will appear for selection. To learn how to create service areas in Toast Web, check out this article, .
Device Default Dining Option - Set the device to automatically assign the selected dining option for all orders taken on that device. For example, you might have a specific device used for takeout orders, or even more specifically, curbside. All previously configured dining options will appear. To learn more about dining options, check out this article, .
Order Purge Threshold - This option allows the user to adjust the number of stored orders on the device throughout the day.
Payments on Kiosk - If your device is used as a Kiosk, the device can take credit card payments. If you'd like to allow your guests to be able to pay directly at the kiosk, make sure to enable this setting.
Dark Mode - With the Toast POS, you can customize your POS to be in both light mode and new dark mode. Learn how to customize these settings in
Additional Device Setup -
- Override Blank Tab Name Prompt
- Device Group
- Bluetooth Easy Pairing
- Force Mirroring on Device on the Second Screen
- POS Display Theme
For more information, watch our full .
Kitchen Setup
New Ticket Sound - Allow a notification sound when a new ticket appears on the screen.
Default Page - This feature is for multiple kitchen display screens. Select the page you want to view from this device.
Kitchen Expediter - Selecting Yes for Kitchen Expediter will show a consolidated view of all prep station tickets. This will grey out the prep station option. Selecting No will prompt you to choose which prep station tickets appear on the screen. Need to learn more about kitchen ticket routing? Check out this article: .
Ticket Display Options - Filter the tickets which will display on the KDS by selecting the courses and dining options applicable to this station. This is especially useful if your device is specifically used for takeout and delivery orders only. All previously configured dining options will appear for selection.
Two-Level Fulfillment - Allow for 2 expediter screens. Fulfilling an order on the first expediter screen only visually changes tickets shown on the second expediter screen. The second expediter screen is responsible for final order fulfillment. This option will be grayed-out if Kitchen Expediter is set to no. Note: This needs to be set up in Toast Web first under Kitchen Setup. Learn more about it in this Toast Central article, .
Prep Stations - If prep station is selected for this device, select what prep station this specific device is assigned to. All previously created prep stations will appear. If Kitchen Expediter is set to yes, prep stations will be grayed-out.
Non-Printing Prep Stations - Select the stations that should not print tickets for orders from this specific device. This is commonly used for a bar terminal that may not need tickets printed at the bar station.
Auto-print Fulfilled Tickets - Select which stations should print tickets automatically when the entire ticket is marked as fulfilled.
Double Tap to Fulfill, Unfulfill - Select whether you prefer to double-tap to fulfill or unfulfill a ticket.
Average Fulfillment Time - If your kitchen staff needs to see the average fulfillment timer, select Yes, show timers. This will allow them to see the average time it is taking to fulfill kitchen tickets on the KDS.
Additional Kitchen Setup -
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Production Items
Payment Processing
Credit Card Pre-Authorization - If you accept pre-authorization at your restaurant, make sure to enable it first on the Payment Options page in Toast Web. Learn more about it in this Toast Central article, . If you had it set up prior to the firmware update, simply toggle this setting to yes or allow.
EMV Enabled - For terminals that take payment, make sure to toggle this back to on. Also, check to make sure that the card readers showing up in the section below (Card Readers) are appearing correctly.
Card Reader Model - Select which card reader model is being used with your tablet.
- For Elo terminals using the built-in card reader, you do not have to make a selection here.
- For the Toast Flex terminal, select BBPos Chipper 2X. You can learn more about this option by checking out our Toast Tap™ installation guides.
Default Item Selection Mode - Allow staff to edit multiple items on an order at once by multi-selecting.
Enable Stock Keeping Unit (SKU)s - If your restaurant uses SKUs and a barcode scanner, then toggle this yes. If you already had imported SKUs into Toast's back-end, then you should be all set. To learn more about using a barcode scanner with Toast, check out this Toast Central article, .
Enable Quote Time - If set to yes, the device will show the most up-to-date takeout and delivery quote times in the action bar.
Menu Grid Dimensions - Customize the size of your menu to allow for more/fewer buttons on the page. Remember that the button size will change as you add/remove rows and columns.
Use Open View on the POS
Open view simplifies order-taking by displaying items and modifiers all at once, a critical innovation for establishments with a high volume of highly customizable menu items. For example, your staff taking complicated coffee orders can input a guest’s exact preferences in any order on a Toast POS terminal via the new layout, which displays all the modifiers at once. The open view feature is recommended for customers with small to medium-sized menus where speed and accuracy across numerous modifiers are key. It is perfect if you run a quick service, high-volume business like cafes, bars/breweries, food trucks, etc. See for more information.