Troubleshoot Your Toast Ethernet Cable Connection

If a wired Toast device shows "No internet connection" or "No network connection," or the Ethernet port has no lights, use these steps to check the cable, port, and switch.

In this Article:

• Before You Begin
• Quick Fix
• What a Healthy Ethernet Connection Looks Like
• If the Port Has a Solid Light but No Blinking Light
• If the Port Has No Lights at All
• If the Device Is Wired but Still Shows No Internet Connection
• If the Connection Keeps Dropping
• If the Network Switch Has No Lights
• Before You Contact Customer Care
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Related Articles

Before You Begin

Applies to: Toast Flex terminal, Toast Flex 3 terminal, Kitchen Display Screen (KDS) device, Toast printers, Ethernet switch, Toast router | Permissions needed: Physical access to the affected device, the cable, and any switch or router in the cable path. No Toast Web permissions are needed.

What you'll accomplish: Confirm whether your Ethernet cable and port are healthy, and resolve the most common physical-connection problems that take a wired device offline.

Back to top

Quick Fix

Use this table to match what you see to the most likely cause and the first thing to try.

Back to top

What a Healthy Ethernet Connection Looks Like

Ethernet is the cable that carries data between your Toast devices and your network. Toast uses wired Ethernet for stationary devices such as terminals and KDS devices because it is more stable than Wi-Fi and is not affected by wireless interference, which helps keep your devices online.

Back to top

If the Port Has a Solid Light but No Blinking Light

The cable is physically connected but data is not passing through. This is possibly due to an internet service provider issue. Try turning the terminal off and on again or unplug and then plug in the cables in case the connection is too loose.

Back to top

If the Port Has No Lights at All

No lights on the port usually means the cable is not seated properly, the device is not powered on, or the switch the cable runs to is off.

1. Unplug and firmly reseat the Ethernet cable at both ends until it clicks in.
2. Confirm the device is powered on.
3. Confirm the Ethernet switch the cable connects to, such as a TP-Link switch, is powered on.

Expected outcome: A link light appears on the port and the device reconnects. If the port still has no lights, continue with the switch steps below or replace the cable with one you know works.

Back to top

If the Device Is Wired but Still Shows No Internet Connection

When a hardwired device shows "No internet connection" or "No network connection" even though the Ethernet cable is plugged in, the device may still be set to use Wi-Fi, or the issue may be with your internet or router rather than the cable.

1. On the hardwired device, swipe down from the top of the screen and confirm Wi-Fi is disabled. Stationary Toast devices should use Ethernet, not Wi-Fi.
2. Confirm the device is connected to Ethernet in its settings. For the device-side steps, see Verify Your Internet Connection.

Expected outcome: The device reconnects to the network. If every device is offline at once, the issue is likely your router or internet rather than a single cable. See Outages and Disruptions: Troubleshoot Internet or Network Connection Issues.

Back to top

If the Connection Keeps Dropping

A connection that works and then drops a few minutes later usually points to a loose or failing cable, or a device that keeps switching between Ethernet and Wi-Fi.

1. Reseat the Ethernet cable at both ends, and try a different cable if you have one available.
2. On hardwired devices, confirm Wi-Fi is disabled so the device does not jump between connections.

Expected outcome: The device holds a stable connection. If devices continue to drop offline while still connected to Ethernet, contact Toast Customer Care.

Back to top

If the Network Switch Has No Lights

If the cable runs to an Ethernet switch, such as a TP-Link switch, and the switch has no lights, work through the switch itself.

1. If the switch is not on, power it off and then on again, or move its power plug to a different outlet.
2. If the switch powers on but the network still does not work, replace the cable running to it.
3. If the switch does not power on at all, replace the switch.

Note: To add or replace an Ethernet switch, visit Toast Shop.

Expected outcome: The switch lights up and your devices reconnect. If the cable runs into a wall jack and the jack appears to be the problem, the jack may need repair. Repairs to in-wall cabling may require an outside resource such as an electrician, as Toast does not provide service for intensive cable work.

Back to top

Before You Contact Customer Care

Complete these checks first so Customer Care has what it needs to help quickly:

• Note if you see any lights on the ports
• Reseat the cable at both ends and try a known-good cable.
• Confirm the device is powered on and that Wi-Fi is disabled on hardwired devices.
• Confirm any switch or router in the cable path is powered on.

If the connection still does not work after these checks, contact Toast Customer Care.

Back to top

Frequently Asked Questions

Should my Toast devices use Wi-Fi or Ethernet?

Stationary Toast devices should use Ethernet rather than Wi-Fi. Toast recommends a wired Ethernet connection for terminals and KDS devices because it is more stable than Wi-Fi and is not affected by wireless interference, which helps keep your devices online. Handheld devices such as the Toast Go® 2 use Wi-Fi instead.

Also asked as:

• • Should it be on Wi-Fi or Ethernet?
  • Are Toast terminals Ethernet or Wi-Fi?
  • Can I use a station with just Wi-Fi and no cable?

What kind of Ethernet cable does my Toast hardware use?

Cat5e and Cat6.

Also asked as:

• • Will a Cat 5 Ethernet cable work for my POS?
  • What kind of cable do the printers use?
  • Where do I order a new Ethernet cable?

Back to top

Related Articles

• Outages and Disruptions: Troubleshoot Internet or Network Connection Issues
• Verify Your Internet Connection
• Set Up Your Toast Network
• Set Up Your Toast Router
• Get Help With the Toast Printing Hub

Back to top