Review and Manage Your Additional Tablet Monthly Subscriptions

Last updated: Jun 30, 2026, 3:18 PM

This guide explains the "Additional Tablet Monthly Subscriptions" on your Subscriptions page.

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Every Toast device that runs Toast software needs an active software subscription. This article explains the per-device-type subscription line items on your Subscriptions page and your Toast invoice, what to do when a device prompts you to purchase a subscription, and how to keep your subscription count in line with the devices you actually use.

 

Before You Begin

Applies to: Toast Web, Toast POS

 

Permissions needed:

  • 8.1 Financial Accounts (required to view and manage subscriptions)
  • 4.1 Sales Reports (required to view Device Hub)
  • 8.5 Toast Shop Purchases (required to purchase a new device subscription)

 

What you'll accomplish: Identify the device software subscription line items on your account, match them against the devices you actually use, and route to the right place to add, cancel, or transfer a subscription.

 

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What the Line Items on Your Subscriptions Page Mean

Every Toast device that runs Toast software has its own monthly subscription. On your Subscriptions page and your Toast invoice, each device type has its own line-item name:

 

Line itemWhat it covers
Software Monthly SubscriptionYour first POS terminal—the primary device on your account
Additional Tablet Software SubscriptionsEach additional POS terminal beyond the first
Handheld SoftwareEach Toast Go® handheld device
Kitchen Display Screen SoftwareEach Kitchen Display System (KDS) device
Kiosk SoftwareEach Kiosk device

 

Each line item on your invoice shows the per-device rate and the quantity of devices covered. The Amount column multiplies rate by quantity—for example, if you have three handhelds, the Handheld Monthly Subscription line shows the per-handheld rate times three.

 

To see all your active subscriptions and their per-month cost, log in to Toast Web and navigate to Toast account > My products > Subscriptions. For a full walkthrough of the Subscriptions page, see Review and Manage Your Toast Subscriptions.

 

To see what device each device software subscription is linked to, each subscription should list the name of the linked device (i.e. Handheld 1), and that device's serial number.

 

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Review Your Device Subscriptions Against the Devices You Use

Device subscriptions are tied to specific device serial numbers. To see which devices are licensed and which are not, use Device Hub in Toast Web. For details, see Device Hub Overview. If you need to update which devices are tied to each of your subscriptions—you retired a tablet, returned a handheld, or upgraded a KDS screen—review your subscriptions and adjust the count so you only pay for what you use.

 

  1. Log in to Toast Web.
  2. Navigate to Toast account > My products > Subscriptions.
  3. Compare the active count for Additional Tablet Monthly Subscriptions, Handheld Monthly Subscription, and Kitchen display screen against the devices you actually use.
  4. To investigate a specific device, navigate to Toast Web > Device Hub and locate the device by name or serial number. Device Hub shows the subscription status for each individual device.

 

Expected outcome: You can see whether your subscription count for each device type matches the number of devices in use. If the count is too high, follow the steps below to cancel a subscription. If a specific device is unsubscribed when it should be active, see "Why Am I Seeing a 'Subscription Required' Warning on My Device?" below.

 

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Cancel a Subscription for a Device You No Longer Use

If you retired a tablet, handheld, or KDS screen and the matching subscription is still active, request a cancellation from the Subscriptions page. For the full cancellation procedure—including what happens after you request a cancellation and when billing actually stops—see Remove a Product From Your Toast Account, specifically the "Adjust Subscriptions for Handhelds, KDS Screens, and Additional Terminals" section.

 

Important: Be sure you are only canceling subscriptions for devices you are no longer using. If you are unsure which devices a subscription applies to, use Device Hub to confirm—or contact Customer Care before requesting the cancellation. Once a device subscription is canceled and billing stops, the device may stop working unless its subscription is restored.

 

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Why Am I Seeing a "Subscription Required" Warning on My Device?

If a Toast device displays a warning to purchase a device software subscription—even on a device you have been using for a long time—the device is not currently linked to an active Toast software subscription. Common reasons a device may need a new subscription include the device being moved between locations, being purchased secondhand, or having had its previous subscription removed or updated. Toast does not bill retroactively for past usage during this period.

 

After the warning first appears, the device continues to work normally for 14 days so you can resolve the issue without disrupting service. Once that 14-day window ends, the device locks until a subscription is purchased. The 14 days begin when you log in to Toast on the device—not from cumulative usage time.

 

There are two ways to resolve this error:

 

  1. From Toast Web: Log in to Toast Web and navigate to Toast Web > Device Hub. Locate the device marked as Unlicensed and follow the on-screen prompts to purchase and activate the subscription.
  2. From the device: Scan the QR code on the warning screen and follow the prompts.

 

Expected outcome: The subscription is purchased and activated, and the warning clears from the device. The new subscription appears on your Subscriptions page and on your next invoice.

 

For more on what the warning means, who in your organization can manage device licenses, and how Toast handles devices added or replaced, see Device Licensing FAQ.

 

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Transfer a Subscription to a New Device

Managing your subscriptions can be done one of two ways:

 

  • When you order the new device in Toast Shop, select the Replacement option during checkout. The new device's serial number is associated with the existing subscription, so no new subscription is added and no separate transfer is needed. For details, see the "Replace a Broken or Upgraded Device Without Adding a New Subscription" section of Remove a Product From Your Toast Account.
  • If you need to transfer subscriptions after purchasing: You can move a subscription between unrelated devices directly in Device Hub; see the "Transfer Existing Subscriptions and Remove Inactive Devices" section in Device Hub Overview. Note: This tool only applies if your devices are enrolled in device licensing and if you see licensed devices in your Device Hub.

 

If you need to transfer a subscription between devices at different locations, please reach out to Customer Support.

 

Important: If you are ordering a new device through Toast Shop to replace an existing one, use the Replacement option during checkout. That option associates the new device serial number with your existing subscription instead of creating a new one. See the "Replace a Broken or Upgraded Device Without Adding a New Subscription" section of Remove a Product From Your Toast Account for the full Toast Shop replacement flow.

 

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Before You Contact Customer Care

Subscription transfers, billing corrections, retroactive credit requests, and other account-level changes are not self-service. Before starting a chat with Customer Care about a device subscription, gather the following so the agent can act on your account immediately:

 

  • The exact line-item name as it appears on your Subscriptions page or invoice—for example, Software Subscription, Additional Tablet Monthly Subscriptions, Handheld Monthly Subscription, or Kitchen display screen
  • The serial number of any specific device involved (you can find this in Device Hub or on the device itself)
  • The reason for the change—retired device, broken device, replacement device, no longer using, switching locations
  • The most recent invoice number if the issue involves a charge that already happened
  • A note about anything in flight—a cancellation already requested, a billing hold on the account, a recent device return—so the agent does not duplicate work

 

Chat is available in Toast Web by selecting the Customer Care button at the bottom right of any page. For phone numbers and other channels, see Contact Customer Support.

 

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Frequently Asked Questions

How are device subscriptions billed?

Device subscriptions are billed based on your account's active subscription count for each device type, not on specific device serial numbers. Make sure the count of active subscriptions matches the count of devices you actually use—too few subscriptions and a device will eventually lock; too many and you are paying for devices that are no longer in service.

 

Can I use one subscription to cover a handheld and a tablet?

No, you cannot use one subscription to cover a handheld and a tablet. Handhelds, POS terminals, and Kitchen Display System (KDS) devices each have their own subscription line item, and they cannot be interchanged. A Handheld Monthly Subscription cannot cover a tablet, and an Additional Tablet Monthly Subscription cannot cover a handheld.

 

What's the difference between "Handheld Monthly Subscription" and "Additional Tablet Monthly Subscriptions"?

Handheld Monthly Subscription is the per-device subscription for each Toast Go® handheld on your account. Additional Tablet Monthly Subscriptions is the per-device subscription for each additional POS terminal beyond the first. The first POS terminal is billed under Software Subscription. Each device type has its own line item because each requires a different subscription entitlement.

 

Also asked as:

  • What's the difference between handheld software and additional tablet software subscription?

 

Why am I being charged for a tablet I don't use anymore?

You are likely still being charged because the subscription for the retired device is still active. Toast bills based on the count of active subscriptions, not on whether devices are in use. To stop the charge, cancel the subscription on the Subscriptions page. See Cancel a Subscription for a Device You No Longer Use above.

 

Also asked as:

  • Why am I paying for a subscription on a device I retired?
  • I have fewer devices than subscriptions—why?

 

I've been paying for subscriptions for years—why is one of my devices suddenly asking me to purchase a new one?

A device may show a "Subscription Required" warning even on an account that has been paying for subscriptions for a long time. This usually means the specific device is not currently linked to an active subscription on your account—even if your overall subscription count for that device type is otherwise correct. To resolve, see Why Am I Seeing a "Subscription Required" Warning on My Device? above. To check which devices have subscriptions and which do not, use Device Hub.

 

Also asked as:

  • Why is my POS suddenly saying subscription required?
  • I already pay for subscriptions—why this warning?

 

Where can I see all of my device subscriptions and which device each one is assigned to?

You can see all of your device subscriptions and which device each one is assigned to in two places. The Subscriptions page (Toast account > My products > Subscriptions) shows all active subscriptions with their per-month cost and billing period. Device Hub (Toast Web > Device Hub) shows each individual device by name and serial number, along with its current subscription status. Device Hub is the right place to check when one specific device is showing a warning.

 

How do I add a subscription for a new device I'm bringing online?

If you ordered a new device through Toast Shop, a subscription is automatically paired with the device at setup if one is available. If no subscription is available for the new device to pair with, the device prompts you to purchase one at first login—follow the prompts from the device, or activate it from Device Hub. See Why Am I Seeing a "Subscription Required" Warning on My Device? above for the activation flow.

 

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