Single Terminal Has No Network Connection

One of your Toast devices is offline or has no IP address while the rest of your devices work normally. Use this guide to trace the cable path and restore the connection.

In this Article:

• Before You Begin
• Overview Steps
• Quick Fix
• Check Device Status
• Check Network Connection Settings
  • Check USB-C Versus RJ-45 (Toast Flex 14 and Toast Flex 3)
• Trace the Ethernet Cable Path
• Confirm Printers and Switches Are Powered On
• Check for Cable Damage
• Power Cycle the Ethernet Connection
• Frequently Asked Questions
  • Only one of my devices says "No network connection"—what does that mean?
  • My Toast Flex connects to the network through a Printing Hub. How does that work?
  • Do I need to switch from DHCP to a static IP?
  • Can I restart or unplug the affected terminal?
  • What if all my devices are offline, not just one?
• Before You Contact Customer Care
• Related Articles

Before You Begin

Applies to: Toast Flex terminal, Toast Flex 3 terminal, KDS device, countertop terminal

Permissions needed: None—these are device-side checks any staff member can perform

What you'll accomplish: Restore the network connection on a single offline device while keeping any unsynced orders and payments safe

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Overview Steps

This is the quickest path that resolves the most common cause—a Wi-Fi setting in the wrong state, or a loose or unpowered piece of equipment in the cable path between the terminal and the router.

Required: physical access to the affected device, any printer or network switch in its cable path, and the Toast router. No Toast Web permissions are needed.

1. Check Device Status in the Toast app to confirm the device is offline.
2. Confirm exactly one network connection is enabled in device settings—Wi-Fi off, and either Ethernet or USB-C/RJ-45 set to match the cable physically connected.
3. Trace the Ethernet cable from the device toward the router. Confirm it is fully seated at every junction.
4. Confirm any printer, network switch, or access point in the cable path is plugged in and powered on.
5. Look for visible cable damage. Replace any cable in poor condition.
6. Unplug the Ethernet cable from the device, wait at least two minutes, then plug it back in.
7. If the device is still offline after these checks, see Before You Contact Customer Care.

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Quick Fix

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Check Device Status

Before tracing cables, confirm the device is actually offline rather than displaying a stale banner.

1. On the affected device, open the Toast app.
2. Select the overflow menu (three dots in the upper-right corner).
3. Select Device status.

Expected outcome: The Device Status screen shows whether the device is online or offline. If the screen reports the device is online, the issue may not be network-related—close the Toast app, reopen it, and re-check the banner.

If Device Status confirms the device is offline, continue with the next section.

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Check Network Connection Settings

Toast hardwired devices should have exactly one network connection enabled at a time. Having Wi-Fi and Ethernet enabled simultaneously, or having both USB-C and RJ-45 enabled on a Toast Flex 14 or Toast Flex 3, can cause conflicts that drop the device offline.

Use this step to confirm that the correct connection setting is enabled and that the device is receiving an IP address before you troubleshoot cables or network hardware.

1. Close out of the Toast app to return to the device's main menu.
2. Select the gear icon to open device Settings, then select Network & Internet > Wi-Fi.

   Checkpoint - Wi-Fi: Is Wi-Fi turned on?

   • If yes, toggle Wi-Fi off, then continue below.
   • If no, continue below.
3. In Network & Internet, select each Ethernet option.

Check USB-C Versus RJ-45 (Toast Flex 14 and Toast Flex 3)

— Toast Flex 14 and Toast Flex 3 terminals support two physical network connection types. Only the type that matches the cable physically connected to the device should be enabled in settings. Some Flex devices may have both USB-C and standard Ethernet (RJ-45) cabling in place. Please check your device for which cabling is present. 22" Flex does not support Ethernet over USB-C and requires a standard Ethernet cable for hardwiring.

USB-C carries power, Ethernet and data over the Power Plus cable from a Toast Printing Hub. Toast Flex 14 pairs with the TP200 Printing Hub; Toast Flex 3 pairs with the TP300 Printing Hub.

The USB-C cable may also go to a power brick. If connected to a power brick then typically an Ethernet cable would be expected.

RJ-45 is a standard Ethernet cable plugged directly into the device.

Checkpoint - USB-C IP: For Flex 3 or Flex 14: Does the USB-C cable connect to a printer? For 22" Flex skip to Ethernet RJ-45.

• If yes, continue below.
• If no, continue to next checkpoint.

IS USB-C enabled? If yes, does it show an IP address?

• If no, enable it, Does it show an IP address?
  • If yes, the device has a working USB-C connection. Ensure RJ-45 is disabled. Reopen the Toast app and check whether the offline banner clears.
  • If no, continue below.

Toggle USB-C off.

In Network & Internet, select RJ-45, then toggle RJ-45 on.

Checkpoint - Ethernet IP: Is a standard Ethernet cable present?

• If yes: is Ethernet RJ-45 enabled and show an IP address?
  • If yes, the device has a working network connection at the operating-system level. Reopen the Toast app and check whether the offline banner clears. If the banner persists, see Before You Contact Customer Care.
  • If no, continue to Trace the Ethernet Cable Path —

If neither USB-C cable to printer and standard Ethernet cable exist, your device may rely on Wi-Fi.

Expected outcome: The active connection type in settings matches the cable type physically connected to the device, and only one network connection is enabled at a time. If the device is still offline, continue to Trace the Ethernet Cable Path.

Note: For step-by-step screenshots of Wi-Fi and Ethernet settings on Android 12L (Toast Flex 14, Toast Flex 22, Elo V4) and Android 8.1 (Elo V3), see Disable Wi-Fi on Hardwired Devices.

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Trace the Ethernet Cable Path

A single device offline almost always points to a problem in that device's cable path, not the router. The internet itself is likely fine—other devices in your restaurant are still online.

1. Start at the affected device. Confirm the Ethernet cable is fully seated in the device's Ethernet port.
2. Trace the cable away from the device, see Check for Cable Damage for additional details.. Note where it goes next.
3. If the cable connects directly to the Toast router, confirm it is fully seated at the router.
4. If the cable connects to a printer or network switch first, check for port light activity, see Confirm Printers and Switches are Powered On for more details Confirm it is fully seated at that piece of equipment, then trace the next cable from that printer or switch toward the router.
5. Confirm every Ethernet cable along the path is fully seated at both ends, including cables that run between printers, switches, and the router.

Expected outcome: Every cable in the path between the device and the Toast router is firmly seated at both ends.

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Confirm Printers and Switches Are Powered On

When you reach a printer, network switch, or access point in the cable path, confirm it is plugged in and powered on. An unpowered switch or printer in the middle of the path will take every device behind it offline.

1. Confirm the printer or switch is plugged into a working outlet.
2. Confirm the printer or switch shows a status light indicating power.
3. Check the indicator light next to the Ethernet port—if the Internet In port indicator on a printer or switch is unlit, that points to a hardware or cable issue at that connection.

Expected outcome: Every piece of equipment in the cable path is powered on with port indicator lights illuminated.

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Check for Cable Damage

While tracing the cable path, inspect each Ethernet cable for visible damage—significant bends, crushes, kinks, or torn jacketing. Damaged cables can pass intermittent signal or fail entirely.

1. Look along the full length of each cable for damage.
2. If any cable looks damaged, replace it with a known-working spare Ethernet cable.
3. If no cables look damaged but the device is still offline, swap in a known-working spare cable anyway to rule out an internal cable failure that is not visible.

Expected outcome: Every cable in the path is in good physical condition, or has been replaced with a known-working spare. A Cat 5e or Cat 6 Ethernet cable will work.

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Power Cycle the Ethernet Connection

If every cable is seated, every piece of equipment is powered on, and the device is still offline, reset the connection at the device.

1. Unplug the Ethernet cable from the affected device.
2. Wait at least two minutes.
3. Plug the Ethernet cable back into the device.

Expected outcome: The device's Ethernet connection re-establishes and the offline banner clears within one to two minutes. If the banner does not clear, see Before You Contact Customer Care.

Important: Do not unplug the power cable on the affected device, even if the Ethernet reset does not work. Power cycling the device while orders or payments are stored locally can cause those transactions to be lost.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Only one of my devices says "No network connection"—what does that mean?

The "No network connection" banner on a single device almost always points to a problem in that device's cable path, not the router. If the router were the cause, every device would be offline. Trace the Ethernet cable from the affected device back toward the router and check each junction (printer, network switch, access point) for damage, loose connections, or unpowered equipment.

My Toast Flex connects to the network through a Printing Hub. How does that work?

A Toast Flex 14 or Toast Flex 3 terminal can receive both power and network connectivity from a Toast Printing Hub using the USB-C Power Plus cable making the Printing Hub part of the network path. The Printing Hub itself connects to your network with a separate Ethernet cable plugged into its Internet In port. If the terminal shows no network connection, confirm two things:

• • The Internet In cable on the Printing Hub is fully seated, and the Printing Hub is powered on with a status light.
  • In device settings, USB-C is the enabled network connection (not RJ-45). See Check USB-C Versus RJ-45 for the full procedure.

Do I need to switch from DHCP to a static IP?

No. Toast networks use DHCP, which automatically assigns an IP address to each device. Switching to a Static IP is not the right fix for a single offline terminal. If the device cannot get an IP address from the router, the cause is almost always a physical cable, port, or hardware problem in the path—not the IP configuration.

Can I restart or unplug the affected terminal?

YES! Restarting the device is safe.

What if all my devices are offline, not just one?

If most or all of your devices are offline, the issue could be with your router, switch, internet service, or a Toast service disruption—not a single-device cable problem. See Outages and Disruptions: Troubleshoot Internet or Network Connection Issues for full troubleshooting that starts with router and ISP checks.

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Before You Contact Customer Care

If you have worked through every step above and the device is still offline, the issue may require Customer Care to diagnose hardware, port, or wall-jack problems that cannot be resolved with self-service troubleshooting. Have the following ready before contacting Customer Care so they can diagnose the issue quickly.

• The exact text of the banner on the affected device's screen—for example, "No network connection."
• The device type (Toast Flex terminal, Toast Flex 3 terminal, KDS device, countertop terminal).
• Whether the device is connected directly to a wall port, to a network switch, or to a Printing Hub via USB-C.
• Whether all other devices on the network are working normally.
• A list of the steps you have already tried.
• A photo or screenshot of the banner and of the indicator lights at each piece of equipment in the cable path, if you can capture one.

To contact Customer Care, use the chat button in Toast Web or call (617) 682-0225.

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Related Articles

• Outages and Disruptions: Troubleshoot Internet or Network Connection Issues
• Disable Wi-Fi on Hardwired Devices
• Network Cable Overview
• Get Help With the Toast Flex 3 Terminal

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