Troubleshoot Missing Orders with Square KDS

Duplicate orders appearing on your KDS may require our engineers to assist. Contact Square Support if the troubleshooting steps below do not solve the issue.

If at all possible, try to troubleshoot your Square KDS and points of sale during after hours. If you must troubleshoot during the workday, try to avoid peak busy hours so your customers will experience few delays.

You’ll need to troubleshoot each Point of Sale device connected to a Square KDS (for example: checking the routing filters for each device.)

It depends on whether your payments have been captured or not. If you are using Offline Mode, be sure to connect your offline devices to the internet to capture any unsettled payments. Please note: tickets will not be sent to the KDS while you are accepting offline payments.

Earlier this year, Square KDS launched on Android and we’ve made the decision to deprecate the Square KDS for iOS app. You may continue to use Square KDS for iOS app until June 2024. The new Square KDS on Android has all the same great functionality as the iOS plus exclusive to Android features like routing by dining option. Some features will be only available on Android (not iOS), so be sure to check features available on iOS.

Check your device codes to make sure you are signed in to the correct location on your point of sale/Square KDS with the matching device code and nickname you previously set up on your Square Dashboard for that device.

1. Once you’ve added your first device, you can manage your device codes from your online Square Dashboard by going to Settings > Devices. From here, you can verify that you are signing in with the correct device code you have assigned to your location by matching the exact device nickname and device code.
2. Before you sign in with a device code, make sure you sign out of the Square app you’re using, whether Square Point of Sale, Square for Retail, or Square for Restaurants. Device codes will help maintain settings and any settings changes across your devices. Team members can clock in with their personal passcode and will have permissions based on their permissions group. Learn more about custom permissions.
3. If your device code does not allow you to sign in or there is an error at sign-in, the device code may have expired. If not used within 48 hours, a device code will expire and you’ll need to reset it to sign in to the Square app. From your Devices page on your Square Dashboard, select your device. Click Reset Device Code to get a new device code.
4. If the above steps resolve the issue, learn more about managing devices by location. If the issue is still unresolved, move on to step two.

If you have created categories for your items, check that: A) your items are assigned to the correct category and B) categories are assigned to route orders to your preferred expo (KDS) station.

1. Edit each item to mark which kitchen category the item should route to from item settings. You can edit from the Item Detail page on your Square Dashboard: On Dashboard, click Menus/Items > Item > Item Detail Page.
2. If Kitchen Categories are already enabled, then click the drop-down field ‘Kitchen Routing category’. Select your existing category or create a new category to assign to the item.
3. Go into your KDS app to choose which categories you want to route to the KDS screen. In your KDS app, go to Settings > Routing > Item & Categories. Confirm you see the list of Kitchen Categories you previously created (if you don’t see your previously created Kitchen Categories, go back and check the Kitchen Routing page on your Square Dashboard).
4. If the above steps resolve the issue, learn more about Routing Orders with Square KDS. If the issue is still unresolved, move on to Step 3.

Restarting all of your devices and updating software may require your point of sale or expo (KDS) stations to be unavailable for taking orders.

Using written paper tickets can make troubleshooting less stressful while your staff serves your customers in the meantime.

Note: Restarting your device will not erase your settings or open orders.

If restarting your devices does not resolve the issue, move on to Step 4.

To make sure the Square app runs smoothly and to access the newest features and fixes, update to the latest version of software available for your device.

Update the app version for iOS and Android devices.

Both Square Register and Square Terminal update automatically overnight as long as the devices are powered on, plugged in, and connected to the internet. If you don’t see the option to update your software then you are all set. Software updates typically take around 20 minutes to one hour to complete.

1. Open your device’s Settings.
2. Tap About > System Updates or Software Updates. Note: The process to update software is different for each Android device. Instructions for updating software on your specific device should be available on Google’s Android Support page.
3. Open the Google Play app > tap My games and apps.
4. Locate and tap the Square Point of Sale app > Update.

1. Plug your device into a power source.
2. From the device’s home screen, tap Settings > General > Software Update.
3. Tap Download and Install.
4. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the update.
5. Open the App Store > tap your profile icon. Scroll down to see pending updates.
6. Tap Update All to update all apps on your device, or locate the Square app and tap Update.

Tap Utilities > Settings > Hardware > General > About Register > Software Update.

Tap ≡ More > Settings > Hardware. Tap General > About Terminal > Software Update.