> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.dishink.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Terminal Setup

> Assign a device to a POS terminal before it can take sales. Every DishInk POS session is scoped to a terminal.

## Overview

Every device that runs the DishInk POS must be **claimed by a terminal** before it can open tables or take sales. This is a one-time setup per device — DishInk remembers the assignment and skips this screen on future logins.

A **terminal** represents a physical POS station (e.g. `Bar 1`, `Main Till`, `Poolside iPad`). Table sessions lock to the terminal that opened them, receipts print to that terminal's assigned printer, and the Batch Invoice Cash Out is scoped to that terminal by default.

Owners and managers with the terminal permission can create branches (POS Areas), add terminals, deactivate old terminals, and reassign devices from **Settings → Branch & Terminals**.

<Note>
  If your POS opens directly on the checkout screen, this device is already claimed. You only see the Terminal Setup screen on a brand-new device or after a manager has released the terminal.
</Note>

## Before You Start

* At least one **POS Area (branch)** must exist. If this is your first device, create one first.
* At least one **terminal** must exist under that branch.
* You must be logged in as an owner, or a manager with the *Manage Terminals* permission, to add or edit branches and terminals.

## Claim This Device to a Terminal

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the POS">
    Log in on the device. If no terminal is assigned yet, the **Terminal Setup** screen appears automatically before the checkout loads.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose a POS Area">
    Pick the branch this device belongs to (e.g. `Main Restaurant`, `Rooftop Bar`). If none exist, tap **Add POS Area** and enter a name, address, and phone number.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Pick a terminal">
    Choose an existing terminal from the list, or tap **Add Terminal** to create a new one (e.g. `Till 1`, `Bar POS`).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm">
    Tap **Claim Terminal**. The device is now bound to that terminal and the POS opens.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Frame caption="Terminal Setup screen shown on a new device.">
  <img src="https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/dishink/images/pos/terminal-setup.png" alt="Terminal Setup screen placeholder" />
</Frame>

## Manage Branches & Terminals

Go to **Settings → Branch & Terminals**. The panel has three sections:

1. **POS Areas** — your branches. Add, rename, edit address/phone, or deactivate.
2. **Terminals** — grouped by branch. Add new terminals, rename, or deactivate.
3. **This Device** — shows the currently claimed terminal and lets a manager release the device so someone else can claim it to a different terminal.

<Warning>
  Deactivating a terminal does **not** delete its sales history. But any device currently claimed to that terminal will lose access to open sessions until it is reassigned. Reassign devices before deactivating.
</Warning>

## Terminal Transfer (Session Handover)

Table sessions are **locked to the terminal that opened them** to prevent two cashiers charging the same bill twice. If Terminal A opened Table 5 and Terminal B tries to charge it, DishInk shows a **Transfer** prompt.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Ask a manager">
    A manager (or a user with *Manage Terminals*) must confirm the transfer.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm on the new terminal">
    Tap **Transfer to This Terminal** in the prompt. The session unlocks from Terminal A and locks to Terminal B atomically — no chance of double-billing.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Charge as normal">
    The bill now appears in the Active Tables list on the new terminal.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  Managers with the *All Terminals* permission see every terminal's open sessions in the POS without needing a transfer. This is meant for supervisors doing floor-wide oversight — normal staff should stay locked to their own terminal.
</Note>

## Tips & Best Practices

* Name terminals by **physical location**, not by staff (`Bar 1` is better than `John's Till`) — staff change, physical spots don't.
* Use one branch (POS Area) per venue. Only use multiple branches if you have physically separate premises.
* Keep a spare terminal named `Spare` or `Reserve` — you can claim it in seconds if a main terminal fails during service.
* Review the terminal list every quarter and deactivate anything no longer in use to keep the Batch Invoice terminal filter clean.

## Common Mistakes

* **Creating a new terminal for every device instead of reusing the same one.** Multiple devices can share a terminal (e.g. a floor tablet and a backup phone), but they still take turns claiming it. Only create separate terminals for physically separate stations.
* **Deactivating a terminal that still has open unpaid sessions.** Close or transfer all sessions first, or a manager will need to force-reset the tables.
* **Sharing one terminal across two branches.** Terminals belong to exactly one POS Area. If you move a terminal to a new venue, create a new terminal under the correct branch.

## Related Pages

* [Creating Sales](/pos/creating-sales)
* [Batch Invoice Cash Out](/pos/batch-cash-out)
* [Table Billing](/pos/table-billing)
* [Roles & Permissions](/getting-started/roles-permissions)