Print order tickets on Terminal in 2025

[Sweaty_Yeti]

Forgive me - I know this question has been asked before, but I can't find any answers that are either recent or work.   I'm using Square for Restaurants on an iPad.    I have it connected to a Square Terminal for taking credit card payments.   I have settings on the POS set to auto assign ticket numbers.   But for the love of all that is good in this world, I can't get Order Tickets to auto print on the Terminal printer.   I run a food truck and want to have order numbers auto assigned and autoprinted to a paper ticket, so when the prep is complete and we complete the order on the KDS (a separate Android tablet), we can call the order number to the customer.   I've been using Square for 3 years now and stuff like this has me about ready to abandon it and try another service.  I can't locate this feature, or related options, on teh POS, the Terminal, or here on my laptop signed into the web service.    THANK YOU!

[ryanwanner · Accepted solution]

Hello @Sweaty_Yeti !

I want to make sure I have your setup correct in my head:

You currently have SFR running on a tablet and the Square Terminal is set in connected mode for the card payments? If that's the case, unfortunately what you're asking hasn't been available since the launch of the connected terminal. Once the terminal is connected to your tablet, it only can act as a customer facing reader. Your customers can get receipts, yes, but you can't use the printer as an order ticket printer. 

Realistically, the only way to get order tickets to print via your terminal is to take the entire order on it when it's not in connected mode. You can then configure the onboard printer to print order tickets for your kitchen. Since the order is sent at the time of entry, you can't even take the order and save the ticket. The software just isn't set up that way currently.

Since you are using the KDS, I think you'll be ok with just a little bit of flow tweaks. The ticket number is shown on the order on the KDS--it should be at the top of the order. Perhaps it would be best to write that order number on the box/plate before serving?

[MayaP]

You're on a roll today @ryanwanner! I cannot thank you enough for all the help you provide 🙌

[Sweaty_Yeti]

Thanks, Ryan - I really appreciate that clarity, though it's super frustrating.   We'll just keep winging it.   The big event with our shave ice trailer is the Western Montana Fair.   We go six days of 1000+ orders per day, and we're looking for every opportunity to make service just a touch more streamlined - mostly for the customer... who often includes parents and kids waiting in the hot sun.  When the line backs up at both ends - taking orders at the front and delivering our the back - that extra organization and tracking makes a big difference.   I'll do a test run this year with just using the terminal as the order-taking interface, but then I'm concerned about linking Terminal to the KDS.   If I have to give up one, it will be the ticket order number - no way we could part with KDS!   Thanks again - have a great summer season!

[Sweaty_Yeti]

To clarify above... We'd like to be able to tell the customer their order number at least, if not hand them a paper order ticket with the number on it.   But since it only shows on the KDS and not on the POS or Terminal, it looks like we can't do this.

[ryanwanner]

@Sweaty_Yeti First in response to your question to @MayaP : yes, the terminal and kds talk to each other provided both are connected to the internet. Offline sales on the terminal will not be seen on the kds. 

So I have an idea if you decide to go the terminal route as your primary order taking device. When configuring the printer (More -> Settings -> Hardware -> Printer for the onboard printer), enable the Order Ticket Stubs option. This will print a little slip of paper for the customer that has their order number on it. This can be used for manual and automatic order names. 

So what you'll see print if you enable order stubs, receipts, and in person order tickets: a slip for a receipt if the customer asks for one, a order ticket for you to hand down your truck, and an order slip with the number on it for the customer. You'll have to be relatively fast on the draw to separate them as the printer kicks them out since there isn't a cutter on the terminal. Or you'll have to manually tear the long receipt paper after it's done printing. Either way you'll have a slip for the customer and an order ticket. 

Hope this helps!

[MayaP]

Hello @Sweaty_Yeti — Thanks for reaching out and sharing your experience.

I apologize for any confusion, but as @ryanwanner mentioned below, when the Terminal is connected to another point of sale device, it will work to process payments.

I hope this helps clarify things. If you need anything else, please let me know! 😊

[MayaP]

Hello @Sweaty_Yeti — Thanks for reaching out and sharing your experience.

I apologize for any confusion, but as @ryanwanner mentioned below, when the Terminal is connected to another point of sale device, it will work to process payments.

I hope this helps clarify things. If you need anything else, please let me know! 😊

[Sweaty_Yeti]

Thanks.   if I go to taking orders on the Terminal as POS, can I still connect to KDS?

[MayaP]

I apologize for the delay in getting back to you @Sweaty_Yeti. From what I understand, and as @ryanwanner mentioned above, you should be able to. Can you confirm this @ryanwanner? I'm sorry—I don’t have a terminal or KDS to test this on myself.