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Hardware

Add or check a payment terminal

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Use Settings → Hardware → Terminals to add a supported payment terminal and check its live status. A terminal must belong to the selected location before it can receive POS payments.

Before you start

You need permission to change settings (otherwise Add Terminal is greyed out) and the terminal's external ID. Confirm that the terminal is powered on and connected to the network supplied for your location.

Add a terminal

  1. In Karma, select the correct location.
  2. Open Settings → Hardware → Terminals.
  3. Select Add Terminal.
  4. Enter the terminal's External ID.
  5. Enter a clear Name, such as “Counter 1”.
  6. Select Add Terminal.

The terminal appears in the list for that location. Open its row to check the external ID, terminal type, current status, and any status details.

Understand terminal status

  • Ready means the terminal can normally receive a payment.
  • Busy means it is handling another request. Wait for that payment to finish.
  • Offline means Karma cannot currently reach the terminal.
  • Error means the terminal has reported a problem. Open the terminal to read the status details.
  • Unknown means no current status is available. On the terminal's own page this can show as Connecting... while Karma fetches the live status.

Statuses update in real time. Reload the page if the physical terminal has reconnected but the status has not changed.

If the terminal is offline

  1. Confirm that the terminal is switched on.
  2. Check its network connection.
  3. Return to Settings → Hardware → Terminals and reload the page.
  4. Confirm that the external ID matches the physical terminal.
  5. Open Karma POS and check that the terminal is available as a payment destination.

Do not delete and recreate a terminal during an unresolved payment. First confirm whether the payment completed by checking Payments → Payment History.

If a payment failed or timed out

Follow Fix a failed POS payment before retrying. That guide explains how to check the purchase status and avoid charging the guest twice.

When to contact support

Include the location, terminal name, external ID, displayed status, status details, time of the last failed attempt, and the related payment reference when available. Never send full card details.