Lightspeed Restaurant allows local POS devices to continue functioning and communicating with onsite hardware, like local printers and Kitchen Display Systems, even if the external internet connection to the Lightspeed network is lost. If your internet or network go down, it’s important to know what keeps working and what has limitations.
Depending on the connectivity level available, active and passive POS devices will have different functionality.
About connectivity levels
Under normal operation, all local devices can connect to each other on the local network and the active POS device can communicate with Lightspeed or other third-party integrations via its connection to the internet.
If the connection with the internet is lost, devices can still communicate with each other on the local network. This allows them to remain functional and take orders.
If both the local network and connection to the internet is lost, only the active POS can take orders and payments and connections to other POS devices or other local peripherals are lost.
In either case, the active POS will log all activity and send its stored data once the internet connection is restored.
Payment terminals with a 4G (cellular phone network) backup will remain functional without internet or local connections while the 4G connection is active.
Operating without an internet connection
If the local network is operational but the internet connection is unavailable:
- Communication: Passive POS devices can still send data to active POS devices, but the active devices cannot forward the data to the cloud. The active POS maintains a cached, local version of essential data, allowing core restaurant operations to continue.
- Printers: Printers remain functional as they connect via the local network.
- Kitchen Display System: KDS remains function as it connects via the local network.
- Payment Terminals: Payment terminals without a cell network connection will not function.
Allergens in the item descriptions are not accessible without an internet connection.
Offline functionality
| Function | Description |
| Taking orders | New orders can be taken, added to tables, and held as normal. |
| Multi-register sync | Orders opened on one POS will sync to other POS. Data will be stored locally, in the Active Device(s). |
| Local printing | Production dockets (to kitchen or bar) and local guest checks can be printed, provided the POS device and local printers remain connected on the local area network (LAN/Wifi). |
| Manual payments | Cash, check, or any custom "Manual" payment types (e.g., "Paid Offsite," "House Account") can be accepted and recorded in the POS. |
| Menu access | The full menu, modifiers, discounts, and prices are available as they are stored locally on the device. |
| Clocking in/out | Staff can clock in and out, with time entries stored locally. |
Offline limitations
| Function | Details |
| Integrated card payments with terminal | Integrated payments (Lightspeed Payments) are not handled in real-time. The actual payment transaction must be handled using the terminal in standalone mode, with LTE/4G connection. |
| Real time Back Office sync | Live reports, inventory updates, and other data in the Back Office are not updated. The data cache remains local to the POS device until reconnected to the internet. |
| New setup / configuration | Adding new users, changing major settings, or creating new menu items/prices from the Back-Office will not be visible in the POS until the Internet is back online. |
| Item description | Pictures, descriptions, and allergens in the item description are not visible from the POS. |
| Cloud-based services | Services like gift card processing and K-series loyalty programs are unavailable. |
| Integrations | Services like external third-party integrations (e.g., accounting, delivery, online order) will be unavailable. |
Operating without local or internet network connections
When neither the local network or the internet connection are available:
- Communication: No communication between any devices (passive or active) is possible. Data cannot be sent or received locally or externally. One POS, the active device, remains operational with the limitations outlined above and cache all operations until the internet connection is restored.
- Printers: Printers are not functional as they connect via the local network.
- Kitchen Display System: KDS is not functional as it connects via the local network.
- Payment Terminals: Payment terminals without a cell network connection will not function.