# Food truck step 3: sell offline with no signal

> Register the truck's tablet or laptop for Offline POS with a PIN, keep selling when the signal drops, and check synced sales and sync issues later.

Source: https://docs.smartposhub.com/business-types/food-truck/step-3-offline-selling/  
Last updated: 2026-10-30  
Product: SmartPOS Hub (https://smartposhub.com)

Parking lots, festivals and highway stops often have weak or no signal. **Offline POS** lets a registered device keep selling with no internet and sends the sales to SmartPOS Hub by itself when the connection comes back.

> **How to turn it on**
> 1. **Plan:** Offline POS must be in your plan.
> 2. **Switch:** Settings › Business Settings › Modules › Offline POS (off until you switch it on), then Update Settings
> 3. **Permission:** Use Offline POS (sell offline on a registered device) for crew; Manage Offline POS for managers
> - **Mobile app:** SmartPOS Business app › Offline selling › Set up this phone

## Before you start

- The truck's device is online for the first setup.
- Products and prices are final for the day (they are downloaded to the device).

## Register the truck's device

1. On the truck's tablet or laptop, open **Offline POS › Open Offline POS**.
2. In **Set up this device**, enter a **Device name** ("Truck 1 window"), pick the truck's **Location**, and choose an **Offline PIN** (4–6 digits) twice.
3. Click **Set up and download data**. Products, prices, stock and customers are stored encrypted on the device.

![Set up this device window with device name, location, offline PIN, repeat PIN and a Set up and download data button](https://docs.smartposhub.com/_astro/food-truck-offline-pos-setup.Dq4yCXIl.png) (web app page: `/offline-pos`)

## Selling with no signal

When the internet drops, POS V1 and V2 show a banner. Open **Offline POS** (it opens without internet), enter the PIN and keep selling. Receipts carry an offline reference. When the signal is back, sales sync on their own and get their real invoice numbers.

More: [Sell offline when the internet drops](https://docs.smartposhub.com/selling/offline-selling/).

## Check devices and sync issues

**Offline POS › Dashboard** shows **Active devices**, **Sales waiting on devices**, **Synced today** and **Open sync issues**. Sales that broke a rule (price, discount, stock, closed register) appear under **Sync issues** for a manager to review.

![Offline POS dashboard with active devices, sales waiting on devices, synced today and open sync issues, and how a shop uses it](https://docs.smartposhub.com/_astro/food-truck-offline-pos-dashboard.Dm3aaj80.png) (web app page: `/offline-pos/manage`)

## Settings that matter for trucks

![Offline POS settings with maximum hours without a data refresh, maximum unsynced sales, lock after inactivity, refresh interval, sign-out after days and payments offline options](https://docs.smartposhub.com/_astro/food-truck-offline-pos-settings.3eoVEh5d.png) (web app page: `/offline-pos/settings`)
*Raise the hours without a data refresh if a truck spends whole weekends off-grid.*

| Setting | Default | For a truck |
|---|---|---|
| **Maximum hours without a data refresh** | 72 | Raise for multi-day events |
| **Maximum unsynced sales per device** | 500 | Raise for very busy festivals |
| **Lock after inactivity (minutes)** | 10 | Keep it; the window is public |
| **Selling more than the cached stock** | Allow with a warning | Keep for cooked food |
| **Allow pay later / part payment offline** | Off | Leave off unless you cater on account |

Full list: [Offline POS](https://docs.smartposhub.com/modules/offline-pos/).

## Tips and mistakes to avoid

- Connect the device to the internet before every shift so prices and stock refresh.
- Never clear the browser data on a device with sales waiting; check **Sales waiting on devices** first.

## Next step

  - [Step 4: Sell from a phone](https://docs.smartposhub.com/business-types/food-truck/step-4-sell-from-the-business-app/)
  - [Offline POS](https://docs.smartposhub.com/modules/offline-pos/)

## Frequently asked questions

### Do I have to set up the device while online?

Yes. Register it once while you have internet, so products, prices and customers are downloaded. After that it opens and sells without internet.

### How long can a device stay offline?

By default 72 hours since its last data refresh and up to 500 unsynced sales. Both limits can be changed in Offline POS › Settings.

### When do offline sales get an invoice number?

When they sync. Until then the receipt shows an offline reference. Stock, payments and the cash register update like normal sales after sync.

### Can I give credit offline?

Only if Allow pay later / part payment offline is ticked, only for a chosen customer within their credit limit, and every such sale is flagged for review.

### What if the tablet is stolen?

Revoke it under Offline POS › Offline devices. Its access stops at once, and the data on it is encrypted with the PIN.

### Does offline selling work in the phone app?

Yes. The SmartPOS Business app has its own Offline selling screen with Set up this phone. See step 4.