KOT Printer Not Working? 10 Quick Fixes for Restaurants

KOT printer not working? First check the three simple things: is it on, does it have paper the right way up, and is the cover fully closed? These solve most problems. If not, work down this list. Each fix takes under five minutes.

Keep this page bookmarked on the counter phone. Printers love to fail at 8:30 on a Saturday night.

01Check power and the light

Look at the light on the front. No light means no power: check the plug, the adapter and the switch on the extension board. A blinking red or orange light usually means paper is out or the cover is open.

02Check the paper roll

Thermal paper prints on one side only. If the KOT comes out blank, the roll is in upside down. Turn it so the paper comes out from under the roll, and leave a little paper hanging out before closing the cover. A self-test also helps: most printers print a test page if you hold the FEED button while switching on.

03Close the cover properly

The printer won't print if the cover is even slightly open. Press it down until it clicks on both sides.

04Restart the printer and the billing device

Switch the printer off, wait 30 seconds, and switch it on. Then restart the billing computer, tablet or phone. This clears stuck connections more often than you'd expect.

05LAN printer: check the cable and the IP address

For a network printer, check that the LAN cable clicks into both the printer and the router, and that the small light at the printer's network port blinks.

Then check the IP address. The self-test page shows the printer's IP (for example 192.168.1.200). It must match the IP saved in your billing software. If the router was changed or restarted, the printer may have got a new IP. The permanent fix: set a fixed (static) IP on the printer or reserve its IP in the router, so it never changes.

06Wi-Fi printer: same network?

The printer and the billing device must be on the same Wi-Fi network. A phone on mobile data, or on a guest Wi-Fi, can't reach the printer.

07Bluetooth printer: pair again

Turn Bluetooth off and on on the phone, remove ("forget") the printer, and pair again (the PIN is often 0000 or 1234, check the manual). Keep the phone within a few metres. A Bluetooth printer usually pairs with only one phone at a time, so disconnect it from other phones.

08USB printer: driver and print queue

On Windows, open Settings, then Printers, and check whether the printer shows "Offline" or has stuck documents. Cancel all stuck documents, unplug and replug the USB cable, and print a test page. If Windows doesn't show the printer at all, reinstall the driver from the brand's website.

09Faded or half-printed KOTs

Faded print usually means old or cheap paper, or a dirty print head. Switch off the printer, let the head cool, and wipe it gently with a cotton bud dipped in isopropyl alcohol. Never scratch it with anything metal.

10Paper jam or cutter stuck

Switch off, open the cover and remove torn pieces of paper carefully. If the auto-cutter blade is stuck, most printers have a small knob or slot to turn it back; check the manual. Don't force it.

KOT printer not working even after these fixes?

Call the technician if the printer makes grinding noises, the self-test page doesn't print even with new paper, or the board smells burnt. Keep the bill and warranty card handy, and check the brand's support page (for example Epson India) for drivers and service centres.

Prevent it next time

• Give LAN printers a fixed IP address.
• Keep one spare printer (even a cheap Bluetooth one) for emergencies.
• Use a kitchen screen as a backup, so orders still reach the kitchen if the printer fails. In RestroGrow, KOTs also show on the kitchen screen in the staff app, so the kitchen never misses an order.
• Buy good paper and keep printers away from water and the tandoor.