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Initial setup and pairing

What to do with a new tablet before it can accept orders.

Initial setup and pairing

This page covers everything you do the first time a new tablet arrives, from unboxing to first order. It assumes you already have an owner account on YumKiosk and at least one location configured. If you don't, start with the quickstart.

Unbox and charge

Plug the tablet in and let it charge for at least 30 minutes before first boot. Most restaurant kiosks run on permanent power, so you won't need to charge it again after this, but the first boot uses a little more juice for OS setup.

First boot

Walk through the Android or iPadOS setup wizard. The important settings:

  1. Language — set to your primary customer language.
  2. Wi-Fi — connect to your restaurant's Wi-Fi network. We strongly recommend a dedicated network for kiosks, separate from customer Wi-Fi.
  3. Google / Apple account — skip if possible. Kiosks don't need personal accounts. If you're doing MDM (mobile device management) through a third-party service, enroll here.
  4. Auto-lock — disable. The tablet needs to stay awake 24/7 during business hours.
  5. Auto-rotate — disable. Lock orientation to landscape or portrait depending on your enclosure.
  6. Camera and mic permissions — grant by default for Chrome / Safari.

Install the kiosk app

YumKiosk is a web app, not a native app, so there's no Play Store install. Open Chrome (Android) or Safari (iPadOS) and navigate to kiosk.yumkiosk.com. On first load:

  • Android: Chrome will show an "Add to home screen" prompt at the bottom. Tap it to install the PWA. This gives you a full-screen launcher icon without the browser chrome.
  • iPadOS: tap the share icon in Safari, then "Add to Home Screen". Same effect.

Tap the new home screen icon to launch the kiosk app. You'll see the pairing screen.

Pair to your account

On the pairing screen, the tablet is waiting for a 6-digit code. Switch to your owner panel on another device, go to Operations → Kiosks → New kiosk, and generate a pairing code (see Pairing your first kiosk for the owner-side walkthrough).

Type the 6-digit code on the tablet and tap Pair. If everything is correct:

  • The tablet POSTs /api/public/kiosks/pair with the code + its device ID.
  • The server verifies and returns a device token.
  • The tablet stores the token in localStorage.
  • The UI transitions to the attract screen.

If the code is wrong, expired, or already claimed, you'll see an error. Regenerate a fresh code and try again.

Enter kiosk mode

At this point the tablet is technically working but still allows customers to navigate away by swiping from the top or pressing the home button. To lock it into kiosk mode:

  • Android: enable Screen Pinning in Settings → Security, then pin the YumKiosk tab. This prevents anyone from leaving the app without a PIN. For stronger lockdown, use an MDM tool like Scalefusion or Esper.
  • iPadOS: enable Guided Access in Settings → Accessibility, set a passcode, then triple-click the side button from within the YumKiosk app to lock it. Same effect.

Test a full session

With the tablet locked and on the attract screen, tap Tap to order and run a full test session against an agent you trust. Verify:

  • Video and audio both work clearly in both directions.
  • The menu loads and matches what you see in the owner panel.
  • Payment works (use a test card if you haven't live-connected Stripe yet).
  • The kiosk returns to the attract screen after the session ends.

Once all five work, the tablet is ready for customers. Leave it powered on, lock the enclosure, and you're live.