Written by Jason Feemster, POS specialist with 15+ years of experience helping restaurants and retailers troubleshoot POS systems, payments, and hardware issues.
Common Issue: Employees can’t log in with PIN/swipe, or Aloha rejects credentials.
Fast Fixes: Restart terminal, verify user permissions, check magnetic reader, reassign swipe cards, and confirm BOH sync.
Need guided troubleshooting? Try the POSUSA POS Support Assistant (Free).
Employee login not working in Aloha? The terminal may reject correct credentials, not recognize a swipe card, or only allow managers to sign in.
This guide helps you quickly restore login access and keep the shift moving.
Table of Contents
Common Reasons Aloha Login Issues Happen
- Wrong or expired employee PIN
- Swipe card deactivated or mis-assigned
- Mag stripe reader failure
- Security permission changes in Aloha Manager
- BOH sync delays after new user setup
- Terminal froze mid-shift
How to Fix Aloha Employee Login Problems
1. Restart the Aloha Terminal
Fastest fix — clears frozen processes and reloads user config from BOH.
- Shutdown terminal
- Wait 10 seconds
- Restart and test login
If login works after reboot → temporary connection issue.
2. Re-enter Employee PIN
Check for typos or number-pad mispresses (especially during a rush).
- Verify employee is using the right ID/PIN
- Ensure correct Job Code is selected
If one employee fails but others log in fine → user account issue.
3. Check Employee Setup in Aloha Manager
New employees may not sync to terminals yet — or permissions may be incorrect.
- Confirm employee is active & assigned a role
- Check security level and allowed terminals
- Resync data to terminals if newly added
If employee shows as inactive in BOH → reactivate and resync.
4. Test Swipe Card & Reader
Swipe cards demagnetize easily — and swipe rails fail after heavy use.
- Try login with PIN instead of swipe
- Test card on a different terminal
- Check for dirt/spills in mag reader
If PIN works but swipe doesn’t → card or reader hardware issue.
5. Confirm BOH Server & Services Online
If multiple employees fail at once → BOH isn’t syncing permissions.
- Restart Aloha BOH services
- Verify network connection to server
- Ping test terminals → BOH
BOH down = no new logins or privilege updates.
When to Contact Aloha Support
- Multiple employees locked out
- PIN resets or privilege changes won’t apply
- Swipe card reader physically damaged
- BOH sync continuously fails
Aloha Login Issues – FAQs
Why is Aloha rejecting a correct PIN?
Why won’t the swipe card work but PIN does?
Why can only managers log in?
Do new employees need a restart to log in?
Try the POSUSA POS Support Assistant
Need help getting employees logged into Aloha again?
- POSUSA POS Support Assistant
- Select Aloha
- Search: “login issues”
- Follow the guided steps
We keep your team moving — even when Aloha doesn’t cooperate.
Thinking About Switching POS Systems?
If you’re dealing with repeated POS issues, it might be time to compare more reliable options built for restaurants and retail businesses.
Takes 30 seconds • No sales pressure
