Written by Jason Feemster, POS specialist with 15+ years of experience helping restaurants and retailers troubleshoot POS systems, payments, and hardware issues.
Common Issue: Aloha displays “License Expired,” activation failures, or blocks login.
Fast Fixes: Restart terminals, verify date/time, refresh BOH license files, and confirm entitlement status.
Need guided troubleshooting? Try the POSUSA POS Support Assistant (Free).
Aloha showing “License Expired”? Your POS may block employee login, reject transactions, or show activation prompts on terminals.
This guide helps you confirm the license status and quickly restore access.
Table of Contents
Common Reasons Aloha License Expiration Errors Occur
- License file outdated or corrupted
- BOH system clock incorrect (date/time drift)
- BOH services not syncing entitlement
- Network disconnect between BOH ↔ terminals
- Expired software subscription
- Grace period ended after billing issue
How to Fix Aloha Licensing Errors
1. Restart Terminals to Reload License Files
A restart forces terminals to pull fresh licensing data from BOH.
- Fully power down the terminal
- Wait 10 seconds
- Restart and test login
If one device works and others don’t → local sync issue.
2. Verify BOH Server Date & Time
Aloha licensing checks real-time expiration — an incorrect clock triggers false expiration.
- Match server time to Windows Internet Time
- Ensure timezone + DST are correct
If BOH date is wrong → license validation instantly fails.
3. Restart BOH Licensing & Sync Services
If entitlement delivery stalled, services need a fresh start.
- Restart all Aloha BOH core services
- Check BOH for resource overload
- Retry login after services stabilize
Affects locations with heavy weekend volume and long uptime.
4. Confirm Network Path BOH → Terminals
Licenses require periodic authorization checks.
- Ping BOH from terminals
- Verify no switches/cables failed
If multiple terminals go down together → network is primary suspect.
5. Check Subscription Status (Billing / Renewal)
Expired billing or delayed renewals cause immediate license lockouts.
- Verify billing status with your Aloha reseller
- Confirm license is active in vendor portal
If billing is current -> entitlement files need to be refreshed.
When to Contact Aloha Support
- Terminals remain locked after reboot
- License warning persists after BOH service restart
- Billing is correct but entitlement won’t refresh
- All stations show activation failure
Aloha Licensing – FAQs
Why does Aloha show license expired when billing is current?
Do terminals need internet for license checks?
Why do licenses expire during peak hours?
Can we keep running in grace mode?
Try the POSUSA POS Support Assistant
Need help fixing Aloha license activation errors?
- POSUSA POS Support Assistant
- Select Aloha
- Search: “license expired”
- Follow guided troubleshooting
Get your team back to taking orders in minutes.
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.
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