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title: "Hold & Fire | SpotOn Express (FOH)"
canonical: "https://help.spoton.com/space/SK/4880859193/Hold%20%26%20Fire%20%7C%20SpotOn%20Express%20(FOH)"
format: markdown
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## Overview

Express KDS and FreshKDS integration support **Hold & Fire **functionality.** **Hold & Fire lets servers control service timing and rhythm without misfires or kitchen confusion, ensuring a seamless hospitality experience from order to plate.

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## Best Practices for Hold & Fire Functionality

- Use **Hold & Fire** for items that should not be cooked immediately
- Train FOH teams to manage release timing appropriately
- Add discounts only after all held items have been fired

> ⚠️ **Known limitations: **  
> ⚠️ Currently, applying discounts to Checks requires a send action. The send action, even when only adding a discount, will trigger a fire to held items.

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## Hold & Fire **Visual Status on the POS **

Menu Item Held & Fired status is clear with Hold and Fire icons and flags in all key locations of the POS:

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## Hold & Fire Visual Status on the Kitchen Display System (KDS)

The Hold & Fire KDS behavior varies by setup:

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## How to Use Hold & Fire

Hold & Fire lets you send part of an order to the kitchen while holding specific items back. When you're ready for held items to be prepared, you manually release them by firing (sending) them to the KDS.

### **Key Terms**

- **Fire** – Send an item to the kitchen for preparation
- **Hold** – Keep an item from being sent to the kitchen until you're ready
- **KDS** – Kitchen Display System (where kitchen staff see orders)
- **FOH** – Front of House (the POS system servers use)

### **Two Ways to Use Hold & Fire**

Choose the method that requires fewer taps:

- **Fire on send** – Select items to send now; remaining items automatically go on hold
- **Hold on send** – Select items to hold; remaining items automatically fire when you tap hold

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### **Fire on Send (Select Items to Fire First)**

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### **Hold on Send (Select Items to Hold Back)**

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### **Firing Held Items ** 

*Fire held items in a way that works. Fire in rounds, only firing some of the held items remaining, or fire all remaining items at once.*


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## **Troubleshooting Hold & Fire**

**Issue: I accidentally fired an item that should be on hold**

- There is no "undo fire" function in the POS
- [Void](https://help.spoton.com/space/SK/3949461597/Void+an+Item+%7C+SpotOn+Express+(FOH)) the item from the POS. Void will send a chit and update accordingly on the KDS to show that item with a strikethrough.

**Issue: Held items aren't showing on the ticket**

- Held items remain in the order but don't appear on KDS until fired
- Check the ticket in FOH to confirm items are marked as held

**Issue: I tapped Send, but nothing happened**

- Check your network connection—KDS requires connectivity to update

**Issue: I need to hold all items in an order**

- Add items to cart > select all items one at a time> tap Hold
- Do not tap Send—this would fire unselected items
- Alternative: Hold items individually as needed

**Issue: Kitchen received items in the wrong order**

- Review your firing sequence—items fire in the order you send them

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## FAQs

**Do I need to configure anything for Hold & Fire on the POS?**

No. No extra settings or steps on the POS are required to use Hold & Fire functionality. 

**Do I need to configure anything for Hold & Fire on the KDS?**

No. No extra settings or steps on the KDS are required to use Hold & Fire functionality. 

**Can kitchens see held items?**

No. Held items remain in the order but don't appear on KDS until fired. FOH teams can see and confirm items are marked as held on the ticket. 

**Can the kitchen control the firing of held items? **

No. FOH teams control service timing manually from the POS. 

**Does this work for all order modes (dine-in, takeout, delivery)?**

Yes

**Does firing an item require resending the entire ticket?**

Yes

**Are there best practices to avoid misfires? **

Yes. Add discounts only after all held items have been fired. Currently, applying discounts to Checks requires a send action. The send action, even when only adding a discount, will trigger a fire to held items. 

We also recommend training FOH teams to manage release timing appropriately. 

**If my business does not need Hold & Fire functionality, can I turn it off? **

No. This is a standard feature available to all SpotOn Express businesses. If it does not fit your operational needs, no action is required—you can simply leave it unused.

  


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