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MiMeals Troubleshooting Guide

Quick fixes for common issues. Find it, fix it, get back to serving.

⏱ 5 min scan👤 For: All Staff📋 Version 1.0

Jump to:

🔑 Login & Access 🔍 Student Lookup 🍽️ Meal Processing 💰 Transactions & Voids 🖥️ Hardware

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Login & Access

PIN rejected — "Invalid PIN"

Possible Causes

•Typo in PIN entry
•Account not yet created by admin
•Account deactivated

Fixes

→Double-check the PIN with your site manager
→Ask admin to verify your account exists in MiComs
→Admin may need to reactivate the account

Terminal locked — "Too many attempts"

Possible Causes

•3 failed PIN entries within 5 minutes

Fixes

→Wait 60 seconds — the lockout is temporary
→If problem persists, ask site manager to reset the terminal session

Screen says "No connection" or "Offline"

Possible Causes

•Wi-Fi dropped
•Network cable disconnected
•Server maintenance

Fixes

→Check the network icon in the system tray
→If Wi-Fi: move closer to the access point or restart the router
→If Ethernet: check the cable connection at both ends
→If all terminals are affected, contact IT — may be a network outage

🔍

Student Lookup

Scanner won't read the barcode

Possible Causes

•Damaged or scratched barcode
•Scanner not connected
•Wrong barcode format

Fixes

→Type the student ID number manually
→Check the USB cable — unplug and replug the scanner
→If scanner beeps but no ID appears, check that the cursor is in the ID field
→Report damaged cards to the office for replacement

"Student not found"

Possible Causes

•New student not yet imported
•Typo in manual ID entry
•Student enrolled at a different site

Fixes

→Verify the ID number and try again
→Try searching by name instead
→Use Guest Meal for now and report to site manager
→Admin should run a fresh SIS import

Wrong student photo displayed

Possible Causes

•Photo not updated after SIS sync
•Student ID was reassigned

Fixes

→Verify by asking the student their name
→Report the mismatch to admin — they can update the photo in MiComs
→Continue processing the meal normally (photo mismatch isn't a compliance issue)

🍽️

Meal Processing

"Duplicate meal" warning

Possible Causes

•Student already received this meal type today
•Previous transaction wasn't voided after an error

Fixes

→Check if the student actually ate already (ask the student or check Recent Transactions)
→If the prior transaction was an error, void it first, then re-serve
→Student can still purchase à la carte items

"Insufficient balance" for a student

Possible Causes

•Account balance is zero or negative
•Parent hasn't deposited funds via MiMealMoney

Fixes

→Follow your district's charge meal policy (most allow charges up to a limit)
→The system will still process the meal — it tracks the negative balance
→Send a low-balance notice home (automated if MiMealMoney is enabled)
→Do NOT deny a reimbursable meal to any student — this is a federal requirement

Menu items not showing

Possible Causes

•Today's menu not configured
•Serving period hasn't started
•Menu cycle not set up

Fixes

→Check the serving period — are you within the breakfast or lunch window?
→Ask admin to verify the menu is configured for today in MiComs
→If it's a new school year, the menu cycle may need to be updated

"Meal not reimbursable" warning

Possible Causes

•Student declined too many required components under Offer vs. Serve
•Missing a required food group

Fixes

→Ask the student to select at least the minimum required items
→The system will show which components are needed
→If the student refuses, process as à la carte (not reimbursable)

💰

Transactions & Voids

Can't void a transaction

Possible Causes

•Transaction is older than 30 minutes (cashier limit)
•Transaction was already voided

Fixes

→Cashiers can only void within 30 minutes — after that, ask a site manager
→Managers can void any transaction from the current day
→Older voids require district admin approval in MiComs

Transaction shows wrong amount

Possible Causes

•Pricing not configured correctly for the site
•Wrong meal type selected

Fixes

→Void the incorrect transaction and re-process
→If pricing seems wrong for everyone, report to admin — the site pricing may need correction in MiComs

🖥️

Hardware

Touchscreen unresponsive

Possible Causes

•Screen needs cleaning
•Browser frozen
•Hardware issue

Fixes

→Clean the screen with a dry microfiber cloth
→Refresh the browser (Ctrl+Shift+R or F5)
→If still unresponsive, restart the terminal
→If the problem persists across restarts, contact IT for hardware service

Receipt printer not working

Possible Causes

•Printer offline
•Paper jam
•USB/network disconnect

Fixes

→Check the printer power light
→Open the printer cover and check for jammed paper
→Check the USB or network cable
→MiMeals works without a receipt printer — transactions still process normally

🚨 Emergency: System Down During Meal Service

If MiMeals goes completely offline during active service:

1. Don't stop serving. Students must still eat. Federal meal service requirements don't pause for IT issues.
2. Switch to your backup tally sheet (paper form should be in the cafeteria binder).
3. Record each student's name or ID number and the meal served.
4. Notify your site manager and IT immediately.
5. When the system comes back, the site manager will enter the manual transactions for accurate meal count records.

⚠️ Important: During manual service, you will NOT know students' eligibility status — and that's fine. Serve everyone the same meal. Eligibility only matters for billing, which happens after the fact in MiComs.

Issue not listed here?

Contact your site manager first. For district-level issues, reach out at support@michoice.app

When reporting an issue, include: terminal location, time of incident, student ID (if applicable), and exact error message.

MiMeals Troubleshooting Guide v1.0 • MiChoice Technology SystemsWritten by Tesa 🕷️