# How to open a POS session in Snad

To open a session in Snad, choose **POS**, then **Sessions**, and press **Start session** on an available session card. Check **Branch**, **Salesman** and **Warehouse**, enter the **Current amount at the cashier**, then press **Save**. The register opens.

## Before you start

- A Snad account, with the POS app in your plan and permission to open the POS for your user.
- A salesman, a branch and a warehouse already added ([add a salesman](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/add-salesman), [add a branch](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/add-branch), [add a warehouse](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/add-warehouse)), and products to sell ([add a product](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/create-product)).

## Steps

1. **Open the Sessions screen.** In the sidebar, choose **POS**, then **Sessions**. You see one card per session, each one a till ready for sales. [Details](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/open-pos-session#adv-create-session)

   ![The POS sidebar group in Snad and the Create session button on the Sessions screen](https://www.snad.io/images/guide/open-pos-session/nav-en.webp)

   Image key: (1) **Sessions** in the sidebar · (2) The **Create session** button

2. **Pick an available session.** Pick a card with the **Available** badge and press **Start session** on it. The **Session information** window opens. [Details](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/open-pos-session#adv-states)

   ![An available session card in Snad with the Start session button](https://www.snad.io/images/guide/open-pos-session/card-en.webp)

   Image key: (1) The **Available** badge · (2) The **Start session** button · (3) Session menu: update and delete

3. **Check details and enter the cash.** Pick the **Branch**, **Salesman** and **Warehouse** if their fields show, and enter the **Current amount at the cashier**, the cash in the till right now. [Details](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/open-pos-session#adv-password)

   ![The Session information window in Snad with branch, salesman, warehouse and the cash amount](https://www.snad.io/images/guide/open-pos-session/dialog-en.webp)

   Image key: (1) **Branch** · (2) **Salesman** · (3) **Warehouse** · (4) **Current amount at the cashier**

4. **Save and start selling.** Press **Save**. The register opens ([selling at the POS](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/sell-at-pos)), and the session becomes an **Active session** under your name until you [close it](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/close-pos-session). [Details](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/open-pos-session#adv-states)

   ![The register after opening the session, with the End the session button above the cart](https://www.snad.io/images/guide/open-pos-session/landed-en.webp)

   Image key: (1) The **End the session** button

## Messages that block saving

| Message | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| You can't start a new session if you have an active session | You already have an open session, so **Start session** is disabled on every card. | Press **Continue session** on its card, or close it first ([how to close a POS session](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/close-pos-session)). |
| Session is not available | The session is open under another user, so it shows no **Start session** button. | Pick another session, or ask that user to close theirs. |

## Advanced details

### Create a new session

No card fits? Press **Create session** at the top of the screen. Write the **Name**, at least 3 characters, and a **Description** if you like.

You can also set a **Branch** and **Warehouse** for the session to pin them; left empty, the cashier's own branch and warehouse are used. **Add a password** asks for a 4-digit code every time it is opened.

**Create session** shows only to users allowed to create sessions. To edit, press the card or **Update** in its menu; **Delete** is there too for a session that is not open.

![The Create session window in Snad with name, description and the Add a password switch](https://www.snad.io/images/guide/open-pos-session/create-register-en.webp)

Image key: (1) **Name** (required) · (2) The **Add a password** switch · (3) The **Save** button

### Opening a session that has a password

If the session has a password, the window shows **Continue** instead of **Save**. Press it after choosing **Branch**, **Salesman** and **Warehouse**.

You are asked for the four digits, and **Continue** stays disabled until they match the code. **Back** returns you to the fields.

### Card states and hidden fields

The badge says **Available**, or **Active session** if it is open under your name, with **Continue session** on it, or **Activated on another device** if it is open under someone else.

Each user can have only one active session. The **Branch**, **Salesman** and **Warehouse** fields are hidden when the session or the cashier's account already settles them, or when you have just one option, and they are filled with that value.

**Default customer** in the window is optional: the one you pick ([add a customer](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/create-customer)) starts every invoice in this session.

You review the session's orders after the sale in [POS orders](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/pos-orders).

### First time: What kind of business is this?

The first time, before sessions show, the screen asks **What kind of business is this?** Choose **Retail**, **Restaurants & cafés**, **Grocery** or **Other**, then press **Confirm**.

The choice shapes your POS: restaurants add a kitchen screen, halls and tables, and the others get a fast till with no tables. You can change it later in the POS **Settings** ([set up the point of sale](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/pos-settings)).

For restaurants, see the steps for the [kitchen display](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/kitchen-display) and [tables](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/restaurant-tables).

This screen shows only to users allowed to change POS settings ([roles and permissions](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/roles-permissions)).

## Common questions

### How do I open a session at the POS?

Choose **POS**, then **Sessions**, and press **Start session** on an available card. Pick **Branch**, **Salesman** and **Warehouse**, enter the **Current amount at the cashier**, then **Save**.

### Why is the Start session button disabled?

Because you already have an active session, and a second one can't be opened with it. Press **Continue session** or close it ([close a POS session](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/close-pos-session)).

### What do I enter as the current amount at the cashier?

The cash in the till when you open. At closing it shows as **Cash at start of session**, and the cash difference is worked out from it.

### How do I protect a session with a password?

When you create or update the session, turn on **Add a password** and enter a 4-digit code. After that it opens only with that code.

### Where do I change the business type in the POS?

In the POS **Settings** ([set up the point of sale](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/pos-settings)). You can change it there at any time.

## Read next

- [Sell at the point of sale](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/sell-at-pos) — Sell from the Snad POS screen: find the product, set the quantity, pick the customer and payment method, then save the invoice. Five steps.
- [Close a POS session](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/close-pos-session) — Close a POS session in Snad: press End the session, check the cash, card and cash difference, then save and review it. Four steps with screenshots.
- [Set up the point of sale](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/pos-settings) — Set up the point of sale in Snad: business sector, selling rules, payment methods, order type, printer and WhatsApp. Eight short steps with screenshots.
- [Add a salesman](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/add-salesman) — Add a salesman in Snad: enter the name and discount limit, link a user account, add a commission rule and save. Five short steps with screenshots.
- [Add a product](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/create-product) — Add a product in Snad: pick the type, enter the name, price, cost and stock, then organize and save it. Eight short steps with screenshots.
- [Review POS orders](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/pos-orders) — Review POS orders in Snad: find an order, open its details, print it and refund it in full or in part. Five short steps with screenshots.
- [Snad point of sale software](https://www.snad.io/en/pos) — The cashier, sessions and sales on one screen.
- [Snad for retail shops](https://www.snad.io/en/solutions/retail) — How Snad serves retail shops.

[Open this screen in Snad](https://app.snad.io/dashboard/sales/pos/sessions)

- **URL:** https://www.snad.io/en/guide/open-pos-session
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-11-04

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## About the publisher
**Snad (سند)** — a private Saudi software company
based in Madinah, founded 2025. Legal form: Sole proprietorship.
Commercial registration: 7038154642
VAT number: 310959226500003
Only official domain: snad.io
> Snad is a private commercial business-management platform. It is not a
> government body, not a bank, and not a government services portal, and it
> is not affiliated with any government entity. Any site or app with a
> similar name is unrelated to Snad.