The Dejavoo Z8 is a compact Linux countertop terminal with a built-in thermal printer, EMV chip, contactless tap, and magnetic swipe — and it takes only a few minutes to set up once you know the order of the steps. This Dejavoo Z8 quick start guide walks you through the whole flow, from opening the box to closing your first batch, so nothing catches you off guard at the counter.
Before you begin, have three things ready: your network connection (an Ethernet cable or your Wi-Fi password), your merchant terminal ID (TID), and a roll of thermal receipt paper. With those on hand, work through the steps below in order and your Z8 will be live and ready for customers.
1Unbox and connect power
- Begin your Dejavoo Z8 quick start by unpacking the box and confirming the parts: the Z8 countertop terminal, the power adapter, an Ethernet cable, and a roll of thermal receipt paper. The Z8 is a compact Linux countertop terminal, so give it a stable spot near an outlet and your network drop.
- Plug the power adapter into the terminal and a wall outlet, then press and hold the power button until the Dejavoo splash screen appears. Let the device fully boot to the home screen before you touch any settings — a rushed setup is the most common reason a first activation fails.
2Connect Ethernet or Wi-Fi
- The Z8 supports Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and dial-up, so pick the connection that fits your counter. For the most reliable setup, plug an Ethernet cable into the LAN port and the terminal pulls a network address automatically — no configuration needed.
- To use Wi-Fi instead, open the settings or gear menu, choose your network name from the list, and enter the password exactly (it is case-sensitive). Wait for the signal icon to confirm the Z8 is online. A working connection is the foundation of the whole Dejavoo Z8 quick start, so verify it before continuing.
3Load parameters and activate
- With the terminal online, download its parameters — the settings that link the Z8 to your merchant account and processor. Open the setup or download menu and start the parameter download. The terminal contacts the host, pulls your configuration, and reboots automatically.
- After it restarts, the Z8 is activated and ready to process live cards through EMV chip, contactless tap, and magnetic swipe. If the download stalls, confirm your connection and your terminal ID (TID). Our Puerto Rico team can push parameters to your Z8 remotely if you get stuck.
4Load receipt paper
- The Z8 has a built-in thermal printer, so keep it stocked. Open the printer bay latch on top of the terminal and drop the paper roll in so the paper feeds from the bottom of the roll toward you. Pull a short tail past the cutter, then close the bay until it clicks.
- Thermal paper only prints on one side. If a test print comes out blank, the roll is in backwards — flip it so the coated side faces the print head. Keep a spare roll under the counter so you never run dry mid-shift.
5Configure receipts and tips
- Tailor the Z8 to your business. In the receipt settings, add your business name, address, and phone number to the header, and choose whether customers get a printed copy, an emailed copy, or both from the built-in printer.
- If you take tips — common for restaurants, salons, and bars — enable the tip prompt and set your suggested percentages, for example 15%, 18%, and 20%. Turn on tip adjustment so staff can add gratuity after the sale. These options make the Dejavoo Z8 quick start fit how you actually ring up customers.
6Run a test transaction
- Before your first real customer, run a small test sale to confirm the Z8 works end to end. Ring up a low amount, then insert a chip card, tap a contactless card or phone, and swipe a card to verify all three read methods work.
- Void the test right away so it does not settle. Confirm the receipt prints cleanly and the tip and totals look right. A clean test transaction is the final checkpoint that your Z8 setup is complete and ready for business.
7Reprint a receipt
- Customers ask for copies, and the Z8 makes it easy. From the home screen, open the main menu, choose the reprint option, and select either the last transaction or a search by transaction number to reprint any receipt from the current batch.
- Knowing the reprint path before you need it saves you scrambling at a busy counter. The built-in thermal printer produces a fresh copy in seconds without re-running the sale.
8Settle and batch out
- At the end of each business day, settle your batch to send the day's approved transactions for funding. From the main menu, choose settlement or batch, then confirm. The Z8 totals the batch, transmits it to the processor, and prints a settlement report.
- Settling daily is what gets money into your bank account, and it keeps your reporting clean. If your account is set for auto-batch, the terminal closes on its own at a preset time — but it is good practice to confirm the batch report each morning.
9Troubleshooting common issues
- If the Z8 will not connect, reseat the Ethernet cable or re-enter the Wi-Fi password, watching for a wrong character. If a parameter download fails, verify the TID and retry on a stronger signal. Declined test cards usually mean activation has not finished — re-run the parameter download.
- For printing problems, reopen the paper bay and reseat the roll so it feeds from the bottom with the coated side toward the print head. If anything still looks off, reach out — local support means you talk to a real person who knows Puerto Rico merchants, not an overseas queue.
Want the full spec sheet and pricing on this terminal? See the Dejavoo Z8 page, or browse every guide, quick reference, and PDF in our Dejavoo support and manuals library.
