Software updates

BoothIQ ships pre-installed and pre-configured. Software updates are managed through the cloud after the booth is registered. As an operator, you don't run an installer or click "update" buttons. But you do want to know what's happening when an update is being delivered.

Who this is for: Operators who notice an update or want to understand the update mechanism.

How updates work

BoothIQ updates can come through several paths:

  1. Cloud-pushed updates. When your booth is registered to the cloud and a new version is available, the cloud can push it to the booth automatically (or with operator confirmation, depending on your account configuration).
  2. Scheduled updates. Your BoothIQ contact may schedule updates outside business hours so they don't interrupt customers.
  3. Manual updates. For major version changes, support may schedule a remote update session with you.

What you don't do:

  • Download installers from a website
  • Run update commands on the kiosk
  • Use Windows Update for BoothIQ updates (Windows Update is for the operating system, not BoothIQ. And on a locked-down kiosk, Windows Update is managed by support)

When updates happen

Most updates are pushed during off-hours to avoid interrupting customers. You may notice:

  • The booth restarts overnight
  • A small "Updating" or "Restart pending" indicator briefly appears
  • A new version number on the welcome screen the next day

For major updates, support will usually contact you in advance to schedule a window.

Confirming the booth is up to date

To check the current version:

  • Look at the welcome screen corner. The version number is shown there
  • Or open admin → Settings → License Status card which often shows version info

If your booth is registered to the cloud, you can also check from the cloud dashboard. It shows each booth's installed version.

What to do when an update is happening

If you see a "restart pending" notification or the booth is in the middle of an update:

  1. Don't power-cycle the kiosk mid-update. That can corrupt the install.
  2. Wait for the update to finish. Most updates take a few minutes; large ones may take longer.
  3. Watch the welcome screen appear when the booth comes back up.
  4. Sign in to admin and confirm:
    • The Camera / Printer / PCB pills are all green
    • The version number has changed
    • The Cloud Sync status is Connected

What might break after an update

Most updates are seamless. Occasionally an update introduces:

  • New settings that default to safe values. You may want to review the Settings tab to see if anything new appeared
  • UI changes. Buttons may have moved, but the overall structure should be the same
  • New features that you didn't ask for. They're usually opt-in

If an update breaks something. A previously-working feature stops working, or hardware that was healthy becomes red. Don't panic. Power-cycle the kiosk first. If the issue persists, contact support and reference the version that was just installed.

Cancelling or postponing an update

If you have an event coming up and you don't want any updates during that window:

  1. Contact your BoothIQ point of contact in advance
  2. Ask them to freeze updates for your booth(s) for the specified period
  3. After the event, ask them to resume normal updating

This is best done days in advance, not minutes. Last-minute change requests may not be honored.

Cloud-driven restart commands

The cloud can issue a restart command to the booth (also cancel_restart to abort one). This is sometimes used for:

  • Applying an update that requires a reboot
  • Recovering a stuck booth remotely
  • Periodic maintenance restarts

Operators on the floor will see the booth restart unexpectedly. It'll come back up in 30-60 seconds. If you suspect this is happening unexpectedly, contact your cloud admin to confirm.

For more on remote commands, see Remote commands.

What about Windows updates?

The kiosk's underlying Windows operating system is locked down and managed by BoothIQ. Operators don't run Windows Update on the kiosk. That's handled at the BoothIQ level. If your booth needs an OS update, support will handle it.

Verify the update worked

After an update:

  • The version number on the welcome screen has changed to the new version
  • All hardware pills are green
  • The Cloud Sync status is Connected
  • A test customer session works end-to-end

Common questions

Can I roll back an update?

Not from the operator side. If an update broke something, contact support. They have rollback options at the cloud level.

How often do updates happen?

Depends on your account and the BoothIQ release schedule. Could be every few weeks, could be every few months.

Do I get a changelog?

Major releases usually come with a release notes email or notification. Minor patches may not have a public changelog. Ask your BoothIQ contact.

Can I opt out of all updates?

Not really. Software with no updates becomes a security risk over time. Ask your contact for the slowest cadence available.

Next steps