EFR
Frequently Asked Questions
General
How can I assign an EFR to a location?
To assign an EFR to a specific location, a transaction must be sent from the POS system with the correct location information.
Instructions
- Send a transaction from the POS system.
- Ensure that the transaction contains the correct TL (Terminal Location).
- The TL must match the internal location ID that was specified when the location was created in the efsta Portal.
Once a transaction with the correct TL has been sent, the EFR is assigned to the location automatically.
How do I configure offline licenses?
To use an offline license, it must first be activated in the EFR interface using a license key generated in the efsta Portal.
Here is how you order a offline License
Portal FAQs – How do I order offline licenses for my company
Once the license has been purchased, the activation process only takes a few minutes.
Step-by-step instructions
1. Retrieve the license key in the efsta Portal
After purchasing the offline license:
- Wait approx. 5 minutes until the license key is automatically generated
- Open the efsta Portal
- Navigate to the section “Offline Licenses”
- Copy your license key
2. Open the EFR interface
- Open a browser on the device where the EFR is installed
- Enter the following address:
localhost:5618
3. Activate the license in the EFR
- Navigate to the License section
- Paste the copied license key into the designated field
- Click the “Activate” button
The offline license is now activated and ready to use.
Important notes
- The license key is generated automatically after purchase
- Activation is done directly in the EFR interface
- Ensure that the correct device and EFR instance are used
How do I uninstall and reinstall the EFR?
If the EFR needs to be reinstalled, the existing installation must first be removed completely. Follow the steps below to uninstall and reinstall the EFR correctly.
Uninstallation
1. Create the daily closing receipt
Germany (DE)
- Send the daily closing (NFS=Z).
Austria (AT)
- Open a browser and navigate to
http://localhost:5618. - Open the Control tab.
- Select Create Closing Receipt.
- Wait until the closing receipt is available in the efsta Portal and the deregistration has been confirmed by the tax authority (FISCAL_AT-CLOSE--P-).
2. Stop the EFR service
- Stop the EFR service on the device.
3. Uninstall the EFR
- Completely uninstall the EFR application from the device.
4. Create a backup (optional)
- Save the EFR folder externally if you want to keep a backup.
5. Delete the EFR folder
- Delete the following folder:
C:\ProgramData\EFR
6. Deactivate the EFR in the efsta Portal
- Open the efsta Portal.
- Click the three dots <...> next to the affected EFR.
- Select Deactivate Register.
Reinstallation
1. Download the EFR
- Download the required EFR version for your country from the EFR download page.
2. Install the EFR
- Install the EFR on the desired device.
3. Configure the EFR
- Complete the required EFR configuration after the installation.
For Austria, always wait until the closing receipt is available in the efsta Portal and the deregistration has been confirmed before uninstalling the EFR.
Creating a backup of the EFR folder is optional but recommended if the installation needs to be reviewed later.
POS ID already in use
Multiiple POS systems using the same POS ID must be closed before the POS ID can be changed.
Using identical POS IDs is not permitted and may prevent transactions from being processed correctly.
Instructions
- Ensure that all POS systems using the same POS ID are closed.
- Open the EFR interface at:
http://localhost:5618 - Open the Steuerung tab.
- Click Kassa außer Betrieb nehmen.
- Contact your POS provider and request a change of the POS ID.
- After the POS ID has been changed, wait 1–2 hours before using the POS systems again.
- Verify that the POS status is displayed as green.
Using identical POS IDs is not permitted and must be corrected to ensure proper operation.
After the POS ID has been changed, the systems may require up to 1–2 hours before the new configuration is fully applied.
How can I perform a switch between hardware, cash register or server?
If you are changing hardware, replacing a cash register, or moving your server within your company, you can transfer your existing EFR installation to the new system.
This allows you to keep all existing settings and the EFR register number, avoiding the need for a complete setup from scratch.
Step-by-step instructions
Follow the steps below carefully to ensure a successful migration.
1. On the old cash register / hardware
Prepare the existing system:
- Uninstall the EFR
- Save the EFR folder externally (e.g. USB drive or network location)
- Delete the local EFR folder from:
C:\ProgramData
2. On the new cash register / hardware
Transfer and reinstall the EFR:
- Copy the saved EFR folder to:
C:\ProgramData
- Install the EFR
- Check the configuration settings
Important notes
If the process is performed correctly:
- all settings are retained
- the existing EFR register number remains unchanged
⚠️ It is essential to follow the steps exactly as described, otherwise errors may occur.
Limitations
This method does not work in the following cases:
- Multicompany environments
- Single clients within a MultiPOS setup
Need help?
If you have any questions or encounter issues:
What are the common HTTP 4xx and 5xx errors?
HTTP error codes indicate problems that occur when a system communicates with a server.
They help identify whether an issue is caused by the client (request) or the server.
HTTP 4xx errors (client-side errors)
Errors in the 4xx range indicate that the request sent to the server was invalid or incomplete.
In most cases, the issue can be resolved by adjusting the request.
Common 4xx errors and their meaning
| Code | Error | Description | Typical causes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 400 | Bad Request | The request cannot be processed due to invalid syntax or data | Malformed JSON Incorrect headers Invalid query parameters |
| 401 | Unauthorized | Authentication is missing or invalid | Missing or incorrect API key Expired authentication token |
| 403 | Forbidden | The request is authenticated but access is denied | Insufficient permissions Blocked IP address Restricted endpoint |
| 404 | Not Found | The requested resource does not exist | Incorrect URL Renamed or unavailable endpoint |
| 409 | Conflict | The request conflicts with the current state of the system | Duplicate entries Resource already exists Version conflicts |
| 429 | Too Many Requests | Too many requests were sent in a short time | Rate limit exceeded |
HTTP 5xx errors (server-side errors)
Errors in the 5xx range indicate that the server failed to process a valid request.
These issues are typically not caused by the client, but by the server or infrastructure.
Common 5xx errors and their meaning
| Code | Error | Description | Typical causes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 | Internal Server Error | A general server error caused by unexpected conditions | Server-side bugs Unhandled exceptions |
| 501 | Not Implemented | The requested functionality is not supported by the server | Unsupported HTTP methods |
| 502 | Bad Gateway | A gateway server received an invalid response from another service | Upstream service failure Communication issues between systems |
| 503 | Service Unavailable | The server is temporarily unable to handle the request | Maintenance System overload Limited resources |
| 504 | Gateway Timeout | A gateway did not receive a response in time from an upstream server | Slow backend processes Network issues |
See HTTP Status Codes
For a complete overview of all HTTP status codes and their classification, please refer to the official documentation:
What's the difference between online and offline EFR?
The EFR (Electronic Fiscal Register) can be operated in online or offline mode.
Both modes differ in how data is processed, stored, and transmitted, especially in terms of data availability, security, and legal handling.
Online EFR
An Online EFR is automatically created in the efsta Cloud as soon as an online connection is available.
It receives an EFR number and enables continuous synchronization with the cloud.
In Austria, cash registers are also automatically registered with the tax authorities via a generated start document.
Monitoring
The monitoring function provides an immediate overview of the cash register status and fiscalization.
It allows users to:
- check the current status of the cash register
- verify correct fiscalization at any time
Archiving
With Online EFR, data is safely stored according to legal retention periods.
- Data is stored in the cloud
- Start, monthly, and annual receipts are automatically transmitted (Austria)
- In case of a cash register failure, data remains available up to the time of the issue
Customer retrieval
Customers benefit from high flexibility:
- Data can be accessed at any time
- Transactions remain transparent and traceable
- Compliance requirements are easier to fulfill
Even with an Online EFR, temporary offline operation is possible:
- Data is stored locally during connection loss
- It is automatically transferred to the efsta Cloud once the connection is restored
This ensures uninterrupted work without manual intervention.
Offline EFR
In Offline mode, the system does not continuously synchronize with the efsta Cloud.
This means that data handling and responsibility differ significantly from Online EFR.
Important differences to online EFR
- Data is not automatically stored in the cloud
- No automatic backup or synchronization
- The user is responsible for data security and compliance
Backup responsibility
To minimize data loss, it is recommended to:
- perform daily backups, or at least
- perform weekly backups
In case of failure
If a cash register failure occurs:
- Data is only available up to the last backup/export
- Data loss may occur if no recent backup exists
- The user must report the failure to the financial authority independently
Example scenario
- A data export is performed on Monday
- The cash register fails on Wednesday
Result: Only data up to Monday is available. All data after that may be lost.
Export
How can I create a financial export locally on the EFR
You can create a financial export directly on the EFR via the local interface.
This allows you to download all relevant data for a specific time period.
Step-by-step instructions
To create a financial export, follow these steps:
- Ensure your EFR is up to date
- Update the EFR to the latest version
- This ensures that all legal and technical changes are included
- Open the EFR interface
- Open a browser on the cash register where the EFR is installed
- Enter the following address:
localhost:5618
- Navigate to the export section
- Open the “Control” (Steuerung) tab
- Create the export
- Scroll to the bottom of the page
- Select the desired time period
- Download the required export data
The export will contain all relevant financial data for the selected period.
Browser recommendation
For best results, we recommend using:
- Google Chrome
Other browsers may:
- cause incomplete downloads
- produce errors with larger data volumes
How can I export data from the EFR?
You can export data directly from the EFR interface via your browser.
The export allows you to retrieve transaction data for a specific period.
Step-by-step instructions
To export data from the EFR, follow these steps:
- Open a browser on the cash register where the EFR is installed
- Enter the following address in the browser:
localhost:5618
- If you are using MultiPOS or MultiCompany:
- Select the relevant cash register at the top left under “def”
- Navigate to the Control tab
- Scroll to the bottom of the page:
- Select the desired time period
- Download the corresponding export file
Troubleshooting
If you cannot access the EFR interface:
- Error messages such as 404 or similar may indicate thatthe default address has been changed.
In this case: Please contact your cash register manufacturer to obtain the correct address.
Browser recommendation
For best results, use:
- Google Chrome
- Mozilla Firefox
Other browsers may not load the interface correctly.
- Open the browser on the cash register where the EFR is installed
- Enter the following in the address line:
localhost:5618- If you have a MultiPOS or MultiCompany, please select the respective cash register where the export is required at the top left under “def”
- Then navigate to the Control tab
- At the bottom you can select the period and then download the respective export
If you enter localhost:5618 and are unable to access a page (e.g. 404 error or similar), please report this to the cash register manufacturer as the default address has probably been changed to a different one.
Please try the whole process with Google Chrome and Firefox only. Other browsers tend not to load correctly.