When a new ArcadePay Controller comes online, it shows up in your dashboard under Machines with its device ID. That number is perfect for the hardware, but it is not how you think about your route. You think in places: the pizza shop on Main, the second claw at the bowling alley, the candy machine by the laundromat door.
Renaming each machine to match where it lives takes a minute or two, and it pays you back every time you open a report, refund a guest, or ask for help. Here is how to make it a habit.
Match the Device ID to the Machine
The device ID is printed on the label of each ArcadePay Controller. If you are installing several at once, jot down which ID went into which machine before you close the cabinet. A quick phone photo of the label next to the machine works too.
Once the controller is online, find that same ID in your dashboard under Machines. Now you know exactly which listing belongs to which cabinet.
Rename It While You Are Still On Site
The best time to rename a machine is right after you confirm it shows Online and the QR code opens the payment page. You are standing in front of it, and you know exactly where it is.
- Open your ArcadePay dashboard and go to Machines.
- Expand the device you just installed.
- Edit the machine name to match the location.
If you put the dashboard on your phone home screen, this is a few taps from the floor.
Pick a Naming Pattern and Stick With It
Consistency matters more than the exact format. A simple pattern that works for most routes is location first, then the machine, for example "Main St Pizza – Claw" or "Bowling Center – Candy 2." When every name follows the same pattern, your machine list sorts itself into something you can scan at a glance.
If a location has more than one of the same machine, number them in the order a guest walks past them. Future you, standing in that lobby, will thank you.
Where Good Names Save You Time
- Reports: The Transactions report has a machine filter, so you can narrow it to a single location when you want to see how one spot is doing.
- Refunds: When a guest asks for a refund, you find the charge by matching the machine name, time, and amount. A clear name makes that match obvious.
- Copying settings: When you copy settings from one machine to another, a quick check that the name and location are the ones you intended keeps the right pricing on the right cabinet.
- Support: Help requests go faster when you include the machine name and device ID. A real location name tells us exactly which machine you mean.
Keep Names Current When Things Move
If you move a controller to a different machine, your pricing and settings carry over automatically, but the old name comes along too. Rename it to the new spot (Machines, expand the device, edit the name) so your reports keep making sense. The full steps are on our Move Your Controller to a Different Machine page.
The Takeaway
Every time a controller comes online, match the device ID on the label to the listing under Machines and rename it to its location before you leave. Pick one naming pattern for your whole route and keep it current when machines move. It is a small habit that makes reports, refunds, and support easier for as long as that machine is on your route. For the full first-install checklist, see Verify Your Controller Is Online and Test the Payment Page.
Questions about naming or organizing your machines? Email ops@arcadepay.app with the device ID and the email address on your account.
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