Most common salon booking software glitches and how to fix them

You wake up early. You are thinking about your first client. Maybe it is a haircut, a coloring session, or a simple blow-dry. You are ready. Your salon looks great. Your team is on time. Coffee in hand, you check your salon booking app, and boom, nothing shows up. Or worse, two people booked the same chair. Your heart skips. Your perfect day just turned into chaos. Sounds familiar? 

If you run a salon, you already wear many hats. You are the stylist, the manager, the therapist, the cheerleader. Some days, even the janitor. The last thing you need is your salon booking software messing up. But it does. Appointments vanish, payments fail, and clients miss their reminders. And before you know it, angry texts start coming in. 

“I paid online, but it didn’t go through. I never got the reminder.” 

You try to stay calm, but deep down, you are frustrated. You are not alone. 

According to reports, over 60% of salon owners face software issues monthly. That is a lot of broken trust. But here is the good news: most of these problems are simple to fix. You do not need to call technical support or spend hours on hold. You can solve most booking glitches in just a few minutes. 

Let’s walk through the most common problems and how to fix them, fast, because your clients deserve smooth service. And you deserve peace of mind. 

1. “No availability,” but you are wide open 

You get a message from a client: 

“ Your online calendar says you are fully booked all week.” 

But you know you have plenty of space. So, what went wrong? 

This glitch usually happens when your working hours are not set correctly in your system. Or maybe your time zone settings are off. Another common reason? Your browser is still showing old data from a previous session. 

Here is how to fix it fast: 

• Go to your settings and double-check your business hours. Make sure your working days and times are correctly set. 
• Look at your time zone. It could be off if you have changed locations or used a different device. 
• Refresh your browser. Press Ctrl +F5 (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+R (Mac) to clear cached info. 

Want to be extra sure? Pretend you are a client. Go to your salon booking page and try scheduling an appointment. This way, you will spot any errors before your clients do. 

2. Two clients, one slot, the double booking disaster

Nothing ruins your day faster than realizing two people booked the same time. Now you have two clients standing in front of you, both saying, 

“ I booked 2 PM.” 

And you have only one chair. 

This usually happens because your devices are not syncing correctly. Sometimes you move appointments manually, and the system does not block out that time. Or maybe the software did not register a tentative hold. 

Here is how to fix it: 

• Turn on real-time sync across all devices. 
• Enable conflict alerts in your booking settings. These features notify you before double bookings happen. 
• Always refresh before making manual edits. 

Already double-booked? Be honest. Offer a client a discount or free add-on service if they reschedule. If another stylist is available, transfer the appointment. 

3. Payment failure, when clients can not pay 

This one stings. A client tries to book and pay online, but the transaction does not go through. They get annoyed and leave. You lose a booking, and maybe a regular client. 

Why does this happen? 

• The client entered the wrong card details. 
• Their card has expired or has insufficient funds. 
• Your payment gateway is down. 
• Their browser blocked the payment screen. 

Fix it like this: 

• Ask them to double-check their card information. Even a wrong CVV can cause failure. 
• Offer other payment options like Apple Pay, PayPal, or even pay-in-person. 
• Log in and ensure your booking software is still connected to your payment gateway. 

According to Stripe, 1 in 5 failed transactions are just input errors. A quick retry usually solves it. 

4. Clients say they got nothing, the ghost reminder 

You have automatic reminders turned on, but people still forget their appointments. They tell you, 

“I never got a text.” 

You check. It says it was sent. So where did it go? 

Here is the usual cause: 

• The client’s phone carrier blocked the message. 
• The email landed in spam. 
• Their number or email was entered wrong. 

Try this: 

• Send a test reminder to yourself first. Make sure the system is working. 
• Ask clients to check their spam folders and mark your messages as safe. 
• Use both SMS and email reminders. This gives you better chances of getting seen. 

Collect updated information from your clients every 3-6 months to avoid outdated contacts. 

5. Team can not access their schedule, the locked-out staff 

One of your stylists calls you in a panic: 

“ I can not log in.” 

Another one texts:  

“It says my password is wrong.” 

Suddenly, your team can not see their schedule and starts bothering you for updates. 

Here is what’s likely wrong: 

• Their password expired, or they forgot it. 
• The system locked them out after too many login attempts. 
• Your subscription might have lapsed. 

Quick fix

• Reset their passwords from your admin panel. 
• Check your subscription billing to make sure everything is paid. 
• Clear browser cookies on their device. 

 Once done, make sure they log in and test access before the next shift starts. 

6. Salon booking software shuts down or freezes 

You open the salon booking app. It loads… then crashes. Or it freezes mid-schedule. Now you are stuck staring at a blank screen with a client waiting. 

Common reasons: 

• Your phone is out of storage. 
• The app needs an update. 
• Too many temporary files are slowing it down. 

Simple solutions: 

• Update your salon booking app through the App Store or Google Play. 
• Clear the app’s cache or offload it (on iPhone: Settings> General > Storage). 
• Restart your device. It is basic, but it works. 

Prevent glitches before they happen 

Here is how to keep everything running smoothly: 

• Update regularly. New features and bug fixes make a big difference. 
• Test weekly. Make fake bookings to catch problems early. 
• Train your team. Show them how to troubleshoot basic issues. 

A few minutes a week can save you from big headaches later. 

Do not let booking glitches steal your shine 

You built your salon with love. Your clients trust you with their looks and their time. Do not let technical problems ruin that. With a few smart checks and fixes, you can avoid common booking problems. You do not need to be a technical genius. Just be aware, be prepared, and be quick to act. 

Now your bookings stay on track, your clients show up on time, and your team works in sync. No more surprises. No more stress. Just smooth days, full chairs, and happy clients.