# Retain Configurations for Hot Desking Phones

On a Hot Desking phone, different users sign in and out of the same device throughout the day. By default, a phone's settings reset when the guest logs off. If you would rather preserve the general device settings between sessions, you can enable a single option that retains them for the next person who signs in. This saves you from re-applying common settings on a shared phone every time a new user takes it over.

## Before you begin

The phone must be running firmware version 84.19.0.70 or higher for Cloud Voice to keep its configuration across Hot Desking sessions.

:::caution
Check the firmware version first. On a phone running older firmware, its settings still reset at logout even after you enable this option, and the change gives no warning that it had no effect.
:::

## Turn on configuration retention

1. Sign in to the PBX (Private Branch Exchange, the phone system) web portal and open **Auto Provisioning > Phones**.
2. Above the phone list, select **Options**.

   ![The phone list with the Options button available at the top](/images/pbx/auto-option.png)

3. In the dialog that opens, tick **Retain phone configuration when Hot Desking guests log out**, then select **Save**.

   ![The provisioning options dialog with the retention checkbox selected](/images/pbx/retain-config.png)

:::note
This is a global Auto Provisioning setting. Once saved, it applies to every Hot Desking phone managed here, not just one device.
:::

## What happens after a guest logs out

Once the option is enabled, a phone's general settings stay in place when an extension user logs off a Hot Desking device.

:::note
Only general device settings carry over between sessions, such as language, signal tones, distinctive ringtone, and codecs. These are the settings found under **Auto Provisioning > Phones**, then the phone's back (previous) icon, followed by the **Phone** tab.

![The Phone configuration tab where retained general settings are defined](/images/pbx/hot-desking-config.png)
:::

:::caution
Settings tied to the individual user are not retained. Extension registration details, LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) directory settings, and function key assignments (the programmable buttons on the phone) are all cleared at logout. If a user expects their personal buttons to survive a logout, they will not.
:::