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With Tap to Pay on iPhone and Square, you can accept all types of in-person, contactless payments, right on your iPhone – from physical debit and credit cards, to Apple Pay and other digital wallets. Here’s how to get started.
Jeremy Sproull was one of the first businesses in Australia to use Square’s Tap to Pay on iPhone in his nursery, Jez’s Seedlings.
“Running a nursery means we have to be careful with where we leave technology in our space, so using Tap to Pay on iPhone has been a game-changer,” said Jeremy. “It’s simple, easy for customers, and still integrates with all the Square software we love using.””
Jeremy Sproull → Owner, Jez's Seedlings
With Tap to Pay on iPhone, Square for Retail and Square Point of Sale and Square Appointments, you can accept all types of in-person, contactless payments right on your iPhone – no extra hardware needed. When customers are ready to pay, they can use a physical credit or debit card enabled for contactless payments or they can use a digital wallet app, such as Apple Pay and tap directly on their iPhones to complete the transaction.
Here are a few things to keep in mind as you get started with Tap to Pay on iPhone.
Tap to pay on iPhone requirements
In order to accept Tap to Pay on iPhone transactions with Square, you’ll need the following phone models and settings enabled:
- You must have an iPhone XS or later.
- Update your software to the latest version of IOS. You can check this by going to Settings > General > Software Update on your Apple device.
- Connect to Wi-Fi or mobile data.
Before you accept any Tap to Pay on iPhone transactions, head to your online Square Dashboard and make sure your business name is set the way you’d like it to show up for customers under the Accounts & Settings section.
Accepting Tap to Pay on iPhone With Square
How to enable tap to pay on iPhone
- Download or open the free Square Point of Sale App
- Navigate to More > Settings > Account > Tap to Pay on iPhone > Enable Tap to Pay on iPhone.
Enter your Apple ID and you’re ready to accept contactless payments with tap to pay on iPhone.
Once the account owner enables tap to pay on iPhone, all team members under the same account with an eligible device will be able to use Tap to Pay on iPhone.
How to take contactless payments
- Key in an amount or add an item to your cart as usual, then select Tap to Pay.
- Ask your customer for a contactless payment method. You can check if a card is contactless by looking for the symbol on the card.
- Direct your customer to hold their device or to position their card horizontally at the top of your iPhone, over the contactless symbol.
- When you see the tick, the transaction is complete.
How to use Apple Pay or other digital wallets
- Download and open the Square app on your iPhone.
- Enable Tap to Pay on iPhone, then add an item or key in an amount.
- Present your iPhone to the customer and ask them for a mobile wallet such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay.
- Have your customer hold their device over the top of your iPhone at the front of your phone to pay.
- When you see the check mark, the transaction is complete.
From your Square POS App
- Go to Checkout and add items from your Library or use the Keypad to enter a custom amount.
- Tap Review Sale > Charge.
- Select Tap to Pay on iPhone and position your phone close to your customer. Have them hold their card horizontally over the contactless symbol or any NFC-type devices (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Apple Watch, etc.) to the front of the phone.
- Once the payment is complete, have your customer choose their desired receipt method.
If you are a Square seller, Tap to Pay on iPhone transactions cost 1.6% per tap, with the same security as any payment with Square. Rest assured that no customer card information will be stored on your iPhone. You can use this new payment method with your existing Square hardware, and if you use Square Reader for swipe cards, you can enable Tap to Pay on iPhone in order to accept contactless payments.
This article is for educational purposes and does not constitute legal or tax advice. For specific advice applicable to your business, please contact a professional.
