Set Up Your Square Reader
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Before setting up your Square Reader, make sure you have a compatible device with the latest version of the Square app.
For a full overview on setting up your Square Reader, watch this video or keep reading below:
1. Check the Battery of Your Square Reader
For an accurate battery reading, unplug your reader from any power source.
Firmly press and release the button on the reader. Green lights indicate that you’re charged and ready to go. If you see a single red light, charge up immediately. Once your reader is on, you don’t need to worry about turning it off. It’ll automatically go into sleep mode after 2 hours of inactivity. To wake it up from sleep mode, firmly press and release the button on the side of the reader.
2. Charge Your Square Reader
Connect one end of the accompanying USB cable to your reader and the other end to a USB port like a wall socket, portable battery, laptop/desktop computer or car charger.
It will take approximately two hours for a reader with low battery to charge completely.
Note: You can also use the Dock for Square Reader to charge and accept payments.
3. Wirelessly Connect Your Square Reader
The reader connects wirelessly with Bluetooth Low Energy (Bluetooth LE). Be sure you have the latest version of the Square app for your device – only the latest version supports the Square Reader.
To connect your reader:
Press and release the button on your reader to turn it on.
Go to your device settings and make sure Bluetooth is turned on.
Open the Square app and tap More from the navigation bar at the bottom of your screen.
Tap Settings > Hardware > Square Reader > Connect a Reader.
Put your reader into pairing mode by pressing the reader’s button for 3–5 seconds. Remove your finger as soon as you see orange flashing lights. If you see red flashing lights, you’ve held the button too long and you’ll need to try again.
When connected, the reader will be listed as Reader Ready in-app.
Any necessary firmware updates will be automatically installed once the reader has been connected. The wireless connection can be lost if the reader and device are more than 10ft apart.
Note: Processing payments in Offline Mode is currently unavailable with the Square Reader for contactless and chip cards.
If your reader was previously paired to a different device: Keep in mind, if you’re reconnecting a reader that was previously paired to a different device, you may need to forget your reader from the device it was previously paired with. For more information on reconnecting a reader, check out our troubleshooting article.
Now that you’re set up, learn more about accepting chip card and contactless payments.
Protect Your Reader
Get the most life out of your Square Reader for contactless and chip cards by avoiding damage to the hardware. Certain attachments and environments can cause damage to Square Reader over time and shorten the lifespan of your device. To protect your device:
Avoid using Square Reader in wet environments, and avoid getting water or liquid in the insert slot. Taking insert payments with wet credit cards can also cause water damage.
Do not use strong magnets, hook-and-loop fasteners (like Velcro), adhesive or mounting hardware not tested by Square to frequently mount and unmount Square Reader. Use of third-party accessories not tested by Square to secure Square Reader to surfaces can add tension or pressure to the device, which can cause damage.
Move Square Reader away from sources of Bluetooth interference, such as near microwave ovens, cordless phones, fluorescent lights or on a metal table.
To protect your Square Reader from everyday wear and tear, we recommend using the compatible cases, mount and charging dock featured in Square Shop. These cases fit a variety of mobile phones and tablets. Keep your Square Reader for contactless and chip cards charged and in place for quick, seamless countertop transactions by attaching it to the Dock for Square Reader.
What do the lights mean?
Connecting your reader
| Lights | Pairing Status |
|---|---|
| Four orange lights flashing | Reader is in pairing mode |
| Four green lights | Reader has successfully paired |
| Four red lights | Reader failed to pair |
Accepting a payment
| Lights | Payment Status |
|---|---|
| One green light | Reader is ready to take a payment |
| Moving green lights | Reader is processing a payment |
| Four green lights | Payment was accepted |
| Four red lights | Payment was declined |
Checking your battery
| Lights | Charge |
|---|---|
| Four green lights | Battery is 100% charged |
| Three green lights | Battery is 75% charged |
| Two green lights | Battery is 50% charged |
| One solid red light | Battery is 25% charged |
| One blinking red light | Battery is low – charge immediately |
Square Stand and the Square Reader
If you’re using a Square Stand with the reader, setup is simple. Place the reader into the supplied Dock for Square Reader and connect the USB cable from the dock into the USB hardware hub on the Square Stand.
You can also connect your reader wirelessly via Bluetooth Low Energy using the steps above if there are no free USB ports on your Stand’s USB accessory hub.
Watch this video to learn how to connect the Square Stand and reader:
Find answers to frequently asked questions and review these reader troubleshooting tips if you run into any issues.