Offline payments time limits

Payment card industry partners set specific requirements related to the duration of offline payment sessions. Due to those requirements, Offline payments product features, including the duration and availability of offline payments, may differ based on the payment type and hardware used.

Enable Offline payments by tapping ≡ More > Settings > Checkout > Offline payments > toggle on > Allow.

When the Offline payments feature has been enabled you will see a notification banner at the top of your device screen indicating that your device has automatically started an offline payments session accompanied by a countdown clock showing how much time you have left to accept offline payments. You will receive an in-app notification when your offline session has expired or if it was interrupted. 

Note: Square Register and Square Terminal will not show an on-screen countdown clock.

There are duration limitations associated with how long you can accept offline payments once you go offline and how long you have to upload offline payments once you regain internet connectivity.

You’ll have up to 24 hours from when your device goes offline to accept and upload offline payments using:

• Square Reader (1st generation - v3) for insert and tap payments.

• Square Reader (2nd generation) for insert and tap payments.

• Square Stand (2nd generation) for insert and tap payments.

Note: For the products listed above, you must reconnect your device to the internet and upload your offline payments within 24 hours of the start of your Offline payments session. Once you reconnect to the internet, your offline session will restart if you go offline again.

Offline payments are not available on Square Reader (1st generation - v1 and v2). Learn how to identify your Square Reader in our Support Centre.

You’ll have up to 24 hours from when you process the first offline payment to accept Offline payments using:

• Square Stand (1st generation) for swipe payments.

• Square Terminal for swipe, insert and tap payments.

• Square Register for swipe, insert and tap payments.

Note: For the products listed above, you must reconnect your device to the internet and upload your offline payments within 24 hours of when you process your first offline payment. Once you reconnect to the internet, your offline session will restart if you go offline again.

Afterpay transactions, physical and eGift cards and eftpos/swipe-only cards will not work with offline payments.

Learn more about processing offline payments in our Support Centre. Legal Terms & Conditions apply.