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Square Terminal FAQ

Hardware

Which types of chargers will work with my Terminal?

Your Square Terminal power adapter has a USB-C port. While some sellers have been able to charge their Terminals with third-party chargers, we recommend using the power adapter provided with your Square Terminal.

How do I adjust the brightness of the display?

To control the brightness of Square Terminal:

  1. Navigate to More and then tap Settings.
  2. Tap Hardware and then Display.
  3. Use the slider to control the brightness of your Terminal. From here, you can also adjust your Terminal’s sleep timer.

How do I adjust the volume?

To control the volume of Square Terminal:

  1. Navigate to More and then tap Settings.
  2. Tap Hardware and then Sounds.
  3. Use the slider to control the volume level of your Terminal.

Note: You cannot control the payment success beep tone at this time.

How do I change the date and time of Square Terminal?

To update the time and date on your Square Terminal:

  1. Tap More from the navigation bar at the bottom of your screen.
  2. Tap Settings and then Hardware.
  3. Tap General and then toggle Set Automatically
  4. Choose the correct time, date and time zone.

From this screen you can also adjust your Square Terminal’s nightly reboot, check out the software section of this article for more information on your nightly reboot.

If I need more receipt paper, where should I buy it?

You can buy additional receipt paper right from our Square Shop

You can also purchase receipt paper from your local office supplier or retailer that sells receipt paper. Square Terminal supports thermal receipt paper with 57 mm x 15mm dimensions.

What other hardware accessories does Square Terminal support?

The Square Terminal has a specifically designed hub that easily connects USB accessories to your Square Terminal. Check out our supported devices to see a full list.

To purchase a Hub to connect supported hardware, visit our Square Shop.

Keep in mind, Bluetooth connected accessories are not currently supported.

What if my Square Terminal breaks?

Square Terminal is built with Gorilla glass and durable construction to ensure that no matter where you are processing payments, your Square Terminal can keep up.

You can order a replacement Hub, Power Adapter with cable, or Receipt Printer Door directly from the Square Shop.

If you have any trouble with your Square Terminal, reach out to our
Support Team and we can help!

Software

How often does Square Terminal software update?

One of the benefits of Square Terminal is that we keep the software up to date automatically, so you’ll always get the latest features and improvements without any cost. We will update the software every 2–8 weeks. To enable automatic updates, you’ll just need to leave Square Terminal powered on and plugged in overnight. Automatic updates require a battery level of at least 35% to initiate.

Note: Software updates for Square Terminal generally require 2 GB per month. This does not include attempts to retry failed downloads, so it’s recommended to connect to Wi-Fi overnight to help facilitate software updates.

Square Terminal software updates may include a system update, Square app updates and a firmware update.

If a Square apps update is recommended before the automatic nightly update, a notification will appear on the screen. To defer this update, tap Defer Update. The update will then begin overnight at 3 a.m. (or at your custom-set time) as long as your Square Terminal is powered on and plugged in. To start the update immediately, tap Install Now.

If you manually update your Square Terminal software from your settings, you will not see an option to defer the Square apps update. The update may take up to one hour to complete.

Why is my device updating in the morning?

If you’ve powered down your Square Terminal overnight and there are software updates available, you’ll be prompted to choose a software update option when you next power on your device. Updates are released approximately every 2–8 weeks, involve a reboot of Square Terminal and typically take around 20 minutes to complete but may take up to an hour.

  • Tap Install Now to immediately start the update.
  • Tap Defer Update to delay the update by up to seven days. You’ll be prompted once a day to update until the seventh day. Then you’ll be required to update the software.
  • You can manually start the software update at any time by tapping ≡ More > Settings > Hardware > General > About Terminal > Software Update > Install Now.

Note: In rare cases, updates are required immediately for security purposes and you might not see the option to Defer Update.

To ensure your Square Terminal can update overnight – just make sure it’s plugged in and powered on, but the display can be turned off. To turn off the display, simply tap the power button quickly and Square Terminal will go to sleep.

How do I know if my Square Terminal software is up to date?

You can check your software at any time. Head to ≡ More > Settings > Hardware > General. Scroll to the bottom of the page and tap About Terminal. From this page, you’ll see your software version. Tap Check for Update to see if a software update is available. If you see Software Up To Date, then you are all set.

How can I change the time at which software updates happen?

Software updates are, by default, set at 3 a.m. to avoid any disruption to your normal business hours. If you need to adjust your nightly reboot time, head to ≡ More > Settings > Hardware > General from the navigation bar at the bottom of your screen. Tap Nightly Reboot and select the time that works best for your business.

Note: This adjustment won’t take effect on the next nightly reboot, but instead the one after that.

Why do some software updates take longer than others?

Square Terminal software updates may include a system update, Square app updates and a firmware update. Software updates can take anywhere from 15 minutes to one hour to complete, depending on which updates are needed.

Why are my Square apps prompting an update when my software is up to date?

Square Terminal software updates may include a system update, Square apps updates and a firmware update. Software updates are released every 2–8 weeks and can take anywhere from 15 minutes to one hour to complete, depending on which updates are needed.

However, Square apps updates are also released independently every 2–4 weeks, which can result in your Square apps running different versions on Square Terminal. Independent Square apps updates normally take up to 10 minutes to complete.

Square Terminal will only update the app you are logged in to; keeping the speed of software updates fast and the size small so you can get back to running your business. If you are logging in to another app for the first time, you’ll be prompted to update upon login.

The following Square apps are available on Square Register:

  • Square Point of Sale
  • Square Restaurants POS app
  • Square Retail POS app
  • Square Appointments POS

How do I access a web browser?

Square Terminal does not have a browser. This means that you cannot use Square Terminal to check emails, access search engines (e.g. Google) or browse any other websites that aren’t within Square’s domain.

Can I download other apps on Square Terminal?

No, you cannot download or use other applications (e.g. Facebook) on Square Terminal. Square Terminal does not support any app stores.

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