Square Reader for Magnetic Stripe Cards FAQ

Most issues with Square Reader can be fixed with these troubleshooting steps.

Square Reader for magstripe is no longer available for sale in Canada. Find alternative options and learn more about Magstripe Reader End of Life in our Support Centre.

Yes, Square Reader is universal. It doesn’t store any specific account or bank account information, and it can be used to accept payments from multiple Square accounts.

Apple devices running iOS 15 or above, and most Android devices running the latest version of Android OS are supported – as long as they also have a 3.5 mm headphone jack or Lightning connector and location services.

Check to see if your device is compatible, or learn how to update your device’s software.

We don’t officially support audio jack adaptors or extension cables, but our merchants recommend a few that work well.

The Square Reader for magstripe processes magnetic stripe cards only, but you can use the Square Reader for contactless and chip to accept chip and contactless cards.

If you have an iPhone 7 or newer, you can use the new Square Reader for magstripe with Lightning connector.

If you are using a device that does not have a headset jack, you can use the headset adapter included with your device that enables you to connect 3.5 mm audio accessories, like your favourite headphones or the Square Reader, to the device’s main port (like a USB-C port).

We also recommend using the Square Reader for contactless and chip with your new device, as it connects wirelessly with Bluetooth LE. You can accept contactless card payments, chip card payments and mobile wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay.