Square Reader for Magnetic Stripe Cards FAQ
Review common questions about Square Reader.
Most issues with Square Reader can be fixed with these troubleshooting steps.
Square Reader for magnetic stripe cards is no longer available for sale in Canada. Find alternative options and learn more about Magnetic Stripe Reader End of Life.
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 14 or later, and most Android devices running the latest version of Android OS are supported – as long as they also have a 3.5mm 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 adapters or extension cables, but our merchants recommend a few that work well.
The Square Reader for magnetic stripe cards processes magnetic stripe cards only, but you can use the Square Reader for contactless and chip & PIN cards to accept chip and contactless cards.
If you have an iPhone 7 or later, you can use the new Square Reader for Magnetic Stripe Cards with Lightning connector.
If you’re using a device that does not have a headset jack, you can use the headset adapter included with your device, which 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 & PIN cards 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.