Square Reader FAQs
Review common questions about the Square Reader.
Once you place an order, your reader will arrive in 2 to 3 working days. When your reader is dispatched, you’ll receive an email with tracking information, which you can use to follow your order.
You can return your Square reader within 30 days of the purchase date. If your reader isn’t working properly, and you’ve tried the troubleshooting tips, you can submit a warranty claim to receive a replacement. Make sure to review our warranty and return policy before getting started.
You can read a product overview, find tech specs and pricing info from the Square Reader page.
The Square Reader accepts chip cards (EMV) and contactless (NFC) payments. In addition, the Square Reader works alongside the Square Magstripe reader to swipe cards.
For more information, check out these resources:
Learn how to pair your reader and get set up.
Review these troubleshooting tips – they solve the most common issues people have with the reader.
Order Questions
The reader is £16 + VAT. Learn where you can purchase a reader.
At the moment, discounts aren’t available for the contactless and chip & PIN card reader, but you can pay for the reader in instalments instead of a one-time charge with Square’s hardware instalment plan. Learn more about the instalment plan.
Device Compatibility Questions
The reader can be used with multiple devices, but it only connects with one device at a time. To connect your reader to another device, make sure to disconnect it from its current device.
To disconnect your reader:
- Navigate to More and then Settings.
- Tap Hardware and then Square Reader.
- Select your reader from the list and tap Forget this Reader twice to confirm.
You can also disconnect the reader by holding down the button on the reader for 6-15 seconds, until you see solid red lights.
Yes, just make sure you have a strong Wi-Fi or mobile data connection to process payments and that your reader is fully charged before use.
Yes, you can use any standard micro-USB to USB cable, but the reader comes with one for this purpose. While we can only guarantee that our charger is supported, many sellers have had success charging with other cables.
Settings and Pairing Questions
You can connect your reader wirelessly or by using the included USB cable to plug directly into the USB hardware hub of the Square Stand. Keep in mind your device needs to have an internet connection to pair your reader, as Offline Mode is not available in the UK.
You can connect your reader to any device that supports BLE Bluetooth connections. Remember, you’ll need to forget the reader from your old device before you attempt to pair your reader with a new device. If you have any trouble connecting your reader to a new device, check out our
troubleshooting steps.
We don’t officially support splitters or third-party USB hubs. We recommend connecting the reader wirelessly to your iPad via Bluetooth LE.
To power it on, push the button on the reader. Once it’s on, you don’t need to worry about turning off the reader. The reader will automatically go into sleep mode when not in use for 2 hours to save battery.
The four LED lights displayed on your reader will tell you all you need to know about your reader, check out the guide below:
| Connecting your reader | |
|---|---|
| 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 | |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Note: If you don’t see one green light to initiate a payment after 30 seconds, please tap “Re-enable Apple Pay and Contactless” in the app.
| Checking your battery | |
|---|---|
| Four green lights | Battery is fully charged |
| Three green lights | Battery is 75% charged |
| Two green lights | Battery 50% charged |
| One solid red light | Battery 25% charged |
| One blinking red light | Battery is low and charge immediately |
If your reader is completely out of battery, you will see two scrolling red lights when you reconnect your reader to power and it initiates charging.
Charging and Battery Questions
You can charge the reader by connecting the included USB cable to any power source. Charging will take roughly 2-3 hours, but this will vary depending on your power source.
Battery life will vary depending on usage, but the reader should stay powered through a full day of sales.
Learn how to check your reader’s battery level.
Payment Questions
It’s easy! Watch this video to learn how:
Embedded content: https://www.youtube.com/embed/T5an8LOBcK8?list=PL11A5BA20AF5E18EA
Contactless payments describe the act of paying without touching anything. NFC (Near-Field Communications) is a technology that allows for contactless payments. Using radio frequency, NFC allows devices (e.g. smartphones) to wirelessly communicate at close range to do things like process payments. Apple Pay and Google Pay are both forms of NFC and types of contactless payments.
Yes, they’re just as secure as accepting chip cards. In some cases because of additional verification methods (like Touch ID with Apple Pay), contactless payments can be even more secure. Learn more in Square’s comprehensive guide to Apple Pay.
Chip card payments require additional security steps to transfer and verify chip data. It can take around 6-7 seconds to complete a chip card transaction when it’s inserted into the reader’s EMV card slot.
Yes, you’ll need to leave the chip card in the reader until the transaction is complete. You’ll get a confirmation message in the app and see 4 green lights on your reader when it’s time to remove the card.
Not currently, but you can practise taking contactless payments by completing a £1 sale and immediately processing a refund.