System updates

We’re experiencing issues that may affect your Square services. We’ll continue to update our status page with more information.

Home>Troubleshooting

Square Terminal FAQs

The Square Terminal is available from the Square Shop and select retailers.

Hardware

Which types of chargers will work with my Terminal?

Your Square Terminal power adaptor has a USB-C port. While some sellers have been able to charge their Square 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 > Settings.
  2. Tap Hardware > Display.
  3. Use the slider to control the brightness of your Square Terminal. From here, you can also adjust your Square Terminal’s sleep timer.

How do I change the language of Square Terminal?

You can adjust the language of your Square Dashboard to see you reports, transfers, and more in another language.

To adjust the language settings on Square Terminal:

Square Point of Sale, Square for Retail, and Square Appointments

  1. Tap ≡ More from the navigation bar at the bottom of your screen.
  2. Tap Settings > Hardware > General > Language.
  3. Select a supported language.

Square for Restaurants Mobile POS

  1. Tap the Home icon from the navigation bar at the bottom of your screen.
  2. Tap Settings > Hardware > General > Language.
  3. Select a supported language.

How do I adjust the volume?

To control the volume of Square Terminal:

  1. Navigate to ≡ More > Settings.
  2. Tap Hardware > Sounds.
  3. Use the slider to control the volume level of your Square 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 > 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 — this paper paper will only fit Square Terminal.

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?

Square Terminal has a specifically designed hub that easily connects USB accessories to your Square Terminal. Check out 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 with Square Terminal.

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 Adaptor with cable, or Receipt Printer Door directly from the Square Shop.

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

Software

How often does Square Terminal software get updated?

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 2-4 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 includes a system update, Square apps update 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 Update Tonight. 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 45 minutes 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, the updates will be applied when you next power on your device. Updates are released approximately every 2-4 weeks, involve a reboot of Square Terminal and typically take around 20 minutes to complete, but may take up to an hour.

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 and available updates.

I see “Update Available” on my status bar. What should I do?

Most software updates should happen automatically every 2-4 weeks and will happen overnight, as long as your Square Terminal is plugged in and powered on, and the battery level is at least 35%.

However, sometimes, we have a critical update that should be installed more urgently. When that happens, you’ll see Update Available in your status bar to install immediately. Installing the updates includes a full reboot of your device.

If your business doesn’t allow you to update Square Terminal right away, it will go through the normal update process 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 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 navigation bar at the bottom of your screen. Tap Nightly Reboot and select the time that works best for your business.

Note: This adjustment will not take effect on the next nightly reboot, but instead the one after that.

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 are not within Square’s domain.

Can I download other apps on Square Terminal?

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

Points of sale

What are the fees associated with the Square Terminal connected to Square Point of Sale or Square Retail app?

1.75% for each contactless payment, chip and PIN payment, or swiped magstripe card through Square Terminal and the Square Point of Sale or Square for Retail app.

Learn more about Square’s fees.

What devices can I use to connect the Square Point of Sale app and Square Terminal?

You can connect your Square Terminal as a customer-facing display to a compatible smartphone, Square Stand, iPad, or tablet. Check your device compatibility.

What devices can I use to connect the Square Retail app and Square Terminal?

Square Terminal will connect to the Square Retail app on compatible iOS devices only. Check your device compatibility.

Which Square apps can I connect with to Square Terminal?

You can connect Square Terminal to the Square Point of Sale app and the Square for Retail app. Square for Restaurants, Square Invoices and Square Appointments are not yet supported.

Can I connect an iPad in a Square Stand to a Terminal and Reader at the same time?

Yes, you can plug Square Reader into your Square Stand via the dock and connect the Square Terminal to your iPad wirelessly.

Can I connect Square Terminal to Square Register?

Not right now, but you can use your customer display on Square Register for the same function.

Will Square Terminal still have the same functions as the Square app?

Once you connect your Square Terminal to a device, it will stay on a “Powered by Square” screen. From there, you’ll be able to change your settings and access support resources. Simply swipe from the left to the middle of the screen to access the menu.

Will the payments taken on the Square Terminal appear in my transaction history?

Payments accepted on Square Terminal automatically appear on your online Square Dashboard and sync across all Square devices logged in to your business location.

Can't find what you need?