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Troubleshoot connection and power issues with Square Kiosk

When Square Kiosk is properly connected, you’ll see the charging icon appear in the top-right corner of your iPad screen. If your Square Kiosk is not charging your iPad, taking payments or connecting to hardware accessories as expected, you may be experiencing connection or power failures.

When Square Kiosk hardware is running with the Square Kiosk app, it cannot directly connect to accessories, such as barcode scanners and receipt printers, through USB, Wi-Fi/Ethernet or Bluetooth. However, you can print Kiosk order tickets through your companion Point of Sale device(s) that are connected to your kitchen printers.

This article provides troubleshooting for your Square Kiosk to address connection and power failures.

Before you begin

When to troubleshoot

Connection and power failure troubleshooting involves steps that may involve physically moving around your space, and rebooting your hardware. If possible, try to troubleshoot your Square Kiosk outside of working hours. If you must troubleshoot during the working day, try to avoid peak busy hours so your customers will experience minimal delays.

Check device compatibility

Check that you are using an iPad model that is compatible with your Square Kiosk version. Review our device compatibility guide.

If you are using your Square Kiosk hardware with any Square app except Square Kiosk app and have pending offline payments, do not restart or factory-reset your Square Kiosk or delete the Square app. Pending offline payments will be permanently lost, and the funds won’t be captured. If you are running the Square Kiosk app on your Square Kiosk hardware, offline payments are not available at all. Learn how to Process offline payments.

Step 1: verify Square Kiosk cables are plugged in

Check that Square Kiosk is plugged into the USB hardware hub and that the power adapter is plugged into a grounded AC socket.

  • Gently unplug and firmly replug the power adapter into the wall.
  • Try plugging the power adapter into a different socket.

Step 2: force quit the Square app

  1. Swipe up from the bottom edge of the iPad and pause halfway up the display.
  2. Lift your finger from the display after the pause.
  3. Locate the Square app and swipe up on it.
  4. Return to the Home screen and reopen the Square app.

Step 3: confirm Square app is up to date

  1. Using your iPad, open the App Store > tap your profile icon.
  2. Scroll down to see pending updates.
  3. Tap Update All to update all apps on your device, or locate the Square app and tap Update.

Step 4: confirm iOS software is up to date

  1. Using your iPad, go to Settings > General > Software Update.
  2. The screen shows the currently installed version of iOS and whether an update is available.
  3. If applicable, tap Download and Instal.

Step 5: check Square Kiosk connections

  1. Make sure the Square app recognises Square Kiosk. To do so, navigate to Settings > Hardware > Square Kiosk to check the connection status.
    • If Square Kiosk is listed as connected and you’re still experiencing issues, restart it by pressing the Restart Kiosk button at the bottom of the page.
  2. Confirm that your iPad recognises Square Kiosk. To do so, press the home button on your iPad. Tap Settings > General > About. Square Kiosk will be listed if it’s recognised.
    • If you don’t see Square Kiosk listed, proceed to step 7.
  3. If you are on a newer version of iOS, you may need to adjust your iOS settings to ensure that your iPad maintains a constant connection to Square Kiosk. Follow these Apple steps to allow access to USB accessories on your iPad.
  4. If you have another compatible iPad available, try installing the Square app on it and plugging it into Square Kiosk. If the new iPad successfully connects to Square Kiosk, please follow these Apple troubleshooting steps for your original iPad or contact Apple support directly.

Step 6: reboot your iPad and Square Kiosk

  1. Push down on Square Kiosk’s raised security latch and slide your iPad out.
  2. Press and hold the iPad’s top button until the power off slider appears. Drag the slider, then wait for 30 seconds for your device to turn off. To turn your device back on, press and hold the top button until you see the Apple logo.
  3. Reinsert your iPad into Square Kiosk. You’ll know it’s locked in place when you hear the security latch click.
  4. Unplug the Square Kiosk from its power socket and plug it back in.

Step 7: delete and reinstal the Square app

  1. Uninstal the Square app from your iPad. Before uninstalling, make sure you’ve uploaded any offline payments, or you’ll lose those uncompleted payments.
  2. Touch and hold the app on the Home Screen, tap Remove App, then tap Delete App.
  3. Reinstal the Square app in the App Store.
  4. When you reopen the app, make sure you grant each requested permission, or the Square Kiosk will not function properly.

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