Square Contactless + Chip Reader FAQs
The reader connects wirelessly with the iPad 3 or higher. If you have an iPad 2 with a Square Stand, you can connect the reader directly to the Stand’s hardware hub via USB.
We don’t officially support splitters or third-party USB hubs, but you can connect the reader wirelessly to your iPad via Bluetooth Low Energy.
No, Offline Mode supports magstripe payments only, so you’ll need to use the magstripe reader or the Square Stand.
Airplane Mode disables Bluetooth on your device. Which causes your reader will disconnect. Once you go into Airplane Mode, connect your Bluetooth back on to be able to use your reader.
In case you are looking to take magstripe payments while in Offline Mode, disable Wi-Fi only and you will maintain your Bluetooth connection.
Square hardware can only be used in the country where it was originally purchased. If you see Account Ineligible, your reader may have been purchased in a different country.
Once you place an order, your reader will arrive in 5 to 7 business days. When your reader is shipped, you’ll receive an email with tracking information to follow your order.
A detailed overview on the liability shift and what it means for your business can be found in Square’s liability shift guide.
| Seller Community: See how other Square sellers prepare their employees to use the Contactless + Chip reader. |
You can return your contactless and chip 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 here.
You can use most Apple iOS devices and many Android devices with built-in Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). Check if your device is supported.
Learn more about pairing your reader and getting set up.
Review these troubleshooting tips – they solve the most common issues people have with the reader.
What types of payments can I accept?
The contactless and chip reader accepts chip cards (EMV) and contactless (NFC) payments. In addition, the contactless and chip reader works alongside the magstripe reader to swipe chip cards and magstripe-only cards.
Keep in mind: Transactions up to $100 can be processed with tap debit. For debit transactions over $100, customers will be prompted to insert their debit card and enter a PIN.
For more information, check out these resources:
Note: If your customer is not physically present, use Square Invoices or Virtual Terminal to process their payment rather than keying in their card information through the Square app.
Order Questions
The reader is $49. Learn where you can purchase one.
At the moment, discounts aren’t available for the contactless and chip reader, but you can pay for the reader in weekly installments instead of a one-time charge with Square’s hardware installment plan. Learn more about the installment plan.
Device Compatibility Questions
You can continue to use your chip card reader, but you won’t be able to use the contactless and chip reader at the same time, as they don’t work together. To process magstripe cards, you can use the Square magstripe reader alongside your contactless and chip reader.
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 do so, visit your in-app Settings > tap Card Readers > select your reader from the list > tap “Forget this Reader.”
You can also disconnect the reader by holding down the button on the reader for 20 seconds, until the red lights stop flashing.
Yes, just make sure you have a strong Wi-Fi or cellular data connection to process payments and that your reader is fully charged before use.
Yes! Check out the Dock for the Square contactless and chip reader.
Yes, you can use any standard micro-USB to USB cable, but the reader comes with one for this purpose.
Settings and Pairing Questions
You can connect your reader wirelessly or by using the included USB cable to plug directly into the hardware hub of the Square Stand. Keep in mind your device needs to have an internet connection to pair your reader, you are unable to use your reader in Offline Mode.
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.
Note: The iPad 2 doesn’t Support Bluetooth LE, so If you’re using Square Stand with the iPad 2, you’ll need to connect your reader via USB.
What do the lights mean?
The four LED lights displayed on your contactless + chip 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
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 Android 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 takes around 2 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 practice taking contactless payments by completing a $1 sale and immediately processing a refund.