Set Up Hardware with Square for Retail
You can use supported hardware with your Square for Retail point of sale to run your business — giving you an all-in-one countertop solution. Square for Retail Free and Square for Retail Plus are compatible with iPad, iPhone, and Square Register. With Square Stand, you can connect your iPad to a cash drawer, receipt printer, and barcode scanner to equip your business with a full POS setup.
Note: At this time, you will not be able to use either Retail app with Android mobile devices.
Set Up Hardware
USB Connection
To set up hardware from Square for Retail Free or Square for Retail Plus:
Sign in to the Square for Retail app.
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Tap the three horizontal lines on your Square Point of Sale app or tap the down arrow
on Square Register.
Tap Settings > Hardware.
Note: If you’re using a Square Stand or Square Register to connect your compatible USB receipt printers, cash drawers, and barcode scanners, just insert the USB plug directly into the USB hardware hub — your hardware will automatically connect. Just make sure you’re signed into the Retail app with a device code.
Bluetooth Connection
With the exception of the Square contactless + chip card reader which connects through the Retail app, all other Bluetooth devices will need to be connected through your iPad or iPhone settings. Read more about setting up Bluetooth hardware with your iPador setting up with your iPhone.
Note: If you’re using Square for Retail Plus with Register, Bluetooth-connected hardware accessories, including Bluetooth-connected barcode scanners, are not supported at this time.
Create Printer Station
You can create a printer station from the Retail app to limit which printers connect to specific points of sale.
To get started:
Tap the three horizontal lines on your Square Point of Sale app or tap the down arrow on Square Register.
Tap Settings > Hardware > Printers.
Tap Create Printer Station.
Name your printer (for example, “Front Register”), enable Receipts, Bills, Reports, Open Cash Drawers, Order Tickets, or Order Ticket Stubs. Choose to Automatically Print Receipts to automatically print at checkout to bypass the receipt screen. Note: This will disable digital receipts but tap on the Transactions tab to resend a receipt.
Tap Save.
Compatible Hardware
Square Stand
The Square Stand securely holds your iPad in place and swivels so your customer can review the payment total, sign, and enter their receipt information for email or SMS delivery.
You can Square Dashboard from the Square Shop. Once you have your Square Stand, just insert your iPad and start taking payments. The Square Stand includes a USB hardware hub to directly connect a supported receipt printer, cash drawer, and barcode scanner.
Read more about setting up your Square Stand, as well as recommended hardware to create your point of sale station.
Square Register
Square Register allows you to accept tap, chip, and swipe payments all from one device to create a complete POS system. Square Register also features a customer facing display to let your customers view items, complete sales, and update contact information on their own.
You can order Square Register from the Square Shop. Square Register has a Hub which allows up to five USB devices. Currently, receipt printers, keyboards, cash drawers, and USB barcode scanners are supported. Note: Bluetooth-connected hardware accessories, including Bluetooth-connected barcode scanners, are not supported with Square Register at this time.
Read more about setting up your Square Register.
Printers, Cash Drawers, and Barcode Scanners
View a full list of compatible hardware to start using your Retail point of sale. Keep in mind, the Retail app is only available for iPad, iPhone, and Square Register.
Barcode Printer
An essential piece of hardware for many retail sellers is a barcode printer. With Square for Retail Plus, you can generate and print barcodes directly from the online Square Dashboard. Note: Barcode printing is not available with Square for Retail Free. We recommend the following barcode printers for Square for Retail Plus:
Dymo Barcode Printers: LabelWriter 550 and LabelWriter 450
Zebra Barcode Printer: ZD411
Learn more about printing labels with Square for Retail Plus - including compatible label sizes and how to generate and print barcodes from your online Square Dashboard
Note: LabelWriter 550 will only work with DYMO authentic labels. LabelWriter 450 works with third party labels, but is no longer being manufactured by DYMO.
Square Contactless + Chip Card Reader
To process your customer’s card quickly and securely, you can use the Square contactless + chip card reader. If you have a free USB connection on your Square Stand or Square Register, you can plug the reader directly into the USB hardware hub by using the Dock for your contactless and chip card reader. Once you connect, you should see your reader appear automatically with the status Ready.
If you don’t have available space on the USB hardware hub, not to worry! The contactless + chip card reader can connect to the Retail app through Bluetooth. You’ll need to connect the reader through the Retail app, not through your iPad settings.
To connect the reader via Bluetooth:
Open the Retail app and tap the three horizontal lines to bring up the Main Menu.
Tap Settings > Hardware > Card Readers.
Tap Connect a Reader.
Put your reader into pairing mode by pressing the button on the back of the reader for 3-10 seconds.
Remove your finger as soon as you see orange flashing lights. If you see red flashing lights, you’ve held the button too long and you’ll need to try again.
Note: If you’re using Square Reader with Register, Bluetooth-connected hardware accessories, including Square Reader, are not supported at this time.
If you run into any issues, review troubleshooting steps to help resolve most problems with connecting the contactless and chip card reader.