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Set up accessibility features

Who is this article for?
  • Sellers with the account and settings permission to configure hardware settings. Set permissions in the Square Dashboard.
  • About accessibility

    Accessibility tools help accommodate the needs of visually-impaired sellers and customers by enabling your device to play audio of what is represented on screen.

    You can enable magnification to enlarge a selected portion of Square Terminal or the main display on your Square Register, allowing you to zoom in and out with ease.

    You can also adjust your accessibility settings to have personally identifiable information (PII) read aloud or not read aloud. Personally identifiable information (PII) is any data that, when used alone or with other relevant data, could be used to identify a specific person. PII includes the customer’s name, email address, home address, and phone number.

    Before you begin 

    You have two options for setting up your device to play aloud audio of what is shown on screen:

    • Turn on TalkBack from Square Terminal, Square Register, or an Android device.

    • Turn on VoiceOver from an iOS device or Square Stand.

    Both TalkBack and VoiceOver work with a connected Square Reader for magstripe (Lightning, v2) and (USB-C, v3) or Square Reader for contactless and chip (1st and 2nd generation).

    VoiceOver and TalkBack aren’t available when Square Reader for magstripe (headset jack, v1) is plugged directly into the headphone jack; you need to use a headphone splitter to connect both your reader and a set of headphones.

    Additional information about the use of audio channel splitters can be obtained through The National Federation of the Blind of Massachusetts.

    To turn on magnification, you need access to your Square Terminal or Square Register.

    From an Android device, you can also adjust your accessibility settings to have customer information read aloud on Square Point of Sale, the Square Retail POS app, Square Appointments, the Square Restaurants POS app, and Square Invoices.

    Turn on TalkBack

    You can turn on TalkBack from your Square Terminal, Square Register, or Android device.

    From Square Terminal or Square Register

    1. Open the Square POS app. If you are signed out, you can tap Change Settings > Accessibility.
    2. Tap ≡ More > Settings > Hardware > Accessibility.
    3. Toggle TalkBack ON.

    TalkBack automatically enables on the Customer display for Square Register when headphones are inserted into the audio jack.

    From an Android device

    1. Open the Settings app on your Android device.
    2. Tap Accessibility > TalkBack.
    3. Toggle TalkBack ON.
    4. You can also turn on TalkBack by asking Google Assistant.

    The steps to turn on TalkBack may vary depending on your Android device and version. You can also turn on TalkBack by asking Google Assistant. TalkBack features, services, and options are managed by Android directly.

    Turn on VoiceOver

    You can turn on VoiceOver on an iOS device:

    1. Open the Settings app on your iOS device.

    2. Tap Accessibility > VoiceOver.

    3. Toggle VoiceOver ON.

    VoiceOver changes the gestures you use to control your iOS device. When VoiceOver is on, you must use VoiceOver gestures to operate your iOS device.

    Turn on magnification

     You can turn on magnification from your Square Terminal or Square Register:

    1. Open the Square POS app on your Square Terminal or Square Register. If you are signed out, you can tap Change Settings > Accessibility.

    2. Tap ≡ More > Settings > Hardware > Accessibility.

    3. Toggle Magnification ON.

    Once you've enabled magnification on your Square Terminal or Square Register:

    • Triple-tap the main display screen with one finger to enlarge that area of the display. This is the only magnification level available and cannot be adjusted.

    • Using a two finger touch, press, hold and drag two finger tips around the screen to pan around the display.

    • Triple tap to stop magnification and revert to a normal display experience.

    The magnification feature does not enlarge the font on the main display or customer screen.

    Have customer information read aloud by Square apps

    On Android devices, you can adjust your accessibility settings to have customer information read aloud on Square Point of Sale, the Square Retail POS app, Square Appointments, the Square Restaurants POS app, and Square Invoices.

    1. Open the Square POS app on your android device.

    2. Tap ≡ More > Settings > Hardware > Accessibility.

    3. Toggle Allow accessibility tools to read customer info ON.

    4. Review the customers’ privacy notification and tap Accept.

    When Allow accessibility tools to read customer info is turned on, you’re responsible for complying with applicable privacy laws, like using a headset to prevent others from overhearing.

    TalkBack and VoiceOver support

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