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Troubleshoot your scanner-scale with Square for Retail

With Square for Retail Free, Plus, or Premium, you can connect a scanner-scale to sell by weight and scan items using each functionality separately or together.

Learn to connect a scanner-scale with Square for Retail.

This article provides troubleshooting for scanner-scales.

Before you begin

Make sure you are using a compatible Magellan scanner-scale and that you have followed the steps to set up your scanner-scale.

The following scanner-scales are compatible with Square Register and Square Stand (2nd generation):

Make sure that you are connecting your scanner-scale in the Square Retail POS app from Square Register or Square Stand (2nd generation).

If you are using a Square Stand (2nd generation), our support team will need to assist you with the initial setup. Contact our Support Team for assistance with connecting your Magellan scanner-scale.

Option 1: Troubleshoot flashing control panel lights

This situation often happens if there is a mismatch with the remote display configuration. If the scanner-scale came with a remote display, you must plug the remote display into the scanner-scale remote display port before powering on the scanner-scale. If the scanner-scale did not come with a remote display, you can’t plug in another remote display.

Try powering off the scanner-scale, verifying the remote display is connected to the remote display port, and then powering on the scanner scale again.

If the issue persists, there is likely a problem with the factory configuration of the Magellan, and you need to contact the manufacturer to troubleshoot the issue.

Option 2: Troubleshoot setup barcodes scanning

To scan the barcodes, print them out in high resolution on white paper. They won’t scan if they are blurry and they won’t scan if displayed on a screen.

We recommend printing each barcode single-sided on a separate sheet of paper to avoid a barcode not printing in high resolution.

Option 3: Troubleshoot “Scale issue” error message

The scanner-scale must be fully stable to function properly as a scale and fit exactly into a rigid counter. Try pressing down on the scale itself in each corner or in the middle of the device. If it moves, the scale needs to be better secured to work.

If you have a remote display, you can double check any instability by comparing the known weight of an item to the weight reported by the remote display. An unstable scale won’t show an accurate weight.

An installed scanner-scale must also be fully flush with the countertop.

Tap Scanner-scale issue within the status bar to open a hardware dialog with the scanner-scale status.

The “Under capacity” error means the scale is not properly zeroed out and is under reporting weights. If you have a remote display, try removing all weights from the scale. The scale is under reporting weights if the remote display shows -1.

To fix this issue you can try re-zeroing the scale:

  1. Remove all weights from the scale.

  2. Use the scale zero button.

  3. If the scale zero button does not fix the issue, try rebooting the scale by disconnecting the power cable and reconnecting it.

Option 4: Troubleshoot scanner-scale connection

  1. Unplug and plug back in the USB from the Square Hub.

  2. Try to establish a connection. If your scanner-scale is still not connected, continue with the steps below.

  3. Print and scan the factory reset barcode PDF below:

  4. Follow the steps to set up your scanner-scale again and make sure each barcode scans without error. Learn to connect a scanner-scale with Square for Retail.

  5. Remember to wait a few seconds between scanning each setup barcode so the device has time to process the configuration instructions.

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