Troubleshoot item details and variation selection on Square Point of Sale
About item details and variation selection
The item details screen appears when you tap an item at checkout that has variations or modifiers to configure. Depending on your POS mode and item settings, items may behave differently — some add directly to your cart while others open the item details screen first.
This article helps you troubleshoot unexpected behavior when items skip the details screen or open it when you don't expect them to.
Before you begin
These troubleshooting steps apply to the Square Point of Sale app on iOS, Android, Square Register, Square Terminal, and Square Handheld.
Your device must be running the latest version of the Square Point of Sale app.
Item details settings are available for standard, services, and F&B modes. Retail mode does not currently support these settings.
Troubleshoot item details and variation selection
Follow these steps from least to most invasive. Stop if a step resolves your issue.
Step 1: Verify your POS mode
Item details behavior differs between Standard mode and F&B mode. In Standard mode, items without variations or required modifiers are always added directly to the cart — regardless of the Skip customization when possible setting. In F&B mode, the Skip customization when possible setting is respected for all items.
From the Square Point of Sale app, tap the navigation menu (≡ More).
Tap Settings > General.
Check which POS mode is active (standard, services, or F&B).
If you're using Standard mode and items without variations are adding directly to the cart, this is expected behavior. If you need items to always open the details screen (for example, to add notes), switch to F&B mode or add a modifier set to the item.
If your mode is correct and the issue persists, continue to Step 2.
Step 2: Check the per-item skip setting
Each item has its own Checkout Behavior settings that control whether it skips the item details screen. These settings override global behavior.
Sign in to Panel de Datos Square and go to Items & orders > Items > Item Library.
Select the item that isn't behaving as expected.
Scroll down to Checkout Behavior.
Verify that Skip customization when possible is set to your preference (on = item skips the details screen when no choices are required; off = item always opens the details screen).
If the item has variations, verify that Preselect first variation is set to your preference (on = the first variation is automatically selected when you tap the item).
Click Save.
If the settings are correct but the item still behaves unexpectedly, continue to Step 3.
Step 3: Confirm the item has variations or modifiers
Items without any variations or required modifiers will always add directly to the cart in Standard mode, regardless of settings. This is by design — there are no choices to make, so the details screen is skipped.
From Square Dashboard, go to Items & orders > Items > Item Library.
Select the item in question.
Check whether the item has at least one variation or modifier set assigned.
If the item has no variations or modifiers and you want the details screen to appear, add a modifier set to the item. Learn how to Crea y edita modificadores.
If the item does have variations or modifiers and still behaves unexpectedly, continue to Step 4.
Step 4: Verify your app is up to date
Older versions of the Square Point of Sale app may not support the latest item details settings.
Open your device's app store (App Store on iOS, Google Play on Android).
Search for Square Point of Sale.
If an update is available, install it and reopen the app.
Test the item again to see if the behavior is corrected.
If the issue persists after updating, continue to Step 5.
Step 5: Contact Square Support
If you've verified your POS mode, per-item settings, item configuration, and app version and the item still doesn't behave as expected, contact Square Support for additional assistance. When you contact support, have the following ready:
The name of the item that isn't working as expected
Your POS mode (standard, services, or F&B)
The device you're using
What you expect to happen vs. what actually happens