thread Re: Terminal froze on Powered by Square screen in Hardware Setup & Troubleshooting

Terminal froze on Powered by Square screen

pawsonfourth — Sat, 03 Jan 2026 04:03:19 GMT

I paired my brand new square terminal with my grooming software today and once paired, it got stuck on the powered on screen. I restart it a few times and it continued happening, and then did a factory reset multiple times. Finally called support and they had me do another factory reset and eventually told me to take it back to Best Buy and get a new one. So I did, and the same thing is happening on the 2nd new one. What do I do?

Re: Terminal froze on Powered by Square screen

TheRealChipA — Sat, 03 Jan 2026 12:46:03 GMT

@pawsonfourth More information needed, please. That screen is usually only displayed when someone is using the Terminal in what is called Connected Terminal mode. In that mode, the Terminal becomes a customer-facing payment device, only. It is not used as a POS. So, can you please explain your hardware setup? What are you hoping to use the Terminal to do? When you say "grooming software," what software is that? Finally, what do you mean that you paired Terminal with that software?

Honestly, Terminal seems to be doing what is is meant to do and waiting for a payment request to be sent to it. But without more information, it is impossible to say, for sure.

Re: Terminal froze on Powered by Square screen

pawsonfourth — Sat, 03 Jan 2026 14:01:38 GMT

I have a grooming salon and use the website GrooMore as my scheduling software/checking clients out. To pair my terminal with their website, they give me a pairing code to use to sign into my terminal with, clicking "sign in with device code" but once I click sign it, it goes to that screen and doesn't change. When I click take payment on my software, nothing happens on the terminal. The screen doesn't change, I tried tapping/inserting my card as a test and it wouldn't do anything. I can swipe left on my terminal screen, and I can go to the settings, so I don't think it's froze. If I click "check out" in the options after swiping left, nothing happens.

Re: Terminal froze on Powered by Square screen

TheRealChipA — Sat, 03 Jan 2026 14:15:08 GMT

@pawsonfourth Thank you for that helpful clarification. I checked GrooMore's website. From what I see there, they ONLY integrate with Square Online for processing online payments. There is nothing on their website OR in the Square App Marketplace that says that you can integrate a Square Terminal to process cards in their system. They seem to have their own, proprietary card processing software.

The Square Terminal in connected terminal mode can only process cards when a transaction is PUSHED to it. That's how it works in the Square ecosystem with a Square POS. It's default mode is the "powered by Square" screen until a transaction is pushed to it.

I'm guessing that someone told you wrong that you could used a Square Terminal to process GrooMore transactions. That does not seem to be the case at all. I don't even think that Square has opened up connected terminal mode to third parties -- at least I can find no announcement that they have.

Re: Terminal froze on Powered by Square screen

pawsonfourth — Sat, 03 Jan 2026 14:40:41 GMT

This is one the GrooMore app, where I go to connect. It actually claims I'm already paired to my terminal.

Re: Terminal froze on Powered by Square screen

TheRealChipA — Sat, 03 Jan 2026 14:47:19 GMT

Interesting. That is not on their website of features. Thanks for that clarification AND the screen shot. I love those. Anyway....

So, as I said in my previous post, Square POS has a button to send a payment to the connected terminal. It doesn't go automatically because customers might be paying in cash. There must be a button in GrooMore to send a payment to the terminal. This is how connected terminal mode works in Square. Since you are on the "powered by Square" screen, something needs to say to terminal that "here is a payment to collect." Look for that, and you should be good to go.

Re: Terminal froze on Powered by Square screen

pawsonfourth — Sat, 03 Jan 2026 14:56:16 GMT

I just got it to work! Thank you so much 🙂

Re: Terminal froze on Powered by Square screen

pawsonfourth — Sat, 03 Jan 2026 14:58:44 GMT

Not sure if this is something you could help with, but after I selected print receipt, the receipt came out blank lol

Re: Terminal froze on Powered by Square screen

TheRealChipA — Sat, 03 Jan 2026 15:25:38 GMT

I need to check my receipt setup. I've always had problems with receipts on connected terminal. Since I have an ice cream shop and customers RARELY ask for receipts, I just print them on my POS printer. But I will check and get back with you on that.

I'm happy that you are able to process cards. Also, thank YOU for helping me learn that Square has opened up connected terminal mode to third-party developers. That's a new one to add to my support toolbox in the Community!

Re: Terminal froze on Powered by Square screen

pawsonfourth — Sat, 03 Jan 2026 15:18:25 GMT

I realized I just had the receipt roll in the wrong way 😂 so everything is working correctly now.

Of course! I appreciate all your help, this has been much more helpful than when I called support. Have a great day!

Re: Terminal froze on Powered by Square screen

packyard — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 23:35:21 GMT

Hello @pawsonfourth - curious what grooming software do you use?

Re: Terminal froze on Powered by Square screen

pawsonfourth — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 00:52:14 GMT

I just recently started using GrooMore and I’m loving it! If you’re a groomer and are looking for a software, I have a referral code for 50% off the first two months. 🙂