thread Re: 2nd Generation Register USB-C Magstripe reader stopped working in Hardware Setup & Troubleshooting

2nd Generation Register USB-C Magstripe reader stopped working

FirebrickBread — Fri, 22 May 2026 21:49:35 GMT

I was forced to buy a 2nd Generation register after my 1st Gen got stuck in a "Customer Display Updating" loop.

The new register came with a USB-C magstripe reader. That reader was working fine up until today, when I needed to load a bunch of Giftcards. I tried all the steps. The register sees the reader, says it's there, but doesn't read the Giftcard numbers.

I'm not going to send back the whole register in the middle of my season just because the reader isn't working.

Is there anything else I can try? I am very good at swiping just the right way, but this has me baffled. Of note: after the latest (almost daily) update, I did get an occasional message that something is wrong with the reader.

Helpful for any advice, or for information on how to get Square to send me a new reader.

Re: 2nd Generation Register USB-C Magstripe reader stopped working

alexandriak — Mon, 25 May 2026 17:51:35 GMT

Have you tried making sure there isn't any gunk on the reader that would be causing a problem?

Re: 2nd Generation Register USB-C Magstripe reader stopped working

schaefferjosh — Tue, 26 May 2026 01:52:31 GMT

I agree with @alexandriak. Sometimes, even a speck of something will make a mag strip not function.

Re: 2nd Generation Register USB-C Magstripe reader stopped working

FirebrickBread — Tue, 26 May 2026 12:33:58 GMT

Yes, the reader is clean. Only had it for a couple of months on top of that...