thread Re: Square Hardware Issues! in Payments Troubleshooting

Square Hardware Issues!

kristie2 — Sat, 20 Sep 2025 12:00:18 GMT

We have gone through 4 square readers since October, they keep dying and breaking. It has been so frustrating! Currently we have 2 Stands with iPads, only 1 of the card swipers work and neither of our square readers is working. I am wondering if any one else has had these issues? Also, thinking about trying the terminal. We are a fast paced drive thru coffee shop so I am not sure if that would be the next best thing to try. I also considering switching to another POS system all together if I can't figure it out soon.

Re: Square Hardware Issues!

Joe — Wed, 14 Apr 2021 12:48:54 GMT

Hi there, @kristie2 - thanks for posting up here on the Seller Community once again. Good to hear from you.

So sorry to hear about this continued trouble with your Square Stands and readers. Very troubling, indeed.

Before we take a deep dive into your issues here, I am curious, have you flagged these issues over to our Support Team directly? They can try and grab some diagnostics from your devices and help troubleshoot directly. Using four separate readers in such a short time-span usually points to some kind of outstanding software issue within your anchoring device, but we can absolutely confirm that for you.

What specifically is happening when you try to process payments?

Re: Square Hardware Issues!

kristie2 — Wed, 14 Apr 2021 19:43:48 GMT

Hi Joe,

Yes, I have spent several hours on the phone with support. Sometimes we are able to get them working again just to have them stop working a few days later, other times they can't figure out the issue. I have deleted the square app on our iPads and reinstalled, made sure the os is up to date etc. They still don't seem to last more than a few days with out issues. The card readers stop syncing with the iPad or they stop holding a charge. I do have docking stations for the chip readers and that doesn't seem to matter. At this point I need to find a different solution. The other bummer is that best buy doesn't take them back after 30 days.

Re: Square Hardware Issues!

Joe — Thu, 15 Apr 2021 13:53:59 GMT

Got it, thanks for clarifying that for me @kristie2 - this definitely does sound more than frustrating. Has our Support Team opened up a ticket with our Engineers for you?

Re: Square Hardware Issues!

kristie2 — Wed, 21 Apr 2021 16:37:24 GMT

No. they just always want me to go through the same trouble shooting.

Re: Square Hardware Issues!

kristie2 — Wed, 21 Apr 2021 18:09:04 GMT

So I just called into the support team again this morning. She told me the only option I have is to continue purchasing card readers and hope they work or upgrade to the register. Its really frustrating because I haven't even been with Square for a full year and I wouldn't be able to return or exchange any of the equipment I have purchased. I would just have to start over. At this point I am going to shop other pos companies.