Reader will not enter pairing mode

Hellgamatic — Sat, 20 Sep 2025 07:17:31 GMT

I have a second generation contactless and chip reader, fairly new, that will no longer enter pairing mode. As soon as it flashes orange I let go of the button, and it *immediately* flashes red once and then the lights go off. I've restarted it four times, and then followed the directions to factory reset it by restarting it twice in a row very quickly, and the problem continues to persist. Please note I am *not* holding it down "too long," I'm literally letting it flash orange one single time.

Re: Reader will not enter pairing mode

Katie_SQ — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 02:43:26 GMT

Sorry to hear about the connection issues you’re having with your Square Reader, @Hellgamatic!

To confirm, have you followed all of the troubleshooting steps outlined in this Support Center article? Below are some of the key considerations you'll want to review:

Check for Other Connections:
- Are any other Square Readers connected to your device via Bluetooth or the Square App?
- Has this Square Reader ever successfully connected to any other devices?
- Are there any other Bluetooth devices, like speakers, connected to your device?
Device and App Status:
- Is your device successfully connected to the internet?
- Is your Square Reader is fully charged? You’ll want to charge it for at least 20 minutes before proceeding.
Software and App Updates:
- Make sure your device is running the latest software version available (iOS or Android).
- Update the Square App to the latest version from the App Store.
- If necessary, delete and reinstall the app from the App Store.
Bluetooth and Reader Reset:
- Clear the Bluetooth device cache by selecting 'forget this device' within your device's Bluetooth settings.
- Restart Bluetooth by turning it off and then back on.
- Perform a reset on the reader.
- Re-pair the reader from the Square App by navigating to More > Settings > Hardware > Square Readers.
- If needed, perform a factory reset on the reader.
  - Instructions for the above steps can be found here.

If none of these steps resolve the issue, please reach out to our Support Team. If your Square Reader is less than 12 months old, it qualifies for warranty coverage.

Please let me know if you have any other questions!

Re: Reader will not enter pairing mode

TeeWee — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 07:07:49 GMT

Having the same issue. Did you manage to find a fix?

thread Reader will not enter pairing mode in Payments Troubleshooting

Reader will not enter pairing mode

Re: Reader will not enter pairing mode

Re: Reader will not enter pairing mode