thread Re: Included magnetic stripe reader? in Payments Troubleshooting

Included magnetic stripe reader?

elizelemireart — Sun, 21 Sep 2025 08:18:47 GMT

Hi, does anyone know if I should have received a free magnetic stripe reader with my square device? In the setup video this was mentioned but I didn't receive one, is this because square can now also process payments for credit cards that don't have a chip without a magnetic stripe reader? Thank you

Re: Included magnetic stripe reader?

Arie — Thu, 17 Jun 2021 05:08:28 GMT

Hi @elizelemireart,

Thanks for getting in touch! Welcome to the Seller Community 😊

The magstripe reader has been discontinued in Australia, as Australian issued cards need to run through chip or tap.

The small magstripe reader would previously mainly be used for overseas-issued cards from countries that haven't changed over to chip and tap payments. These type of cards are becoming increasingly more rare, as chip or tap payments are more secure and widely adapted.

Re: Included magnetic stripe reader?

elizelemireart — Thu, 17 Jun 2021 05:54:39 GMT

Thank you very much for that! 😊

Re: Included magnetic stripe reader?

Nick_MGCCG — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 08:10:26 GMT

Hi Arie,

I came here with the same question as elizelemireart and saw your answer. Are you saying that financial institutions in Australia don't issue mag stripe cards any more? Does this also mean there are no mag stripe credit/debit cards in use any more in Australia (unless they come from overseas)? I'm just wondering if I'm likely to encounter an older mag stripe card with no chip.

Thanks, Nick.

Re: Included magnetic stripe reader?

Arie — Wed, 23 Jun 2021 00:39:35 GMT

Hey @Nick_MGCCG,

Thanks for writing in!

Visa, Mastercard and AMEX cards all feature chips already and have for a while. Magstripe or ‘swipe only’ cards are being phased out by eftpos in Australia, so now all new eftpos branded cards also feature chips. The likeliness of running into an old 'swipe only' eftpos card would be very low.

Re: Included magnetic stripe reader?

Farmgate — Tue, 23 Nov 2021 07:33:51 GMT

Hi there,

I didnt appear to receive a magstripe reader but think I need one for the gift cards I have purchased? would that be correct?

Re: Included magnetic stripe reader?

Arie — Wed, 24 Nov 2021 03:19:53 GMT

Hey @Farmgate,

Thanks for writing in, and welcome to our community!

You can accept gift cards without the magstripe reader - take a photo of the gift card QR code or barcode with your device’s camera, or scan the gift card barcode with a barcode scanner instead. Please let us know how you go 🙂

Re: Included magnetic stripe reader?

Farmgate — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 20:32:14 GMT

Hi Arie,

The gift card doesn't have a QR code or barcode so can not be scanned by scanner or camera. It only has the card number that can be manually entered - but there doesn't appear to be an easy option to manually enter gift card number, Please help. I would like to send an image of the cards but cant seem to do this via this thread?

Re: Included magnetic stripe reader?

Arie — Wed, 01 Dec 2021 00:55:39 GMT

Hey @Farmgate,

Thanks for checking!

You should be able see manual gift card entry as a payment option in your Point of Sale - you might need to tap > More when going through the checkout. This is what it looks like from my end:

Let us know if this is an option for you!