thread Re: Reader won’t pair. Update required in Payments Troubleshooting

Reader won’t pair. Update required

VikBingley — Sun, 21 Sep 2025 08:27:45 GMT

Hi I have an iPad air 4th generation. When I pair a contactless & chip reader, it says update requires. Please update Point of Sale.

Both the device & the Square App are updated

Re: Reader won’t pair. Update required

cam_inc — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 02:57:53 GMT

I have this problem too - my iPad and iPhone are running ios beta versions. My old iPhone is running the latest public non-beta version and it can connect ok.

Re: Reader won’t pair. Update required

Seamus — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 03:22:38 GMT

Hey @VikBingley and @cam_inc,

I can confirm this is definitely an issue with the 14.5 iOS Beta. The issue will be resolved once iOS14.5 goes live, however for now in order to continue using Square reader you'd unfortunately need to roll back to the public 14.4 release!

Re: Reader won’t pair. Update required

cam_inc — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 04:18:44 GMT

Thanks, Seamus - The support team sent me another reader last week because we could not get my old one working - I've opened the replacement one and had the same error and then ended up here. what should I do with it?

Re: Reader won’t pair. Update required

Seamus — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 04:48:54 GMT

Hey @Cam-inc,

The issue here unfortunately is the iOS14.5 Beta, not the reader - you'll need to roll back to iOS 14.4 in order to use Square Readers!

You can find instructions on doing this via the Apple website.

Re: Reader won’t pair. Update required

HeatherLake — Thu, 10 Jun 2021 07:42:36 GMT

I had the same problem. I reinstalled the square app, removed thereader from my bluetooth devices and then paired starting from bluetooth under settings. It worked!

Re: Reader won’t pair. Update required

cam_inc — Thu, 10 Jun 2021 07:46:39 GMT

Hi Heather! Thanks for the info, I think I did try that, but it was a while ago now and cant really remember. After a later beta iOS update, it fixed itself.

Re: Reader won’t pair. Update required

BearsBrows — Thu, 23 Sep 2021 09:02:21 GMT

I just updated my iPad to iOS15 and am facing this same issue? Square app has been updated also but reader displays “update required. Please update Point of Sale”.

Re: Reader won’t pair. Update required

RicardoVillacru — Thu, 23 Sep 2021 17:52:28 GMT

Same here. Updated my iPhone 12 Pro to iOS 15 and have that exact same message. I really hope they fix this soon.

iOS 15 was officially released a few days ago, not a beta.

Re: Reader won’t pair. Update required

Seamus — Fri, 24 Sep 2021 02:38:09 GMT

@BearsBrows @RicardoVillacru What version of the Square app are you currently using? 5.74 should be available on the app store now and works with iOS 15!

Are you able to make sure the Square app is up to date and try again? Let me know how you go 🙂

Re: Reader won’t pair. Update required

RicardoVillacru — Fri, 24 Sep 2021 12:16:23 GMT

Yep the update was available last night after work so all good today haha

Re: Reader won’t pair. Update required

Backyardpizza — Sat, 25 Sep 2021 03:49:32 GMT

I just restarted my device and the update was available. Previously it was showing as app was running current version

Re: Reader won’t pair. Update required

Arie — Sun, 26 Sep 2021 00:56:44 GMT

Glad to hear it's working for you now, @Backyardpizza @RicardoVillacru! Please let us know if you have any further questions, or issues 👍

Re: Reader won’t pair. Update required

Backyardpizza — Sun, 26 Sep 2021 00:59:44 GMT

All working, had to delete the app and forget the reader in Bluetooth. Restart my device then download app again to get the updated version. Then reconnect the reader. Eventually it all worked.

Re: Reader won’t pair. Update required

Aikon — Sat, 09 Oct 2021 10:42:51 GMT

Same problem!!!! V5.75 not working for me running iOS 15.0.1 on iPhone 13

Re: Reader won’t pair. Update required

Arie — Sun, 10 Oct 2021 00:58:24 GMT

Hi @Aikon,

Sorry to hear about the trouble here! Have you had a chance to delete, and reinstall the Square app yet?

Re: Reader won’t pair. Update required

petersmith — Wed, 08 Dec 2021 14:40:03 GMT

I had this problem after updating one iPad to IOS15. Having read this thread, I uninstalled Square POS, re-installed and all was fine. Now, another iPad has updated to IOS15.1 and, sure enough, I'm being asked to update the Point of Sale. So, as before, I did but this time, the problem persists. I'm now unable to take payments on the IOS15.1 iPad which is running POS v5.79.

Anyone got any suggestions or help?

Re: Reader won’t pair. Update required

Arie — Wed, 08 Dec 2021 23:54:04 GMT

Hey @petersmith,

Thanks for getting back in touch, and already going through these steps. When you have a moment, please give resetting your Square Reader before pairing it to your iPad again. Here's how:

Hold the button on the bottom of the reader for 15 seconds.
When you see 4 red lights, release the button.
Tap on the button one time to get green lights.

Please let us know how you go!

Re: Reader won’t pair. Update required

petersmith — Thu, 09 Dec 2021 10:41:57 GMT

Hi, Arie. I eventually got the reader paired properly by following these instructions I found elsewhere:

1. Ensure that the Square application has permission to access location services "Always" or "When using" > under device Settings > scroll down on left side to Square > Location
2. Make sure Bluetooth is toggled off for any device that has connected to the reader in the past.

Once that's done run through these steps in this order:

1. In the Square Point of Sale App go to Settings > Hardware > Card Readers > Forget all card readers
2. Force-quit Point of Sale App
3. Open Device settings
4. Navigate to Bluetooth
5. Forget all Square Readers
6. Hold the button on the Reader until the lights flash red
7. Reboot the Device
8. Re-launch Point of Sale app, wait about 1 minute, and re-pair the Reader

And all is well, we can take payments again!

Re: Reader won’t pair. Update required

Seamus — Thu, 09 Dec 2021 22:12:18 GMT

Thanks for reporting back @petersmith, good to know these steps worked!