App says "Magstripe Reader Disconnected," what am I supposed to do?

[Ashli05]

Hello , I'm A Seller And I'm Having A Little
Difficulty/Confusion. First Off , I Got The Magstripe Reader For My Android ,
But When I Put In The Magstripe , It Always Says " Magstripe Reader Disconn
ected " Like What Am I Supposed To Do With That If That's All It Says ?
And Manually Entering The Card Is Stressful Enough Especially When You Have A
Great Deal Of Customers. Secondly, I Do Some Transactions By Cash On The Square
App Register , Since I Choose Cash , Does That Mean It Won't Be Deposited
Into My Account ? Please Help , Thanks.

[EJ_ · Accepted solution]

Hi there. Sorry to hear about the trouble. 

You can read up on a few of the common tips that help with Square Reader connections here.

This resolves most of the issues you're describing. 

In regards to the cash payments, since you're being physically handed cash by your customer, no card payment is processed, and thus, no deposit amount will be sent for those payments. 

[smartypantsic]

Here's what I did to fix the "Magstripe Reader Disconnected" problem:  I bought something called "Thinker's Putty" at a local toy store.  It's the same thing as Silly Putty, but it comes in different colors, maybe one to match your phone.  I take a wad of that putty and put it around the part of the reader that you insert into the top of the phone.  You'll figure out the right amount of putty to use.  Too much will keep it from connecting, and too little won't work, either.  The putty seems to keep the reader in a steady place as you are swiping a card.  The putty doesn't look too odd to the customers, if they even notice.  You might have to turn the reader a few degrees before "Reader Connected" appears.  Good luck.

[David8]

When I install the Square reader into the phone jack...A picture appears on my screen of the reader and it says Reader Connected......then 1/2 second later another picture of the reader appears and says reader disconnected....so it won't stay connected....any ideas....?    Thanks       ALSO   does The Lightining adaptor

plug into the charging port....?   Thanks.....Because I may try that....

[puka]

Hey @David8 - I've merged your post with a thread on how to troubleshoot your reader problem. As for the Lightning port adapter, this currently only works with iPhones.

Hope that helps!

[smartypantsic]

Check out my previous answer on this problem (from three weeks ago) with having the reader disconnecting when you are trying to swipe a card.  The answer is Silly Putty (or, in my case, Thinker's Putty).