Square Reader Will Not Pair With iPhone

[sleepymonk]

I’m having trouble pairing my Square Reader (2nd generation, white, contactless + chip) with my iPhone running iOS 18.4.1.

I’ve downloaded the Square Point of Sale app and followed all pairing instructions:

• Bluetooth is on and no other devices are connected.

• Reader is fully charged.

• I’ve held the button until the orange lights flash, placed the reader right next to the phone, and waited for a prompt.

• I’ve also performed a reset by holding the button for 20 seconds until red lights flash.

• I’ve restarted my phone and tried again inside the app.

Despite all of this, the reader still won’t pair — it just stays in orange flashing mode. The app gives pairing instructions but never completes the connection.

Could this be a firmware or hardware issue with the reader? I would appreciate your help resolving this.

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[Summer2024]

Hi, @sleepymonk ! I am going to highlight a full, comprehensive troubleshooting guide. Please let me know if you have tried everything I have listed and if it still isn't working, I will go ahead and flag this to our engineers. 

1. Verify Reader Status

First, let's confirm the reader's current state:

• Orange flashing lights indicate pairing mode
• If you see 4 red lights, the reader needs charging
• A solid orange light means it's charging

2. Advanced Reset Steps

Since you've already tried the basic reset, let's try these additional steps:

1. Deep Reset Procedure:

   • Hold the button for 20 seconds until red lights flash
   • Release the button
   • Wait 10 seconds
   • Hold the button again for 3 seconds until orange lights flash

2. Clear Bluetooth Cache:

   • Go to iPhone Settings > Bluetooth
   • If you see the Square Reader listed, tap the (i) icon
   • Select "Forget This Device"
   • Turn Bluetooth off
   • Restart your iPhone
   • Turn Bluetooth back on

3. Square App Reset:

   • Delete the Square Point of Sale app
   • Restart your iPhone
   • Reinstall the app from the App Store
   • Sign in to your account
   • Try pairing again

3. Check Compatibility

• Confirm your Square Reader model number (on the back of the device)
• Verify iOS compatibility on Square's website
• Ensure your Square Point of Sale app is the latest version

4. Environmental Factors

• Move away from other electronic devices
• Try pairing in a different location to rule out interference
• Ensure both devices are within 1-2 feet of each other during pairing

5. Hardware Check

To verify if it's a hardware issue:

1. Try pairing the reader with a different iOS device
2. If possible, try a different Square Reader with your iPhone

[Jdemas]

Thanks for this post! I just recently had this issue on iPhone 16 and #2 Step 1 Deep Reset Procedure on the square reader worked!