When does Tip Screen appear? Can this be changed?

[angelaworthy]

The title of this thread has been edited by a Square Moderator from the original: "tips with credit card purchase"

I am setting up the point of sale system and have toggled to collect tips under Checkout --> Tips but whenever I create a fake checkout it doesn't give me the option to add tips. Does it show up after they tap/insert their card? If so, is there any way to have it show up beforehand? I use a separate booking service so I downloaded the POS app rather than the 'Appointments' app. Does that make a difference?

[TheRealChipA · Accepted solution]

Hey there @angelaworthy.  The tip screen on all Square POS apps shows up after the original transaction has been approved. There is no way, currently, to change this.

[taniyahunter]

From what you’re describing, the tip screen usually appears after the customer taps/inserts their card, not during the cart stage, which is why your test checkout isn’t showing it yet—this is standard behavior in many POS setups, and using the POS app instead of the Appointments app can affect when prompts appear, especially if tips are tied to payment flow rather than booking flow; there’s typically no option to force the tip screen to show beforehand, but it’s worth double-checking device settings and supported flows, similar to how app behavior differences are often explained in guides shared on platforms like the netmirror app.

[gailhamilton]

The tip screen in the Square Point of Sale app is designed to appear after the payment card has been processed—either via tap, dip, or swipe—but before the final receipt screen. This sequence ensures that the transaction is authorized before the customer decides on an additional gratuity. Currently, Square does not offer a native setting to move the tip prompt before the card entry within the standard POS app, as the "traditional" flow assumes the payment method is secured first. While switching from the POS app to the Appointments app wouldn't necessarily change this specific transaction order, it is worth double-checking that "Collect Tips" is enabled for the specific device you are using, not just in your online Dashboard.

If you are looking for a way to pass the time while you finalize your hardware configuration and waiting for those test transactions to clear, you should definitely download the Moviebox app to catch up on some great content during your breaks.