Is it necessary to pair contactless chip reader and device each time they are turned on?

[beadbags]

Does the contactless chip reader and the device used (in my case iPad mini) stay paired via Bluetooth or do they need to be paired each time things are started up to use?

[Sean · Accepted solution]

@beadbags - Your device should remember the reader, and then automatically connect after the initial pairing. You shouldn't have to start over from scratch each time. Having said that, the reader will automatically go into sleep mode after 2 hours of inactivity. To wake it up from sleep mode, just press the button on the side of the reader.  At that point, it should automatically reconnect.  

PS) If my answer solved your problem, would you mind marking it as "Best Answer"? That'll help the rest of the community find what they're looking for. If not, just write back, and I'll continue to help. Thanks!

[beadbags]

THanks so much! 

[Red44]

sorry no help. I said it will not pair with my phone. it use to work my little square works.

[Red44]

my chip reader will not pair with my phone but the little reader will work. redown loaded the app and went through the steps several times and still no luck.

[Rragz98]

This is my problem with and LG THIN Q as well..HELP REPAIR OR REPLACE PLEASE

[ITLCoffee]

So my reader was just replaced in August (the last one wasn't even 4 months old) when after a few weeks we were back to the same issues.  Chip reading works sporadically half the time it kicks off and then completely disconnects and goes off line. We push on it to get it to reconnect.   Right now when it's connected we only allow people to tap or Apple Pay.  The insert function like I said, only shuts off and disconnects or it says insert chip (while the chip is inserted).  Oh and it's new thing not charging while on dock.  We have the whole shiny register system with reader and dock.   Restarting it, repairing it, only works for a few hours.   Is anyone else having issues?  I feel like this is a firm ware issue that it won't matter how many they send us they all will do this. 

[edsolem]

My reader will not reconnect.  I have pushed the button and have the four flashing orange lights.  The app says now place the chip reader near this phone and it will reconnect.  But, nothing happens.

[Arie]

Hi @edsolem,

Thanks for getting in touch and sorry to hear about the trouble with your reader. When you have a moment, give your Square Reader a reset before trying to pair it again:

1. Hold the button on the bottom of the reader for 15-20 seconds.
2. When you see 4 red lights, release the button. Keep in mind the lights will flash orange first, so keep holding them until they're red. 
3. Tap on the button one time to get green lights.

Please let us know how you go!

[Dee39]

This reply created from merging an existing thread: "Does anyone else have problems with the chip reader connecting every morning like me" The author has been notified via email.

Hate that my card reader disconnectes and I always have to reconnect it every morning and sometimes it don't connect 

[mediaobscu]

YES! we have this exact problem. The chip reader is very frustrating as we have to reconnect it after each time it goes to sleep. i want it to never sleep.

[EJ_]

Hey @mediaobscu

This should only happen every two hours, and even then the reader should automatically reconnect once you push the button on the reader itself. 

If you close the Point of Sale app at any time or for any reason (e.g. your iPad or Phone being locked or put to sleep), that would cause the reader to disconnect as well. 

Do any of those scenarios apply to you? 

[GrahamB]

If the two hours was two hours from last use I would accept that.

BUT it appears to be two hours from when you turned it on as sometimes the top bar turns orange and tells you to press the button to turn it on within seconds of a successful transaction!

Would be better if this "feature" could be turned off in Setup. 

I love my Contactless Reader but flaky Bluetooth & unresolved random turn off is very frustrating.

[puka]

Hey @GrahamB - That doesn't sound right. The reader should only go to sleep after 2 hours of inactivity. If it's doing it much sooner than that, I recommend trying these troubleshooting steps to see if that helps resolve the issue. If not, my next suggestion would be to reach out to our CS team and they can advise on any next steps.

[GrahamB]

I have reached out to Help Desk etc multiple times but never reached resolution.  And I know from talking to many other users that dropped Bluetooth connection is a very common issue. Have hardly used it for 9 months because of Covid but I doubt the issue has gone away.

Cannot comment on the Chip Reader as here in Australia 99.99% of people use contactless payments.

[Dee39]

Agree..my only real problem with square is the dam chip reader..I forget to mess with it when I first get to work and end up not using the chip reader because of the hassel of makig it work 

[GrahamB]

It drops the connection if your phone is locked but the connection will generally return by itself 10 - 20 sec after your phone is unlocked.  Or enter an amount and press "Charge" & the green light will come on after 10 - 20 seconds. That is a PITA but no need to re-pair.

I wish it would stay awake while the phone is locked. After all a bluetooth headset does not lose connection when the phone is lockedso why should a Square reader?

[LowellGallery2]

Notice how there are 1,118 views of this question.... and repeated with countless similar questions with thousands of views each there as well. What does this tell Square? Square should literally create a button in its Smartphone / Tablet app that is available on whatever page you're on, and all this button does is 1) forget your device, 2) tell you to press the physical button on the device itself so it can 3) remember your device. Right now every day, all day, I have to go into settings, go to card reader, go to "forget this device", hit it TWICE, then pair it again and hit the button on the device. Several times a day.

Seriously, for probably 95% of Square's business users, unpairing and re-pairing is the MOST COMMON thing they do! Besides make the few transactions per day of course. It's aggravating. Anybody who studies usability and user interface design knows that if you have a very common activity, you don't hide the ability to do it. You put it up front and center. Knowing what everybody knows, the unpair/pair thing should literally be a one-button function instead of having to constantly drill down and do the same over and over... sometimes I do this three or four times a day. It really shouldn't matter what hardware we use, if our tablets or phones turn off, etc. This shouldn't be even a question anybody at Square asks (and they always ask...they're like robots). We all know what we're doing. Square knows what's going on. I have a ton of friends with shops and businesses. Everybody has the same problem. Everybody. The only people who don't have this problem are folks who make sales every several minutes or so, every half hour, every hour. etc. Coffee shops, restaurants, etc. I really wish people at Square would get real about this.