Why is my Square Point of Sale App requesting microphone access?

[Red_Ant]

The title of this thread has been edited from the original: Square trying to access my microphone.

Can someone from Square explain why, on an iPhone 15 where I use NFC to "pay by iPhone" with all my customers, Square won't be enabled unless I give it access to my microphone.

Currently, I keep it switched off. Then for the 3 secs I need to take a payment, I enable it.

F***** if I'm letting some random app full access to my microphone!!

[Katie_SQ]

Thanks for your question, @Red_Ant. 

The microphone access permission was initially required for earlier versions of Square hardware, such as Square Readers connected via headphone jack, lightning connector, or USB-C, to process card payment data. Although the current version of the app still requests this permission for compatibility with different devices and payment methods, the app requirements may change in the future as the technical requirements for running Square on mobile devices evolve.

We’ve noted your feedback and will pass it along to our team.

If you have any more questions or need assistance, feel free to reach out.

[Red_Ant]

@katie - thanks for the feedback.

It should be an option you can disable if you aren't using the hardware wired connection method.  I've no idea how much Square are capturing from my microphone, and certainly aren't going to allow the App to have access to it.

So, I've deleted the App and gone with another provider that has more up-to-date software, and whom doesn't need to listen to my phones microphone

[MowbAl]

One big and very serious question... WHY on earth does square force you to give access to your microphone to use it???

Absolutely no feature uses the microphone. You had a reader that plugs into the microphone in the very early days but this doesn't exist anymore. Even if it does, the vast majority of people don't use the outdated device. 

This is just another information grab and forced access grab. Is it even legal to force customers to give access? 

There is absolutely no reason people should be forced to accept this. People should be given the option if there is some simple reason you need access not forced. 

I personally am sick of this kind of stuff and am thinking of moving to another company for card processing.

[REDACTED] Do they really need to force access? Can this not just be an option?

[Laurie_]

Hi @MowbAl,

First, I want to address the redacted content in your post. While I understand your frustration with the current app permissions, we cannot tolerate offensive comments directed at Square employees on this platform.

Please keep in mind that Community Moderators are here to assist Sellers by providing information, but we’re not always part of the teams making these decisions. While we can relay your feedback, it’s not always possible for us to resolve every query or provide more information than what we already have. If that’s the case, we’ll let you know, and we ask that you approach requests for support with a realistic attitude.

We’ve recently addressed this same question in another thread, and I’ve merged your post with it for reference.

Finally, please remember to keep the conversation respectful and aligned with our Community Code of Conduct. 

[MowbAl]

Hi @Laurie_ I don't think there was anything in my message that was offensive. I am trying to highlight to employees of Square to genuinely think before mentioning why this feature is still forcing access to peoples microphone. Mentioning it was used for an outdated feature  and tech years ago is not an answer. You know it and so do I.  I have a few very serious questions.

Is this even legal?

Does the square app record any content using the microphones? 

Does the square app record audio using the microphones?

Does square force you to give access to your microphone as an employee also? if they did would you brush over that as just an outdated policy that maybe they will adjust in the future (yes access my microphone)? 

[MowbAl]

Also were not talking technology from a month ago, this is tech from 10 years ago that your still trying to push for access to. 

[Laurie_]

Hi @MowbAl,

Thank you for your continued efforts in seeking more information on this. I wanted to provide you with an update on where things stand after further inquiry into the microphone permission.

Although the Square Magstripe Reader is no longer available for purchase in markets outside the United States—such as Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom—it is still supported for use in these regions. As a result, the microphone permission remains part of the permission set when installing Square apps on your mobile device, enabling Sellers to process magnetic stripe payment cards.

Following up with my team, I can confirm that the microphone permission also serves additional purposes beyond payment processing. It enables accessibility features like TalkBack and VoiceOver for vision-impaired Sellers, ensuring they can fully interact with the app. To clarify, it is not used for recording purposes.

I hope this helps address your concerns. Should I receive further updates regarding this permission requirement, I’ll be sure to keep you informed.

[Red_Ant]

All valid reasons for wanting to allow users to provide access to the microphone IF these are features they want to utilise.

But as it is at the moment, you HAVE to allow access, regardless of whether you are going to use any of these features or not.

I can control access to my photos and camera for any App I download.  I can't do the same for the Square App with regards to my microphone.

So, I am no longer a Square customer!  Went with the TapOnMobile from ANZ.

[MowbAl]

Well would you look at that! There's a person talking sense! 

Absolutely they sound like great features! Good on Square for implementing them and making their app accessible. 

But as mentioned above, make it an option! Very few, if no other apps I know force people to give access to their microphone. If I don't need to use those features then I don't need some company having access to my microphone.

Your statement sounds a little misleading. You said "To clarify, it is not used for recording purposes.". My questions was simple enough. 

Is this even legal?

Does the square app record any content using the microphones? 

Does the square app record audio using the microphones?

Make it an option. If every customer was asked if they wanted the option. 99% would say yes, we deserve to have options.

[MowbAl]

Well would you look at that! There's a person talking sense! 

Absolutely they sound like great features! Good on Square for implementing them and making their app accessible. 

But as mentioned above, make it an option! Very few, if no other apps I know force people to give access to their microphone. If I don't need to use those features then I don't need some company having access to my microphone.

Your statement sounds a little misleading. You said "To clarify, it is not used for recording purposes.". My questions was simple enough. 

Is this even legal?

Does the square app record any content using the microphones? 

Does the square app record audio using the microphones?

Make it an option. If every customer was asked if they wanted the option. 99% would say yes, we deserve to have options.

[MowbAl]

I have no answers still on this. 

The feedback seems quite strong, when will Square be giving people the option to access their Microphone? not forcing access 

[Laurie_ · Accepted solution]

@Red_Ant @MowbAl 

Hi everyone,

Thanks so much for reaching out and sharing your concerns and feedback around this topic.

We understand that app permissions, especially those related to privacy, are an important topic, and we appreciate you taking the time to ask for more clarity. 

Following up on our previous discussion, I brought the feedback to my team and have a few updates to share, beginning with some context on how Square apps manage permissions today. Previously, our apps requested all potential permissions up front to support key features, including Square hardware compatibility and accessibility tools, as I previously discussed. However, based on feedback from Sellers—including yours—and others in the Square Community, we’ve made improvements to better align our permission requests with when features are actually being used.

Starting with Square app version 6.74, you’ll now only be prompted to grant access, such as microphone permissions, at the moment a specific feature requires it.

This update is now available globally to most Sellers and will be fully rolled out by Monday, August 11 (Pacific Time) / Tuesday, August 12 (AEST).

If you’d like to manage your existing permissions, here’s how you can do that:

On iOS:
Go to Settings > select the Square app and toggle permissions on or off as needed.

On Android:
Go to Settings > Apps > Select the Square app > Permissions to make adjustments.

If you have any further questions, feel free to reply here, we’re always happy to help.