It's 2022. Any way to get a wireless barcode scanner to work with Square Register?

[Michael80]

For the most part, we love our Square Register. But it's 2022 and according to Square's Hardware Compatibility list, we're still stuck in the 1990's with old, obsolete (and mostly discontinued), cabled barcode scanners. Ugh!

Has anyone found any wireless barcode scanners that work with the Square Register? And while I'm complaining, when will Bluetooth be enabled on the Square Register. People have been begging for this since at least 2018!

[douglsmith · Accepted solution]

Yes, it can be done, but there are some tricks to the setup.

Since Square Register likes the Zebra / Symbol / Motorola USB barcode scanners, you have to use a wireless Zebra / Symbol / Motorola scanner where the wireless scanner talks to a charging dock and the dock connects to the Square Register via USB.

I recently tested this with a DS6878-SR that I picked up renewed on Amazon for less than $90. The Square Register saw it as a USB LS2208, which is one of the officially supported scanners. The problem was the scanner wouldn't actually work and kept beeping and flashing.

After testing the scanner on another device to make sure it was good, I realized that this was a power problem. Apparently, the USB from the Square Register does not supply enough power for the charging dock. I went back to Amazon and got a compatible power adapter for $11 and plugged that into the dock too.

Once both power and USB were connected, the scanner began to work properly and reliably with my Square Register.

[londontea]

Unfortunately there is not a Bluetooth receiver built into the Square Register, which means current models will never be able to support Bluetooth (unless Square releases a Bluetooth receiver dongle that plugs into one of the USB ports). 

I do agree that it would be hugely beneficial to have a wireless scanner for the Register. We have a small shop and use Square for Retail on our Register, and I would love for my staff to be able to conduct inventory by taking a wireless scanner onto the floor. Currently we have one person who counts what's on the shelves and tells the numbers to another person who enters it into the Register. A wireless scanner would only require one person to do inventory by scanning stuff and having it appear on the Register. 

[jjsmeatshak1]

@Michael80 I did come across a Bluetooth barcode scanner that had a "Receiver" that was USB that plugged into the hub... and communicated wirelessly that way. You may check with the manufacturer or try ordering a "Universal" one to see if that works! 

[londontea]

I would be very curious if that worked. 🤔 The Android version of Square (a version of which runs on the Register) does not support Bluetooth scanners, which implies that the app isn't coded to support Bluetooth scanners even if the device has a Bluetooth receiver. Either the portion of the app that involves interpreting data from barcode scanners does not communicate with the Bluetooth receiver, or it can only interpret that data if it comes from a supported barcode scanner (ie: it's only programmed to speak to the Zebra Symbol scanner). If the former then that would mean the Register could work with the Socket Mobile Bluetooth barcode scanner through a USB receiver; if the latter then it wouldn't work but that might only require a software update for it to function. 

[Michael80]

This is what I was hoping: that somebody had figured out a work-around for the lack of enabled Bluetooth capability inside Square Register. But as a business owner struggling to get my new shop opened in the wake of the pandemic lockdowns, I cannot afford to go out and buy a plethora of Bluetooth devices to test for compatibility.

I have read of Square Register users who have bought barcode scanners that were not on the "approved accessories" list and they did not work at all. Those experiences, combined with the lack of users announcing a work-around solution, leads me to believe that no one has been successful in getting a wireless scanner to work.

Too bad Square doesn't seem to care about this important issue. Perhaps they're invested in a warehouse full of LS2208 scanners that they are trying to unload first. 🤔😒

[JJ_]

Hey there @Michael80

I will definitely pass this feedback over to our hardware team for their visibility.

 Our team is working hard to integrate Bluetooth but we don't have any updates on this yet.

[Michael80]

My understanding is that the Square Register has Bluetooth hardware built-in, but that it hasn't yet been enabled in software. I've also read that the development team is "working hard to integrate" this functionality... for over 4 years. 😑 So forgive me if I'm skeptical about seeing Register's internal Bluetooth enabled anytime soon.

BUT, there are scanners on the market that have their own Bluetooth receiver that plugs into a USB port and there's no good reason why these cannot be used in the meantime. They just need to be recognized by our Registers. This should be a relatively quick and easy fix. Almost everyone in the scanner market has moved on to wireless high-res imaging scanners and here we're stuck with obsolete (and mostly discontinued) wired 1D laser scanners.

[douglsmith]

I've tested a ton of 3rd party barcode scanners and I haven't found any that work other than the listed manufacturers. It looks like there may be some Zebra / Symbol wireless scanners that talk to a cradle and the cradle has USB. Those may stand a chance of working but I haven't been able to test any of them yet.

Update: I was able to get a wireless scanner to work. See my other post in this thread with the details.

[Michael80]

My understanding of Square Register, based on a number of posts I've read from Square employees as far back as 2018, is that there is Bluetooth hardware built into the device, but it has not been enabled in the software. There were promises made that Bluetooth will eventually get enabled. But after 4 years, there doesn't seem to be any urgency on the part of Square to offer this functionality to its customers.

[douglsmith]

I agree. Having a wire for the barcode scanner just gets in the way, clutters the counter, and takes away from the clean sleekness of the space I'm going for. I loved the wireless barcode scanner with Square on my iPad and really miss it on Square Register, but I'm staying with it for the nice dual screen experience.

[douglsmith · Accepted solution]

Yes, it can be done, but there are some tricks to the setup.

Since Square Register likes the Zebra / Symbol / Motorola USB barcode scanners, you have to use a wireless Zebra / Symbol / Motorola scanner where the wireless scanner talks to a charging dock and the dock connects to the Square Register via USB.

I recently tested this with a DS6878-SR that I picked up renewed on Amazon for less than $90. The Square Register saw it as a USB LS2208, which is one of the officially supported scanners. The problem was the scanner wouldn't actually work and kept beeping and flashing.

After testing the scanner on another device to make sure it was good, I realized that this was a power problem. Apparently, the USB from the Square Register does not supply enough power for the charging dock. I went back to Amazon and got a compatible power adapter for $11 and plugged that into the dock too.

Once both power and USB were connected, the scanner began to work properly and reliably with my Square Register.

[MichiganFarmsta]

Thanks for the detailed Response. I will mark this as the best answer!  I ordered one. Now cross my fingers!

[sedefpekcan]

Did it work out for you? I ordered and tried to use it but it didn't work for me.

[douglsmith]

Did you also get the external power supply for the barcode reader's dock? It will not work without this because the USB connection cannot provide enough power.

[Jodilra]

How is this working out you now? I really need to find something. 

[JJ_]

Hello @Jodilra

At this time, I don't have any updates about the Square Register being compatible with wireless Barcode Scanners.

We’d love it if you'd submit this request on our Ideate page for Square Hardware. Our team monitors these boards, and we triage them to measure needs. You can search the boards to see if this has been requested before and add your use case if so!

[Michael80]

Are you not a Square employee? If so, then why can't YOU submit the feedback to your own company's development team? Isn't it enough that people have been asking for this over and over in these forums for many years?

[douglsmith · Accepted solution]

Someone did create a request on the Ideate page. Let's all get behind that request with our votes. (Note that you have to click on the very tiny star icon within what looks like an orange button with the number of likes. Clicking anywhere else in there will not register your vote.)

[Plantgrower]

We are facing the same issue…in 2024.  I purchased the scanner and power adapter you listed in your post.  I’m not seeing it pop up as a device on our register.  We are running Square for Retail if that makes a difference.  Any ideas on how to make it work?  

[mrliquorsd]

Has there been any update on this issue. It would be very helpful for checking people out at my busy liquor store.

[_Violet]

Hi @mrliquorsd - Thanks for following up on this thread.

The Square Register is not compatible with wireless barcode scanners. Bluetooth is supported only for select receipt printers at this time. You can view which types of barcode scanners are compatible with the Register here. You are also welcome to try the workaround provided by @douglsmith but please note, that this has not been formally tested by Square so we cannot guarantee compatibility through this setup.

I hope this information is helpful but please do let me know if you have any additional questions.