Written by Jason Feemster, POS specialist with 15+ years of experience helping restaurants and retailers troubleshoot POS systems, payments, and hardware issues.
Common Issue: Shopify POS won’t take payments, shows “Payment Failed,” declines cards, or displays Tap & Chip reader error codes.
Fast Fixes: Restart the reader, reconnect payment hardware, check Wi-Fi, confirm Shopify Payments is active, and verify the iPad date/time settings.
Need official help? See our Shopify Customer Service Guide.
Want guided troubleshooting? Try the POSUSA POS Support Assistant (Free).
Shopify POS not taking payments? Symptoms include instant declines, “Payment Failed,” Tap & Chip reader errors, slow processing, or the payment screen not responding. These issues often come from reader pairing problems, Wi-Fi drops, Shopify Payments configuration issues, or device time/date mismatches.
Here’s how to fix Shopify POS payment failures quickly.
Table of Contents
- 1 Common Reasons Shopify POS Won’t Take Payments
- 2 How to Fix Shopify POS Payment Failures
- 2.1 1. Make Sure the Reader Is Connected Inside Shopify POS
- 2.2 2. Restart the Tap & Chip Reader
- 2.3 3. Check That the Reader Is NOT Paired Through iPad Bluetooth
- 2.4 4. Check the iPad Wi-Fi Connection
- 2.5 5. Update Shopify POS (Required for Payment Hardware)
- 2.6 6. Ensure Shopify Payments Is Active
- 2.7 7. Check the iPad’s Date & Time Settings
- 3 When to Contact Shopify Support
- 4 Shopify POS Not Taking Payments – FAQs
- 5 Try the POSUSA POS Support Assistant
- 6 Thinking About Switching POS Systems?
Common Reasons Shopify POS Won’t Take Payments
- Reader not connected properly inside Shopify POS
- Wi-Fi drops during authorization
- Card reader paired through iPad Bluetooth (incorrect)
- Shopify Payments disabled or restricted
- Reader firmware outdated
- Incorrect iPad date/time causing SSL failures
How to Fix Shopify POS Payment Failures
1. Make Sure the Reader Is Connected Inside Shopify POS
If the Tap & Chip reader isn’t connected inside the POS app, payments will always fail — even if the lights look normal.
- Open Shopify POS
- Tap ≡ → Settings
- Select Set up hardware
- Confirm the Tap & Chip Reader shows “Connected”
If it shows “Disconnected,” continue with the next fix.
2. Restart the Tap & Chip Reader
Restarting clears internal Bluetooth and payment processing issues.
- Hold the power button for 4 seconds
- Wait for lights to turn off
- Turn back on
This fixes most reader errors instantly.
3. Check That the Reader Is NOT Paired Through iPad Bluetooth
If the reader is paired in iPad settings, Shopify can’t process payments.
- Go to Settings → Bluetooth
- If you see the reader listed, tap Forget This Device
- Pair again inside the Shopify POS app
This resolves most “Payment Failed” and “Tap Error” cases.
4. Check the iPad Wi-Fi Connection
Payments require a stable connection to Shopify’s server. Even brief Wi-Fi drops cause instant declines.
- Move closer to the router
- Toggle Wi-Fi off/on
- Restart the router if needed
Wi-Fi is the #1 cause of payment-screen freezing.
5. Update Shopify POS (Required for Payment Hardware)
If the POS app is outdated, the reader firmware update may fail — causing payment issues.
- Open the App Store
- Search “Shopify POS”
- Tap Update
Payment hardware updates come through the POS app.
6. Ensure Shopify Payments Is Active
If Shopify Payments is paused, restricted, or misconfigured, no transactions will process.
- Open Shopify Admin
- Go to Settings → Payments
- Check your Shopify Payments status
Suspended accounts will show payment errors in POS.
7. Check the iPad’s Date & Time Settings
If the date/time is wrong, SSL fails and Shopify can’t authorize payments.
- Go to Settings → General → Date & Time
- Enable Set Automatically
This is a surprising but common cause of unexplained declines.
When to Contact Shopify Support
- Payments fail on multiple readers
- Reader won’t update firmware
- Transactions decline despite strong Wi-Fi
- Shopify Payments dashboard shows restrictions
Shopify Customer Service – Phone, Chat & Help Center
Shopify POS Not Taking Payments – FAQs
Why is Shopify POS declining every card?
Why does the Tap & Chip Reader blink but won’t take payments?
Do I need internet for Shopify POS payments?
Why does POS freeze on the payment screen?
Try the POSUSA POS Support Assistant
Need help fixing card reader or payment issues?
- POSUSA POS Support Assistant
- Select Shopify POS
- Type: “payment failed”
- Follow the guided troubleshooting steps
It’s fast, free, and built for real retail environments.
Thinking About Switching POS Systems?
If you’re dealing with repeated POS issues, it might be time to compare more reliable options built for restaurants and retail businesses.
Takes 30 seconds • No sales pressure
