Written by Jason Feemster, POS specialist with 15+ years of experience helping restaurants and retailers troubleshoot POS systems, payments, and hardware issues.
Common Issue: Square reader not charging or won’t power on.
Fast Fixes: Try a different USB cable and wall charger, reset the reader, clean the charging port, and leave it plugged in for at least 15–30 minutes.
If the reader still won’t charge: the internal battery or charging port may be damaged. At that point, replacing the reader is usually the fastest fix. See current Square reader replacement options.
Need official help? See our Square Customer Service Guide.
Want instant troubleshooting? Try the POSUSA POS Support Assistant (Free).
If your Square reader isn’t charging, here’s a fast troubleshooting guide to help you get it powered back up. These steps are based on real usage from restaurants, food trucks, mobile vendors, and retail setups. Start with the simplest fixes before checking for hardware failure.
Table of Contents
Common Causes of Square Reader Not Charging
- Damaged or low-quality USB charging cable
- Weak USB power source (laptops, car chargers, low-output adapters)
- Dust or debris blocking the charging port
- Reader battery fully drained and needs extra time to wake up
- Firmware glitch preventing proper charging
- Loose or worn-out charging port
- Battery degradation from 2–4+ years of daily use
- Internal hardware failure
How to Fix a Square Reader That’s Not Charging
1. Try a Different USB Cable and Charger
The #1 cause of Square readers not charging is a bad or cheap cable. Even if it looks fine, internal wires can be broken.
- Use a known good Micro-USB cable
- Try a different wall adapter (phone/tablet charger)
- Avoid charging from laptops, car USB ports, or old USB hubs
If your reader shows no lights after switching cables and chargers, continue to the next step.
2. Reset (Restart) the Square Reader
A firmware freeze can make the reader look dead, even if it’s receiving power.
- Press and hold the power button for about 20 seconds
- Wait for all LEDs to flash once
- Release the button to reboot
- Plug the reader into a wall charger immediately afterward
This simple reset fixes a large percentage of “not charging” issues.
3. Charge from a Wall Outlet Instead of a Laptop
Laptop USB ports don’t always supply enough stable power, especially if they’re in sleep or battery saver mode.
- Use a phone or tablet charging brick plugged into a wall outlet
- Let the reader charge for at least 15–30 minutes
- Avoid car chargers, TVs, and low-power USB hubs
4. Clean the Charging Port
Dirt is extremely common in busy environments (bars, food trucks, restaurants).
- Shine a light into the charging port
- Use compressed air to clear dust or crumbs
- Use a soft-bristle brush if needed
- Do not use metal tools or toothpicks
Reconnect the charger and look for blinking lights.
5. Check the LED Charging Indicators
- No lights: dead battery, bad cable, or bad port
- Blinking orange: charging normally
- Solid green: fully charged
- Blinking red: critically low battery
If you never see orange or green after 30+ minutes, the battery may be failing.
6. Update the Square POS App
- Open the App Store or Google Play
- Search for “Square Point of Sale”
- Install any available updates
- Restart your phone/tablet
The Square app can push firmware updates to readers once they have enough charge.
7. Consider Battery Age or Hardware Failure
Square reader batteries wear down after years of use. If your reader only works while plugged in, dies instantly, or never shows charging lights, the internal battery may be done.
A replacement reader is usually the fastest solution.
When to Contact Square Support
If your reader still won’t charge, won’t light up, overheats, or only works while plugged in, you may be dealing with a failing battery or damaged hardware.
Get official guidance here:
Square Customer Service – Phone, Chat & Help Center
Square Reader Not Charging – FAQs
Why is my Square reader not charging?
How do I know if my Square reader is charging?
Can the Square reader battery go bad?
Why won’t my Square reader turn on even after charging?
Can I replace the battery in a Square reader?
Try the POSUSA POS Support Assistant
For step-by-step help, try our free support assistant:
- POSUSA POS Support Assistant
- Select Square
- Type: “Square reader not charging”
- Follow the guided troubleshooting steps
It’s free, fast, and designed for real restaurant and 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
