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 connecting or dropping connection.
Fast Fixes: Charge the reader, reset Bluetooth, unpair/repair inside the Square POS app, restart the reader.
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 connecting, here’s a quick troubleshooting guide you can follow. These steps are based on real-world usage from restaurants, mobile vendors, food trucks, and retail setups. Start with the fastest fixes, then move into deeper troubleshooting if needed.
Table of Contents
- 1 Common Causes of Square Reader Not Connecting
- 2 How to Fix a Square Reader That’s Not Connecting
- 2.1 1. Make Sure the Reader Is Charged
- 2.2 2. Reset Bluetooth on Your Phone or Tablet
- 2.3 3. Forget the Reader & Reconnect Through the Square App
- 2.4 4. Restart (Reset) the Square Reader
- 2.5 5. Update the Square App + Device Software
- 2.6 6. Reduce Wireless Interference
- 2.7 7. Test Another USB Cable or Charger
- 2.8 8. If You’re Using Square Stand
- 2.9 9. Last Resort: Reinstall the Square POS App
- 3 When to Contact Square Support
- 4 Square Reader Not Connecting – FAQs
- 5 Try the POSUSA POS Support Assistant
- 6 Thinking About Switching POS Systems?
Common Causes of Square Reader Not Connecting
- Low or dead battery
- Bluetooth pairing issues
- Reader paired outside the Square POS app
- Outdated Square POS app
- Outdated iOS/Android software
- Too much wireless interference
- Faulty USB cable or charger
- Hardware failure
How to Fix a Square Reader That’s Not Connecting
1. Make Sure the Reader Is Charged
A low battery is the #1 cause of Square reader connection issues.
- Plug the reader into a USB power source
- Charge it for 10–15 minutes
- Look for the LED indicator (blinking orange or solid green)
No lights at all? That can signal a cable or hardware issue (more below).
2. Reset Bluetooth on Your Phone or Tablet
Bluetooth glitches can prevent the reader from pairing correctly.
- Go to Settings → Bluetooth
- Turn Bluetooth OFF, wait 5 seconds, turn it back ON
- Force-close and reopen the Square POS app
3. Forget the Reader & Reconnect Through the Square App
Square readers must be paired from inside the Square POS app for proper functionality.
- Open Settings → Bluetooth
- Select Square Reader
- Tap Forget This Device
- Restart your phone/tablet
- Open the Square POS app → go to Settings → Card Readers → pair the reader
This single step resolves a huge percentage of connection failures.
4. Restart (Reset) the Square Reader
For the white contactless + chip reader:
- Press and hold the power button
- Keep holding until all four LEDs flash red
- Release the button to reboot
This clears internal glitches and does not affect transactions.
5. Update the Square App + Device Software
- Open App Store / Google Play → search “Square Point of Sale” → tap Update
- Install OS updates on your device
- Restart device → reopen Square POS → reconnect the reader
6. Reduce Wireless Interference
- Stay within 3–6 feet of the reader
- Avoid metal tables or equipment
- Keep away from Wi-Fi routers, Bluetooth speakers, and microwaves
If your reader disconnects only in certain areas, this is likely the cause.
7. Test Another USB Cable or Charger
- Swap the USB cable
- Try a different wall adapter or laptop port
- Charge 15–20 minutes before testing
8. If You’re Using Square Stand
- Unplug the Stand
- Remove iPad and restart both
- Reconnect cables firmly
- Open Square POS → pair the reader again
9. Last Resort: Reinstall the Square POS App
- Delete Square Point of Sale
- Restart device
- Reinstall the app
- Reconnect the reader
When to Contact Square Support
If your reader still won’t connect, shows no lights, overheats, or constantly drops connection, you may be dealing with a hardware issue.
Get official guidance here:
Square Customer Service – Phone, Chat & Help Center
Square Reader Not Connecting – FAQs
Why is my Square reader not connecting?
How do I reset my Square reader?
Why does my Square reader keep disconnecting?
Why won’t my Square reader pair with my phone or tablet?
How do I know if my Square reader is charging?
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 connecting”
- Follow the personalized troubleshooting flow
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
