Written by Jason Feemster, POS specialist with 15+ years of experience helping restaurants and retailers troubleshoot POS systems, payments, and hardware issues.
Common Issue: Toast card reader not connecting, pairing, or constantly disconnecting.
Fast Fixes: Charge the reader, restart Bluetooth, forget & re-pair inside the Toast app, update Toast software, and reboot devices.
Need official help? See our Toast Customer Service Guide.
Want instant troubleshooting? Try the POSUSA POS Support Assistant (Free).
If your Toast card reader won’t connect—or keeps disconnecting during transactions—this guide walks you through the fastest fixes. These steps apply to handheld readers, wireless chip/tap readers, and Bluetooth-connected Toast devices.
Table of Contents
- 1 Common Causes of Toast Card Reader Connection Issues
- 2 How to Fix a Toast Card Reader That’s Not Connecting
- 2.1 1. Make Sure the Card Reader Is Charged
- 2.2 2. Restart Bluetooth on Your Toast Device
- 2.3 3. Forget the Reader & Reconnect Inside the Toast App
- 2.4 4. Move the Reader Closer to the Toast Tablet
- 2.5 5. Update the Toast POS App
- 2.6 6. Test a Different Charging Cable (If Reader Won’t Turn On)
- 2.7 7. Reboot the Router (If Using Toast Wireless Handhelds)
- 3 When to Contact Toast Support
- 4 Toast Card Reader Not Connecting – FAQs
- 5 Try the POSUSA POS Support Assistant
- 6 Thinking About Switching POS Systems?
Common Causes of Toast Card Reader Connection Issues
- Low or dead card reader battery
- Bluetooth interference or pairing failures
- Reader paired outside the Toast POS app
- Outdated Toast app or firmware
- Device too far from the card reader
- Router/AP interference affecting Bluetooth
- Faulty cable or charging port
How to Fix a Toast Card Reader That’s Not Connecting
1. Make Sure the Card Reader Is Charged
A low or dead battery is the #1 cause of Toast reader disconnects.
- Connect the reader to a charger
- Charge for at least 10–15 minutes
- Look for LED lights confirming power
If the reader won’t power on at all, it may be a battery or hardware issue. Try a different cable or wall adapter before assuming the reader is dead.
2. Restart Bluetooth on Your Toast Device
Bluetooth glitches often prevent the reader from pairing.
- Go to Settings → Bluetooth
- Toggle Bluetooth OFF
- Wait 5 seconds → toggle ON
- Reopen the Toast app
3. Forget the Reader & Reconnect Inside the Toast App
Toast readers must be paired inside the Toast POS app—not from Android system settings.
- Settings → Bluetooth → select the reader
- Tap Forget
- Restart your tablet/handheld
- Open Toast POS → go to Devices → re-pair the reader
If your whole device is lagging or frozen, see our Toast POS Frozen guide.
4. Move the Reader Closer to the Toast Tablet
Bluetooth range is limited—especially in metal-heavy restaurant environments.
- Stay within 3–6 feet of the tablet
- Avoid metal counters and POS stands
- Move away from routers or kitchen equipment
5. Update the Toast POS App
Outdated Toast versions can cause pairing failure or unstable connections.
- Restart the device
- Open device settings → Apps → Toast
- Install any available updates
6. Test a Different Charging Cable (If Reader Won’t Turn On)
If the reader won’t power on at all, you may be dealing with a battery or charging port issue.
- Try a new USB cable
- Try a different wall adapter
- Let it charge for 15–20 minutes before testing
7. Reboot the Router (If Using Toast Wireless Handhelds)
Wi-Fi problems can affect Toast’s Bluetooth stability.
- Restart the router
- Restart access points
- Reopen the Toast app → reconnect the reader
If other devices are also out of sync, see our Toast Tablet Not Syncing guide.
When to Contact Toast Support
If your Toast card reader still won’t connect after these steps, the issue may be:
- Hardware failure
- Corrupted firmware
- Defective battery or charging port
- Damaged Bluetooth module
Get official help here:
Toast Customer Service – Phone, Chat & Support Center
Toast Card Reader Not Connecting – FAQs
Why won’t my Toast card reader connect?
How do I reset a Toast card reader?
Why does my Toast reader keep disconnecting?
Does Toast need Wi-Fi for the card reader to work?
Can a bad cable stop my Toast reader from working?
Try the POSUSA POS Support Assistant
Want guided, step-by-step troubleshooting for your Toast reader?
- POSUSA POS Support Assistant
- Select Toast
- Type: “Toast card reader not connecting”
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
