Ready to supercharge your business with seamless payments? Connecting your Square Terminal to your iPad is a fantastic way to create a powerful, portable, and customer-friendly point-of-sale (POS) system. This comprehensive guide will walk you through every step, ensuring you're ready to accept payments in no time!
Connecting Your Square Terminal to Your iPad: A Step-by-Step Guide
The Square Terminal acts as a customer-facing display and payment point, while your iPad (running the Square Point of Sale app) handles the order management, inventory, and overall business operations. This setup offers flexibility and a professional checkout experience.
Step 1: Get Your Gear Ready! (And a Little Prep Talk)
Before we dive into the technicalities, let's make sure you have everything you need and understand some crucial prerequisites. Think of this as your mission briefing before a successful payment operation!
1.1 What You'll Need:
- Square Terminal: Your sleek, standalone payment device.
- iPad: With the latest version of the Square Point of Sale app installed. Ensure your iPad is compatible with the Square POS app.
- Reliable Wi-Fi or Ethernet Connection: Both your Square Terminal and your iPad need to be online. They don't necessarily have to be on the same network, but they both must have an active internet connection.
- Square Account: You'll need to be logged into your Square account on both devices.
- Power Source: For both your Square Terminal and your iPad to ensure they don't run out of juice during setup.
1.2 Important Pre-Connection Checks:
- Charge Your Devices: Make sure your Square Terminal is fully charged. A low battery can interrupt the pairing process. The battery symbol in the top right of your Square Terminal screen will show its level.
- Latest Software: Square Terminal updates automatically overnight when plugged in and powered on. However, it's always a good idea to confirm both your Square Terminal and iPad have the latest software versions for optimal performance and compatibility.
- Accurate Date and Time: Ensure the date and time settings on your Square Terminal are correct. You can usually adjust this under
≡ More > Settings > Hardware > General > Date and Time. - Sign Out (if necessary): If you're already logged into your Square Terminal from a previous setup, you'll need to sign out. Tap
≡ More > Settings > Account > Sign out. For a brand-new Terminal, simply power it on and stay on the login page. - Square Account Activated: Ensure your Square account is fully activated and in good standing.
Step 2: Power Up and Connect Your Square Terminal to the Internet
Your Square Terminal needs to be online to communicate with your iPad. This can be done via Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
2.1 Turning on Your Square Terminal:
- Carefully remove your Square Terminal from its packaging.
- Press and hold the power button on the left side of the device for about three seconds. You'll see the Square logo appear as it powers on.
2.2 Connecting to Wi-Fi:
- When you power on your Square Terminal for the first time, it will prompt you to connect to a network.
- Select your preferred Wi-Fi network from the list of available networks.
- If prompted, enter the Wi-Fi password accurately.
- Once connected, you should see a Wi-Fi status indicator (three or four white bars) in the top-right corner of the status bar, indicating a strong signal.
2.3 Connecting to Ethernet (Optional, Requires Hub):
- If you prefer a wired connection, you'll need the Hub for Square Terminal (sold separately).
- Plug the accessory hub into the port on the side of your Square Terminal.
- Plug the power adapter cable into the power adapter, then plug the other end into a power outlet.
- Plug your Ethernet cable into the accessory hub.
- Your Square Terminal will automatically connect to your network once the Ethernet is plugged
in and the hub is powered.
Step 3: Initiate the Connection from Your iPad
Now, let's get your iPad ready to find and pair with your Square Terminal.
3.1 Open the Square Point of Sale App:
- On your iPad, open the Square Point of Sale app. Make sure you are logged into your Square account.
3.2 Navigate to Hardware Settings:
- From the main screen of the Square Point of Sale app, tap the
≡ Moremenu icon (usually in the bottom navigation bar). - Tap
Settings. - Then, tap
Hardware. - Select
Square Terminal.
3.3 Start the Connection Process:
- Tap
Connect Square Terminal. - You'll be prompted to enter a nickname for your Square Terminal (e.g., "Main Counter Terminal," "Portable Terminal"). This helps you identify it if you have multiple Square Terminals.
- Select a location to associate with this Terminal.
- Tap
Continue.
Step 4: Pair Your Devices Using the Device Code
This is the crucial step where your iPad and Square Terminal "introduce themselves" to each other.
4.1 Generate the Device Code:
- After tapping "Continue" on your iPad, the Square Point of Sale app will generate a unique device code. This code will be displayed on your iPad's screen.
4.2 Enter the Device Code on Your Square Terminal:
-
Immediately turn your attention to your Square Terminal.
-
On the Square Terminal's login page, tap
Sign in. -
Tap
Use a device code. -
Carefully enter the device code that is displayed on your iPad's screen.
-
Tap
Sign Inon your Square Terminal.Note: Device codes expire after five minutes. If your code expires, you'll need to go back to your iPad and generate a new one by repeating Step 3.3.
Step 5: Confirm Connection and Start Accepting Payments!
You're almost there! Once the pairing is complete, you'll see confirmation on both devices.
5.1 Confirmation:
- On your Square Terminal, you should see "Powered by Square" indicating a successful connection.
- On your iPad, the Square Point of Sale app will display "Connected" and a confirmation message.
5.2 Finalizing the Setup:
- On your iPad, tap
Doneto go back to your point of sale app. - You are now ready to start accepting payments! When you build a cart on your iPad and tap "Charge," you'll see Square Terminal listed as a payment method. Tap continue on the terminal for your customer to review and complete the payment.
5.3 Enabling Receipt Printing (Optional but Recommended):
- If you want your Square Terminal to print receipts, you'll need to enable this setting.
- On your iPad, in the Square Point of Sale app, tap
≡ More > Hardware > Square Terminal. - Toggle on
Print receipts. This setting defaults to off and needs to be toggled on each time you pair the Square Terminal.
Troubleshooting Common Connection Issues
Sometimes, technology can be a bit finicky. If you encounter issues, don't fret! Here are some common problems and their solutions:
- ***"Device Code Expired"***: This is the most common issue. Simply go back to your iPad and generate a new device code, then quickly enter it on your Square Terminal.
- ***"No Internet Connection"***:
- Check your Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection on both your Square Terminal and iPad. Ensure both devices show a strong internet signal.
- Try toggling Wi-Fi off and on on both devices.
- Restart your router/modem.
- ***"Terminal Not Appearing on iPad"***:
- Ensure both devices are on and have a stable internet connection.
- Force quit the Square POS app on your iPad and reopen it.
- Restart your Square Terminal (hold the power button for about 10 seconds until it powers off, then power it back on).
- ***"Payments Not Going Through"***:
- Confirm the Square Terminal is showing "Powered by Square" and your iPad shows "Connected."
- Check your Square account status in your online Square Dashboard to ensure there are no issues.
- Ensure both devices have the latest software updates.
- General Connectivity Glitches:
- Restart both your iPad and Square Terminal. A simple reboot can often resolve minor software conflicts.
- If you're still having trouble, consider performing a factory reset on your Square Terminal (be aware this will erase all settings and offline transactions). You can do this via
≡ More > Settings > Hardware > General > About Terminal > Factory Reset. You'll then need to go through the initial setup process again.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How to check if my iPad is compatible with Square Point of Sale? The Square Point of Sale app generally works with most recent iPad models running a relatively current iOS version. Always check the Square website's official compatibility list for the most up-to-date information, but generally, iPad Air, iPad Pro, and newer standard iPad models are compatible.
How to update the Square Point of Sale app on my iPad? Open the Apple App Store on your iPad, tap your profile icon, and then scroll down to see pending updates or search for "Square Point of Sale" to update it manually.
How to update the software on my Square Terminal?
Square Terminals typically update automatically overnight when connected to power and Wi-Fi. You can manually check for updates by going to ≡ More > Settings > Hardware > General > Software Update on your Square Terminal.
How to sign out of my Square Terminal?
On your Square Terminal, tap ≡ More > Settings > Account > Sign out > This device only.
How to disconnect my Square Terminal from my iPad?
On your iPad, in the Square Point of Sale app, go to ≡ More > Settings > Hardware > Square Terminal. You should see an option to "Forget this Terminal" or "Disconnect."
How to manage multiple Square Terminals with one iPad? The Square Point of Sale app can only connect to one Square Terminal at a time. If you need to switch which Terminal your iPad is connected to, you'll need to disconnect from the current one and then connect to the new one using the device code method.
How to ensure my Square Terminal is receiving power? When plugged in, the Square Terminal should display a charging indicator on its screen. Ensure the power adapter is firmly connected to the Terminal and a working power outlet.
How to troubleshoot Wi-Fi issues on my Square Terminal?
On your Square Terminal, go to ≡ More > Settings > Hardware > Network. Toggle Wi-Fi off and on, ensure you're connected to the correct network, and verify the password if needed.
How to reset my Square Terminal to factory settings?
On your Square Terminal, tap ≡ More > Settings > Hardware > General > About Terminal. Scroll to the bottom and tap Factory Reset > Confirm Factory Reset. Be aware this will erase all data and settings.
How to contact Square Support for further assistance?
You can typically find Square Support contact information within the Square Point of Sale app (often under ≡ More > Support) or by visiting the official Square website's support section.
