Accept payment cards with Square | Square Support Center (2025)

FAQs

Why is Square not letting me accept payments? ›

Troubleshoot disconnected or weak internet connection

Square requires an active internet connection to process payments. This can be either a Wi-Fi connection or a cellular data service (such as 4G, 5G, or EDGE). Wi-Fi provides a faster processing experience with Square.

Square requires an active Internet connection to process card payments. This can be either a Wifi connection or a data service (such as 4G, 5G, or EDGE). Choose Wi-Fi instead of your cellular network for a faster processing experience with Square.

Received “Not approved to accept credit cards” message

Some common reasons why an account can fail activation include: Typos or incorrect information. Providing a business name or a recently changed name instead of your legal name. A legal first and last name are required to verify your identity.

Square works with any US-issued and most internationally-issued magstripe and chip cards bearing a Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, JCB, or UnionPay International logo.

Why was my Square Debit Card declined? Transactions can be declined for a number of reasons. Some of the most common reasons are: insufficient funds in your Square Checking balance, ATM limit reached, suspected fraud payment, unactivated Square Debit Card, or incorrect billing zip code or CVC.

A credit card decline is when a credit card payment isn't authorized or accepted. There are a few reasons why a customer's card might not work – whether their card has expired, they've spent too much on it, or the issuing bank thinks there might be suspicious activity, among other reasons.

My Square Reader won't accept cards

Verify that your Square Reader is connected to your device: Tap More from the navigation bar at the bottom of your screen. Tap Settings > Hardware > Square Readers. Check that the four numbers in your settings match the last four digits of your Reader's serial number.

User reports indicate no current problems at Square

Square is a payment provider.

Can Square accept credit cards without swiping? ›

Square Terminal is a portable credit card machine that accepts every card payment — tap, dip, and swipe.

Common reasons include a high debt-to-income ratio, a low credit score, insufficient monthly income, a limited credit history or delinquencies. Once you know why your application was denied, you'll know what to work on.

Make sure your account is activated for taking card payments by linking your bank. You can link your bank account from your Dashboard by following Account & Settings > Bank Accounts.

What do you need to accept credit card payments? To accept credit card payments, your business needs a payment processor, POS hardware (if you're accepting in-person payments), online payment gateway (if you're accepting e-commerce payments) and a merchant account.

To complete the activation process, please sign in to your Square Dashboard and click Activate card processing. Your activation may be declined if there are any typos, so please pay close attention to the information you enter. Keep the following tips in mind: - Enter your legal first and legal last name.

My Square Reader won't accept cards

Verify that your Square Reader is connected: Tap More from the navigation bar at the bottom of your screen. Tap Settings > Hardware > Square Readers. Check that the four numbers in your settings match the last four digits of your Reader's serial number.

Try turning Bluetooth off and back on. For Android devices, navigate to Settings > Connections > toggle on Bluetooth. Bluetooth will automatically turn off when your Square Reader is connected to a Square Stand by USB cable.

You may be checking the wrong bank account (common with businesses operating with multiple locations and multiple bank accounts) Transfers suspended/unavailable due to minimum or maximum balance amounts unmet or a pending Square account review. Transfers to a closed bank account.