The Square Reader for contactless and chip charges through a USB cable connected to any standard USB power source, and a full charge from a low battery takes about two hours. The process is simple, but the cable type depends on which generation of reader you have.
Identify Your Reader Generation
Square sells two generations of its contactless and chip reader, and each uses a different charging cable. The quickest way to tell them apart is by looking at the charging port and power button on the side of the device.
- 1st generation: Has a micro USB charging port. The power button sits to the left of the port.
- 2nd generation: Has a USB-C charging port. The power button sits to the right of the port.
Each reader ships with the correct cable in the box. If you’ve lost yours, any standard micro USB or USB-C cable (matching your generation) will work.
How to Charge the Reader
Connect one end of the USB cable (micro USB or USB-C) to the port on your reader. Plug the other end into any USB power source: a phone charger plugged into a wall outlet, a computer’s USB port, or a car charger. That’s the entire process.
A fully drained reader takes roughly two hours to reach a complete charge. You can use the reader while it’s plugged in, but for the most accurate battery level reading, Square recommends unplugging it from any power source before checking.
Reading the Battery Lights
The LEDs on top of the reader tell you what’s happening with the battery. When you plug the reader into a power source and it begins charging correctly, four orange LEDs will light up in quick succession twice in a row. After that initial sequence, the LEDs flash to show the current battery level.
To check the battery without plugging in, firmly press the power button on the side and watch the lights on top. Green lights indicate the reader is powered on and has charge. If nothing happens when you press the button, the battery is dead and needs to be connected to power.
Dock Options for Countertop Use
If you keep your reader at a fixed checkout spot, a charging dock lets you top off the battery between transactions without fumbling with cables. Square supports two dock options for the contactless and chip reader.
The Bosstab Dock works with both the 1st and 2nd generation readers. It holds the reader upright at the counter and routes the power cable through an opening in the back of the dock directly to the reader’s charging port. You’ll still need a wall adapter or USB power source on the other end of the cable.
An older Dock for Square Reader (1st generation) also exists, but it’s no longer sold and only works with the 1st generation reader. If you already own one, you can plug it into a wall adapter or into the hardware hub on a Square Stand.
Charging the Square Terminal
If you have a Square Terminal instead of the small handheld reader, the charging setup is different. The Terminal is a larger, all-in-one device with a touchscreen and built-in receipt printer. It has its own dedicated power adapter rather than a standard USB cable.
To charge it, plug the power adapter into the port on the side of the Terminal, connect the adapter cable to the power brick, then plug the other end into a wall outlet. The Terminal ships with a charge and is designed to last a full day on battery, so many sellers only need to plug it in overnight.
Troubleshooting a Reader That Won’t Charge
If you plug in your reader and don’t see the orange LED sequence, start with the basics: try a different cable, a different USB power source, and make sure the cable is seated firmly in the port. Micro USB connections in particular can feel plugged in without actually making full contact.
If the reader still won’t respond, try a reset. Push and hold the power button until you see red lights flash, and don’t release the button until after the red lights stop. Then press and hold the button again until green LEDs appear. Once you release, the LEDs should blink green one more time to confirm the reset worked. After that, plug the reader back in and check for the orange charging lights.
Readers that sit unused for long periods can drain completely and may need several minutes connected to power before any lights appear. Leave it plugged in for at least 15 to 20 minutes before assuming the device is defective.