Square Reader: 'Insert or Try Another Card' error message

[TheWheezyBead]

I have the square reader and am due to attend my first craft market this weekend.

I have charged it fully, paired with my phone, linked bank account (all a couple of weeks ago), but now every time I try to process a contactless payment, it fails.

"Insert or Try Another Card. Unable to process contactless payment"

The title of this thread has been edited from the original.

[tranguyen · Accepted solution]

Hi @TheWheezyBead, sorry to hear you are running into this!

I've had a look on my end and the error message above "Insert or Try Another Card. Unable to process contactless payment" usually comes from the card being declined. Card-issuing banks often impose a limit on the number of time you can use your physical card for contactless payments before you need to pay via chip & pin instead.

In this case, it's worth inserting the card and then try contactless payments again. 

Additionally, we also have some resources to help troubleshooting steps your Square Card reader if it keeps not recognising cards.

I hope this will help!

[AnnOwen]

I'm getting this too. The message comes up as soon as you try to checkout - before you have even put a card anywhere near the reader. Very frustrating. I hope there is an answer somewhere here.

[Joe]

Hi there, @AnnOwen. Tra confirmed above that this type of error message is in regard to a declined payment. Your customer will need to try the payment once more or use another payment method.

If you continue to have trouble, we recommend reaching out to our Support Team directly.

[ChampAuto]

We are having this issue as well.  We have tried using several different cards....same message. I've cleared the cache in square. I've deleted the app and reinstalled app and repaired the reader. Same message.

[Breffni]

Hi @ChampAuto. 

Welcome to the Seller Community and sorry to hear you're running into this issue too. 

It sounds like your Reader may be damaged if the troubleshooting steps listed by Tra above are not working for you. 

I'd suggest making sure the inside of the Reader is clean, as in that there's no dust or debris lodged inside and then trying the troubleshooting steps again. If you still receive the error after testing with a couple of different cards, you can look at filing a warranty form for a replacement Reader.