Chip & Swipe Reader
The Chip & Swipe reader is no longer sold by Shopify. If you own a Chip & Swipe reader and your store is based in the United States, then you can still get support for the product. Supported by Shopify
The Shopify Chip & Swipe Reader is an EMV-compliant credit card reader that connects wirelessly to your iPad or iPhone. Customers can insert or swipe their card, and then sign on the screen of your POS device.
Who is the Chip & Swipe Reader for?
The Chip & Swipe Reader is pocket-sized, wireless, and comes with a base to rest on a countertop. It's a good choice if you often sell in different locations, or if you're just getting started with accepting card payments in a retail store.
You can also use the Chip & Swipe Reader alongside another card reader as a cost-effective backup when you're travelling or during busy selling periods.
Card reader requirements and supported payment types
To use the Chip & Swipe Reader, you need to meet the following requirements:
- Your store needs to be based in the United States
- You need to have Shopify Payments activated in your store.
- You need to have an iOS or an Android device
The Shopify POS app works with devices which meet the following requirements:
| Device | Description |
|---|---|
| iPhone | iPhone 7 or higher running iOS 13 or higher |
| iPad Air | Generation 2 or higher running iPadOS 13 or higher |
| iPad | Generation 5 or higher running iPadOS 13 or higher |
| iPad mini | Generation 4 or higher running iPadOS 13 or higher |
| iPad Pro | All iPad Pro models running iPadOS 13 or higher |
| Android | Android device running version 7.0 (Nougat) or higher |
iOS 14 permission requirements
If you have updated your device to iOS 14 or higher and use third-party Shopify apps, then you might need to enable Cross-Website tracking in your iOS settings. Cross-Website tracking lets third-party Shopify apps that you have installed in your Shopify admin stay connected in Shopify Inbox, Shopify Point of Sale, and the Shopify mobile app.
To enable Cross-Website tracking, complete the following steps:
- Open the Settings app on your device.
- Tap Shopify, Shopify POS, or Shopify Inbox.
- Enable Allow Cross-Website Tracking.
You can use the Chip & Swipe Reader to accept the following payment types:
- American Express
- Discover
- Mastercard and Debit Mastercard
- Visa and Visa Debit
Mount the Chip & Swipe Reader
The Chip & Swipe Reader comes with two mounting stickers, which you can use to attach it to another device (such as the back of a cellphone or tablet) or a smooth, flat surface. If you detach your Chip & Swipe Reader, then the mounting sticker can be wiped clean and re-used.
Clean the mounting surface and the Chip & Swipe Reader before attaching the mounting sticker to ensure a strong bond.
To mount the Chip & Swipe Reader:
- Remove the protective film from one side of the mounting sticker.
- Attach the mounting sticker to the back of the Chip & Swipe Reader (the side with no logo).
- Remove the remaining protective film from the mounting sticker.
- Press the sticker side of the Chip & Swipe Reader against the mounting surface and hold for 3 seconds.
Power the Chip & Swipe Reader on and off
To turn on the Chip & Swipe Reader, press and release the power button on the side of the reader. The status light turns on. If you've already paired and connected the reader with your POS device, then the reader automatically connects to the device.
After 30 seconds of inactivity, the Chip & Swipe Reader goes into standby mode, and the status light flashes every 5 seconds. While in standby mode, the card reader turns on automatically when you take a card payment at checkout.
After 3 hours of inactivity, the Chip & Swipe Reader turns itself off fully. When you next want to take a card payment, you need to press and release the power button to turn on the card reader again. Typically you need to turn on the card reader only once a day. You can manually turn off the reader at any time by pressing and holding the power button until the status light turns off.
The Chip & Swipe Reader status light
Whenever the Chip & Swipe Reader is turned on, its status light shows the reader's connection status and whether the reader needs to be charged:
| Continuous flashing | The card reader is ready to connect to a POS device. |
| Flashing every 5 seconds | The card reader is in standby mode. |
| Green | The card reader is charged. |
| Yellow | The card reader is charging. |
| Red | The card reader's battery is at 10% and the reader should be charged. |
| No light | The card reader is turned off. |
You can continue to make sales when the status light turns red, but you should charge the reader soon.
Charge the Chip & Swipe Reader
You can charge the Chip & Swipe Reader by using the USB cable that's supplied with it. To charge the reader, plug the micro USB connector into the card reader or its base, and then plug the larger USB connector into a phone charger or computer.
The Chip & Swipe Reader takes 1-2 hours to charge fully. After the reader is fully charged, its battery should last for a week of selling (about 400 chip transactions, or 700 swipe transactions).
Pair and connect the Chip & Swipe Reader to your POS device
To use the card reader with Shopify POS, you need to pair and connect the reader with your device. After the reader and device are paired, the reader connects to the device automatically whenever both are turned on and in range.
If you accept credit cards and your card reader is not connected during a checkout, then you are prompted to follow the instructions on the Shopify POS screen to connect it.
Steps:
From Shopify POS, tap ≡ > Settings.
Tap Set up hardware.
On the Set up hardware page, tap Card reader.
On the Select your card Reader page, tap Chip & Swipe.
Press and release the power button on the side of the card reader. The status light starts flashing.
When the card reader appears beneath Available card readers, tap Connect card reader beside it.
Tap Finish setup.
When the pairing is successful, you return to the Hardware screen where the Chip & Swipe Reader is displayed as connected.
Unpair the Chip & Swipe Reader from your POS device
You can use the Chip & Swipe Reader with only one device at a time. If you want to use the card reader with another device, then you need to first unpair it from its current device.
Steps:
From Shopify POS, tap ≡ > Settings.
On the Hardware screen, tap Manage connected hardware.
Tap the name of your connected card reader.
Tap Forget card reader.
Update the Chip & Swipe reader software
Your Chip & Swipe card reader might require a software update. Updating the Chip & Swipe card reader can take up to 15 minutes.
Connect your card reader and iPad to their charging cables.
Pair your card reader with your iPad.
From the Shopify POS, tap ≡ > Settings.
Tap Manage connected hardware.
Select your card reader.
Under Update available, Tap View details.
Tap Update.
Accept payment with the Chip & Swipe Reader
From the Shopify POS, tap Checkout. If the Chip & Swipe Reader is connected, it displays Swipe or Insert card at the top of the screen.
Allow the customer to swipe or insert their card. The chip must face up towards the Shopify logo.
If an account selection is required, then the customer must select either a checking or savings account. Depending on the bank that the customer uses, they might also be prompted to select which language to complete the transaction in.
Allow the customer to discretely enter their PIN on the PIN entry screen. After the customer completes the entry of their PIN, they tap the green button with the checkmark logo.
When the transaction is successful, the customer can remove their card and you can choose whether to provide a receipt.
Tap Done.
Troubleshoot the Chip & Swipe Reader
If your card reader isn't working, then go through the following steps with a test order for a 1.00 quick sale item (you can refund the order later):
Check that you meet the requirements to use the Chip & Swipe Reader.
-
Check that you have an internet connection. Shopify POS needs to connect to the internet through Wi-Fi or your device's cellular data to process payments. If you can't connect to the internet, then you can't process card payments.
If you don't meet all the requirements, then you can still take credit card payments using an external payment terminal.
Check that your device has Bluetooth enabled and that the card reader is showing as connected in the Shopify POS hardware settings. If the card reader isn't showing as connected, then try pairing the card reader with your device.
Make sure that you're tapping Credit at the payments screen. The External terminal payment option is only for when you're using an external payment terminal instead of a Shopify-supported card reader.
Make sure that you're inserting or swiping the card correctly.
Try entering the credit card information manually. If this works, then there's a problem with the card reader.
If the manual entry doesn't work, then force quit the Shopify POS app, and then turn off the device and card reader. Turn the device back on, open Shopify POS, and then turn on the card reader. When the card reader's status light shows that the reader's connected, try another test order.
If your card reader's still not working, then contact Shopify Support.
Unpair the Chip & Swipe reader
If you're having issues with your card reader connecting automatically, then you might need to unpair your card reader from your POS device. Once you unpair your card reader from your device, you need to reconnect your POS with the Chip & Swipe Reader.
Step 1: Unpair in Shopify POS
From Shopify POS, tap ≡ > Settings.
On the Hardware screen, tap Manage connected hardware.
Tap Shopify #### (last four digits of the reader).
Scroll down and tap Forget card reader.
Step 2: Unpair in iOS settings
Open your iOS device system settings and tap Bluetooth. If Shopify #### (last four digits of the reader) is displayed in the Remembered devices list, then tap the ⓘ icon and select Forget this device.
In the iOS device system settings, turn off the Bluetooth.
Turn off the iOS device.
Using a paperclip or sim tool extractor, press the factory-reset button in the internal pin-hole next to the charging port on the Chip & Swipe reader.
Step 3: Reconnect your Chip & Swipe Reader
From Shopify POS, tap ≡ > Settings.
Tap Set up hardware.
On the Set up hardware page, tap Card reader.
On the Select your card Reader page, tap Chip & Swipe.
Press and release the power button on the side of the card reader. The status light starts flashing.
When the card reader appears beneath Available card readers, tap Connect card reader beside it.
Tap Finish setup.
When the pairing is successful, you return to the Hardware screen where the Chip & Swipe Reader is displayed as connected.