Setting up the Chip & Swipe card reader

Learn how to set up and update the Chip & Swipe card reader to process payments with Shopify POS.

Mount the Chip & Swipe card reader

The Chip & Swipe card 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 card reader, then the mounting sticker can be wiped clean and re-used.

Clean the mounting surface and the Chip & Swipe card reader before attaching the mounting sticker to make sure there's a strong bond.

Steps:

1. Remove the protective film from one side of the mounting sticker.
2. Attach the mounting sticker to the back of the Chip & Swipe card reader (the side with no logo).
3. Remove the remaining protective film from the mounting sticker.
4. Press the sticker side of the Chip & Swipe card reader against the mounting surface, and then hold for 3 seconds.

Power the Chip & Swipe card 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 card reader goes into standby mode, and the status light flashes every 5 seconds. During standby mode, the card reader turns on automatically when you take a card payment at checkout.

After 3 hours of inactivity, the Chip & Swipe card reader turns off. 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 one time per 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 card reader status light

When the Chip & Swipe card reader is turned on, its status light displays the reader's connection status and whether the reader needs to be charged:

How to interpret the Chip and Swipe reader status light

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 after the status light turns red, but you should charge the reader soon.

Charge the Chip & Swipe card reader

You can charge the Chip & Swipe card reader by using the micro-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 card 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 card 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 isn't connected during a checkout, then you're prompted to follow the instructions on the Shopify POS screen to connect it.

Caution

the Chip & Swipe card reader, Shopify Payments test mode needs to be turned off.

Steps:

1. From Shopify POS, tap > Settings.
2. Tap Set up hardware.
3. On the Set up hardware page, tap Card reader.
4. On the Select your card Reader page, tap Chip & Swipe.
5. Press and release the power button on the side of the card reader. The status light starts flashing.
6. When the card reader displays beneath Available card readers, tap Connect card reader beside it.
7. Tap Finish setup.

When the pairing is successful, you return to the Hardware screen where the Chip & Swipe card reader is displayed as connected.

Unpair the Chip & Swipe card reader from your POS device

You can use the Chip & Swipe card 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:

1. From Shopify POS, tap > Settings.
2. On the Hardware screen, tap Manage connected hardware.
3. Tap the name of your connected card reader.
4. Tap Forget card reader.

Update the Chip & Swipe card reader software

Your Chip & Swipe card reader might require a software update. To check for a software update, in your Shopify POS app, tap the connectvity symbol in the navigation, and then tap the Chip & Swipe reader. If an update's available, then a banner displays to initiate the update.

Updating the Chip & Swipe card reader can take up to 15 minutes.

Don't close the app or disconnect the card reader during the update process.

Steps:

1. Connect your card reader and iPad to their charging cables.
2. Pair your card reader with your iPad.
3. From the Shopify POS, tap > Settings.
4. Tap Manage connected hardware.
5. Select your card reader.
6. Under Update available, tap View details.
7. Tap Update.