WisePad 3 card reader

The WisePad 3 card reader is a PCI-compliant card reader that connects wirelessly to your POS device. You can use the WisePad 3 card reader to accept contactless and chip card payments with the Shopify POS app.

Card reader requirements

To use the WisePad 3 card reader, you must meet the following requirements:

  • Your store is based in a supported country for Shopify POS.
  • You have Shopify Payments activated as your retail store's payment provider and test mode turned off
  • Your physical retail locations are based in the same country that your store is based in
  • You're selling in the local currency appropriate to your physical retail location
  • You use the Shopify POS app

Mobile device requirements for WisePad

You must use a compatible iPad or iPhone that is running iOS 15 or higher, or an Android device running version 10 or higher. Either type of device must support Bluetooth 4.2 or higher.

The Shopify POS app works with devices that meet the following requirements:

Devices that work with the Shopify POS app
DeviceDescription
iPadGeneration 5 or higher running iPadOS 15 or higher
iPad Air Generation 2 or higher running iPadOS 15 or higher
iPad miniGeneration 4 or higher running iPadOS 15 or higher
iPad ProAll iPad Pro models running iPadOS 15 or higher
iPhoneiPhone 7 or higher running iOS 15 or higher
POS GoPOS Go running the latest Shopify-provided software updates
AndroidPhone or tablet running official Android version 10.0 or higher, with Google Play Services and Google Mobile Services enabled

The Shopify POS app is available for only iOS and Android devices. It's not available for laptop or desktop computers.

iOS 14 permission requirements

If you update your device to iOS 14 or higher and use third-party Shopify apps, then you might need to activate Cross-Website tracking in your iOS settings. Cross-Website tracking lets third-party Shopify apps that you install in your Shopify admin stay connected in Shopify Inbox, Shopify Point of Sale, and the Shopify app.

To activate Cross-Website tracking, complete the following steps:

  1. Open the Settings app on your device.
  2. Tap Shopify, Shopify POS, or Shopify Inbox.
  3. Activate Allow Cross-Website Tracking.

Supported payment types

You can use the WisePad 3 card reader to accept payments from the following payment types:

  • Visa and Visa Debit
  • Mastercard and Debit Mastercard
  • American Express
  • Discover (only for locations in United States, Canada, and United Kingdom)
  • Diners Club (only for locations in United States, Canada, and United Kingdom)
  • JCB (only for locations in United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand)
  • Union Pay (only for locations in United States and Canada)
  • eftpos (Australia only)
  • Interac (Canada only)

Most national debit cards such as Interac, girocard, or eftpos cards that are co-badged with Visa or Mastercard can process payments outside the card issuer's country using Visa and Mastercard. Some co-badged debit cards that don't process payments through Mastercard or Visa might not work outside the card issuer's country.

On hardware that supports contactless payments, customers might also present any supported card brand that they've loaded on a digital wallet such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay.

Where to buy the WisePad 3 card reader

The WisePad 3 card reader is available from the Shopify Hardware Store in supported countries.

Power the WisePad 3 card reader on and off

To turn the WisePad 3 card reader on or off, press and release its power button. When the card reader turns on, the status lights illuminate. If you've already paired and connected the reader with your POS device, then the reader automatically reconnects to the device.

After 30 seconds of inactivity, the WisePad 3 card reader will go into standby mode and the screen will dim. The card reader stays connected to Shopify POS during standby mode and automatically exits standby mode when you resume activity. When running on battery power, the card reader automatically shuts off after 10 hours of inactivity. To turn the card reader off manually, press and hold the power button until the screen displays a confirmation to power off the card reader, then press the green button. You don't need to turn the reader off to conserve power.

Charge the WisePad 3 card reader

You can charge the WisePad 3 card reader by using the USB cable that's supplied with it. To charge the reader, plug the small end of USB connector into the card reader and then plug the large end into a phone charger or a computer.

The WisePad 3 card reader takes 3 to 4 hours to charge fully. After the reader's fully charged, its battery should last for about 500-600 transactions. Charge the card reader daily to ensure that it's always ready to process transactions. You can check the amount of charge remaining in the card reader on the WisePad's by looking at the battery icon in the top right-hand corner of the display screen.

Pair and connect the WisePad 3 card reader to your POS device

To use the WisePad 3 card reader with Shopify POS, you need to pair the reader with your device through Shopify POS. After the reader and device are paired, the reader connects to the device automatically whenever both are turned on and in range.

Steps:

  1. Press and release the power button to turn on the reader.
  2. In Shopify POS, tap > Settings > Set up hardware.
  3. Tap Card reader.
  4. On the Select Reader page, tap WisePad 3.
  5. When the card reader displays beneath Available card readers, tap Connect beside it.

Unpair the WisePad 3 card reader from your POS device

You can only use the WisePad 3 card reader with 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 , and then tap Settings.
  2. Tap Manage connected hardware.
  3. Tap the name of your connected card reader.
  4. Tap Forget card reader.

Change the language setting on the WisePad 3 card reader

You can select the language used for the WisePad 3 card reader. The language options in the settings are pre-set per region, and so vary by country.

Steps:

  1. Press the power button.
  2. Press the down arrow three times to enter the language menu.
  3. Press the enter button to select your language choice.

Accept a payment with the WisePad 3 card reader

You can use the WisePad 3 card reader to accept chip and PIN or contactless tap payments.

Contactless payments can be limited to purchases under a specified amount, depending on the payment type or the country where your business is based. To make purchases for larger amounts, or when your customer has exceeded their tap limit, your customer can insert the card, and then enter their PIN.

Steps:

  1. From the Shopify POS, tap Checkout. If the WisePad 3 card reader is connected and ready, then a Tap or insert card option becomes available.
  2. Allow the customer to tap or insert their card. The chip should face up, towards the Shopify logo. 3 When the transaction is successful, the customer can remove their card.
  3. Choose whether to provide a receipt and the delivery method.

Troubleshooting the WisePad 3 card reader

The following are the most common troubleshooting steps for the WisePad 3 card reader.

The WisePad 3 card reader won't pair with my POS device

  1. Verify that Bluetooth on your Shopify POS device is turned on.
  2. Verify that the POS app has permission to connect to Bluetooth in your device settings.
  3. Verify that you have a stable 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 need to use a different payment type when you're offline.
  4. Verify that your WisePad 3 card reader is charged above 50% battery. If it's not, then charge it to above 50% before trying again because the device might experience trouble pairing with less than 50% battery, even if it's plugged in.
  5. Verify whether the WisePad 3 card reader is connected to a different device. If it is, then unpair it from that device before trying to pair it with a new device.
  6. Turn off the POS app on your device and then turn it on again.

The WisePad 3 card reader disconnects from my POS device

  1. Verify whether the WisePad 3 card reader has sufficient battery. Charge the card reader if necessary.
  2. Press and release the WisePad 3 card reader's power button to wake it up.
  3. Verify whether the WisePad 3 card reader is within Bluetooth range of the POS device.
  4. Verify that you have a stable 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 need to use a different payment type when you're offline.
  5. Unpair and repair the WisePad 3 card reader with your POS device.
  6. Reset the POS app on your device.

System tampered

If your WisePad 3 card reader displays a Tamper Detected screen error, then the reader can no longer be used, and you'll need to replace it.

Connection issues

If your WisePad 3 reader displays a Wake card reader message and can't reconnect, then click Not working? from the card reader details page. After you click Not working?, the WisePad 3 reader's connection will reinitialize.

Freezing, stalling, or over-the-air updates failing

To use your WisePad 3 reader, make sure that the following requirements are met:

  • Your WisePad 3 reader is charged to at least 50%.
  • Your iOS or Android device is connected to a stable Wi-Fi connection.
  • You have updated to Shopify POS version 6.34 or higher.

Steps:

  1. Force close the Point of Sale (POS) app.
  2. Re-open the POS app.
  3. Tap ☰ in the bottom right of the POS app and tap Settings
  4. Go to Manage connected hardware > WisePad 3 > Forget the reader.
  5. Tap ☰ again in the bottom right of the POS app and tap Settings.
  6. Go to Set up hardware > Card readers > WisePad 3.

If the issue persists, then do a pinhole reboot by using a pin or paper clip to press and hold the reboot button for 5 seconds. This action re-pairs the device. The reboot button is located on the right side of the device, underneath the charging port.

Paired to a different device

If the WisePad 3 card reader is paired to a different iOS or Android device, then the WisePad 3 card reader won't display in the list of available card readers when you're trying to set up the card reader in the POS app.

Unable to process payments

If you're unable to process payments because the POS app payment failed, then try the following troubleshooting:

  • Ensure that location services for the POS app set to either Always or Only when using the app.
  • Restart the POS app and attempt a payment again.
  • Ensure that Shopify Payments isn't in test mode.

Switching from Tap, Chip, and Swipe to WisePad 3

Keep your Tap, Chip, and Swipe card reader nearby, but powered off in case you're having issues with your WisePad 3, or prefer to go back to the Tap, Chip, and Swipe reader. Leaving the Tap, Chip, and Swipe reader powered off helps ensure that the POS app remains paired to the WisePad 3 as the main card processing unit.

Card reader isn't responding when inserting a card

If the card reader isn't responding when you insert a card, then you might need to clean the chip slot:

  1. Fold a piece of paper to be the same thickness as a credit card.
  2. Insert the folded piece of paper into the chip slot and move the paper side-to-side and back-and-forth.
  3. Remove the paper from the slot, and then use a can of compressed air to clean out the chip slot.

Further troubleshooting tips before sending a report to Shopify Support

  • Never blow into the chip slot, as the saliva particles can corrode the chip contacts.
  • Don't use an adhesive like a sticky note or tape, as this can leave residue that can collect debris.
  • Use a can of compressed air to dislodge any debris inside the chip slot.
  • Use isopropyl alcohol and thin cotton swabs to gently clean the contacts in the chip slot.
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