Pair a Square Terminal

Updated October 2, 2026

A Square Terminal is a physical card reader at your counter. It's separate from the card form customers see on your website.

Pair it

Make sure Square is connected. See Connect Square.
On the Square card in Integrations, click Pair a Terminal.
A code appears.
On the Terminal's own screen, enter that code.
The card now shows the Terminal as Paired.

Charge an order on the Terminal

Start a walk-in order. See Take a walk-in or phone order.
Instead of marking it paid, send it to the paired Terminal.
The customer taps or inserts their card.
Once Square confirms the charge, the order is marked paid automatically.

If the payment doesn't go through

You'll see "The Terminal checkout didn't go through, you can try again." The order stays pending. Send it to the Terminal again, or take payment another way.

Tip: Keep the Terminal powered and on Wi-Fi at the counter. A dropped connection is the usual reason a checkout doesn't reach it.

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