What is a card machine?
Before learning how to successfully reset a card machine, let’s first understand what it is. A card machine is a digital device that facilitates all types of cashless payments by connecting the customer’s bank to the business merchant’s account. It works with a payment gateway provider to enable efficient and secure transactions.
The working of a card machine is simple. When your customer inserts the card into the machine to pay, it sends the transaction details to the customer’s bank. After the bank confirms the availability of funds and authorises the transaction, the final step takes place. The payment funds get transferred from the customer’s account into the merchant account. They remain there for a week or two and then get transferred to the business’s main account.
Why should you learn to reset a card machine?
As a business and card machine owner, it is important to know the basic steps to take in case your card machine malfunctions out of nowhere. Whether it freezes mid-transaction, can’t connect to the internet, or has any problem while dealing with customers, an instant solution is to reset it and see if it works. You should reset your card machine to:
- Avoid losing sales: If your card machine stops working during peak working hours, it will cause frustration to you and your customers. Apart from that, it will also slow you down when processing payments.
- Improve customer experience: In case of a repeated or failed transaction, the customer in the front of the queue will definitely get pressed, but the queue of the customers behind them will also get upset. Customers might get frustrated and walk out of your store because of long wait times at the payment counter.
- Troubleshoot problems yourself: Sure, you can reach out to the tech support of your card machine provider to help you reset the machine. But some will argue that doing something so simple is basic tech literacy and business owners should solve such problems themselves.
- Take proactive action: Take action the day your card machine glitches or freezes. It will prevent it from turning into some bigger problem later in the future.
Signs that your card machine needs a reset
Your card machine needs a reset when:
- You have to redo a transaction multiple times because your card machine stopped working in the middle of processing it.
- You can not connect your device to the internet. It either doesn’t connect to the network or cannot use it with error messages like ‘Connected- Internet not available’.
- You can process the payments on your card machine, but it starts taking longer each time.
| Scenario | What to do | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
|
Unresponsive or frozen screen. |
Perform a soft reset. |
Clears temporary system glitches. |
|
Persistent error messages. |
Reset after checking for any software updates. |
Resolves software conflicts. |
|
Connectivity issues. |
Reset Wi-Fi/Bluetooth-enabled machines. |
Re-establishes stable network connections. |
Step-by-step process: How to reset a card machine
Here’s a step-by-step guide for when your card machine starts acting up and how to deal with it.
1. Reboot your device
If your card machine has been in use for a longer time without a break, a reboot is all it might need to start working smoothly again. Rebooting your card machine is equivalent to refreshing it. Your device settings remain intact, and you start using your card machine after shutting it down once and starting again. You can do this by following these steps:
- Power off the device by pressing and holding the power button.
- Unplug it from the power source or remove the battery. If you are removing the battery, make sure to power off the device first and then do it.
- Wait 10-15 seconds before turning it back on.
- Test it to see if the card machine is working properly now.
2. Check internet connectivity before resetting
Before jumping into performing a full reset, make sure all connections are intact. Double-check your card reader and internet connection to see if both are working fine. If you are working with a portable card machine, make sure it’s connected via internet/Bluetooth. Also, for countertop card machines connected to your POS system, the ethernet cables should be properly plugged into the respective ports and working.
3. Charge your device
Some features of a card machine lose functionality if the device is running on low battery. Using the device while it is charging for an extended period can affect its performance too. To prevent this, make sure your device is at least 25% charged before trying out any other methods to solve the issue.
4. Test different payment methods
If your card machine starts lagging while processing a bank payment, try completing transactions using different payment methods like contactless or mobile wallets. This will help you determine whether the issue is with the card machine, a specific payment type, or the customer’s card. Then it’ll be easier for you to rule out the possibilities and take the necessary steps to resolve the issue.
5. Check for any software updates
Outdated software can lead to glitches, slow performance, or error messages. Keep your system updated by regularly updating your software to the latest available version. Access the settings menu for available updates and follow the instructions to install them.
6. Inspect the card reader
Sometimes, the issue isn’t with the card machine itself but with your card reader. If you’re using a Bluetooth-connected card reader, make sure that it is properly paired with your POS system. For a wired card reader, check the physical connection. Some card machines use a USB-C connection, while older models connect through a headphone jack. The cable should be securely plugged in and try using a different port or cable if possible.
7. Factory reset the card machine
If the issue persists after you have tried both restarting your card machine and checking on all the connections, then it is time for a hard reset. A factory reset brings the card machine back to its default state. This process erases all stored data, settings, and custom configurations, including saved Wi-Fi networks and all the transaction history. Since this process removes everything, it should only be used as a last resort after trying other troubleshooting methods explained above.
To perform a factory reset, access the settings menu on your card machine. From there, navigate to “Reset Options”, Select “Factory Reset” and confirm the action.
8. Restore the settings after factory resetting
After a factory reset, you’ll need to reconfigure the card machine to start using it. To do this, connect it to your internet connection (you’ll need to enter the password and confirm). After pairing it with your payment gateway provider, download any necessary software updates. Now, you are all set to start using your card machine. Before processing a customer’s transaction, test a dummy transaction to ensure the system is fully functional.
9. Contact customer support
If all the above-mentioned methods fail, reach out to your payment processor’s customer service team. Update them with the steps you have taken to solve the issue and follow the new guidelines provided by them.
How to reset different types of card machines
1. Countertop machines
These machines are mostly used by retail businesses. This type of card machine is typically used with a countertop POS system it is typically hardwired with the system via physical cables. To reset, follow these steps:
- Press and hold the power button for 10 seconds to shut down the machine.
- Unplug the device from the power source. Make sure to shut it down first and then unplug it. Doing it directly is not recommended.
- Wait for 15 seconds and turn the device back on.
- Check to see if the cables are connected properly. Finally, connect the device to the internet and process a test payment to see if the issue has been resolved.
2. Portable machines
Portable machines that rely on Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connections are ideal for restaurants and cafes to provide table-side payment options for customers. They are used in charities as well. The process to restart a portable card machine is similar to the steps described earlier for the countertop card machines.
- Navigate to the settings menu and look for the ‘Shut Down’ option.
- Alternatively, you can also hold the power button until the device shuts down.
- Restart the machine and ensure it reconnects to the Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
3. Mobile card readers
Mobile card readers pair with smartphones or tablets via Bluetooth or a charging port, which makes them suitable for small and remote businesses. To restart them:
- Power off the reader and make sure it’s fully charged.
- On your smartphone or tablet, unpair the device from Bluetooth settings. If it is connected via the charging port or headphone jack, you can unplug it easily.
- Restart both the card reader and your device.
- After turning on both devices, set up the connection.
Get reliable card machines with ComparedBusiness
Reliability is one of the crucial aspects you would want in a card machine provider. We at ComparedBusiness UK are experts in linking you with top card payment processing solutions. Just submit your business details in less than 2 minutes and we will get back to you with quotes from the list of top card machine providers in the UK.
FAQs
A soft reset doesn’t affect stored transactions. However, a factory reset will erase all data, including transactions, so make sure all the previous payments are settled before that.
To prevent issues with your card machines in the long run, regularly update the software, clean your device from time to time, and keep the machine at a clean station.
Yes, a reset can often resolve error codes caused by temporary software glitches or connectivity issues. If errors persist after resetting, contact the customer or tech support team of your card machine provider.
Reset your card machine only when experiencing errors, software updates, or connectivity issues. Regular resets aren’t required but can help maintain smooth performance if glitches arise frequently.
