EMV Payments FAQ

Last updated: Jun 11, 2026, 9:14 AM

Check here for frequently asked questions about EMV (chip reading functionality).

EMV (chip) payments let Toast card readers accept chip and contactless cards. This FAQ covers what EMV is, how to enable it on terminals and handhelds, how it works with bar tabs, and how to fix common chip reader problems.

 

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About EMV

What is EMV?

EMV stands for Europay, Mastercard, and Visa, and it is the ability to read payment cards with a chip. EMV works with the Toast Tap™ contactless reader. A chip is more secure than a magnetic stripe, and the average expected transaction time is three seconds.

Also asked as:

    • What does EMV mean?
    • Is EMV the chip reader?
    • What is the chip on a card reader?

 

What is the difference between dip, tap, and swipe?

Dip, tap, and swipe are the three ways a Toast card reader can read a card. Dipping inserts the chip into the reader, tapping uses contactless (the Toast Tap™ reader), and swiping reads the magnetic stripe. Toast recommends keeping EMV enabled for all chip cards and dipping or tapping them instead of swiping, because the chip is more secure than the magnetic stripe.

 

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Enabling EMV on your devices

How do I enable EMV on my device?

To enable EMV on a device, set the EMV Enabled setting to Yes in Device Setup:

    1. From the main menu of the Toast app, navigate to Setup.
    2. Scroll down and select Device Setup.
    3. Scroll down and select EMV Enabled.
    4. If it is not already set to Yes, select Yes, then select Continue. Update, if necessary.

Expected outcome: EMV Enabled shows Yes, and the device can accept chip and contactless cards.


Note: Before you finish, confirm the EMV Enabled setting is set to Yes. If it shows No, change it to Yes to activate it.


Also asked as:

    • How do I turn on EMV?
    • Where is the EMV setting?
    • How do I set up EMV payments?

 

How do I enable EMV on a handheld?

To enable EMV on a Toast Go® handheld, use the same EMV Enabled setting in Device Setup that you use on a terminal. On a handheld, the card reader also has to be awake first: on the passcode screen, select the card icon in the lower-left corner so the reader is recognized by the device, then follow the Enable EMV on your device instructions.

Expected outcome: EMV Enabled shows Yes on the handheld, and the handheld can accept chip and contactless cards.


Also asked as:

    • How do I enable EMV on my Toast Go®?
    • EMV won't turn on my handheld?
    • How do I set up EMV on a handheld?

 

How do I enable EMV on a kiosk?

To enable EMV on a kiosk, Exit Kiosk Mode. Then follow the Enable EMV on your device instructions, the same way you would on any device.

Expected outcome: EMV Enabled can be set to Yes on the kiosk and the reader accepts chip and contactless cards.

 

If I set up EMV on one device, is it enabled on all devices?

No, enabling EMV on one device does not enable it on all devices. EMV is a device-level setting, so a restaurant can have some devices with EMV enabled and others with it disabled. A transaction taken on a device with EMV disabled is more exposed to EMV-related chargebacks.

Also asked as:

    • Is EMV set per device?
    • Do I have to enable EMV on every terminal?
    • How do I enable EMV for my whole restaurant?

 

How do I use swipe actions with EMV?

To only use swipe actions, disable EMV on the device by setting EMV Enabled to Off in Device Setup. Toast recommends keeping EMV enabled for all cards with chips and dipping those cards instead of swiping. For the full steps to disable EMV, see Turn Off EMV Payments.

 

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EMV and bar tabs (pre-authorization)

How does pre-authorization (bar tabs) work with EMV?

Pre-authorization for bar tabs works with EMV by dipping or tapping the card on an EMV-enabled reader. Dipping is recommended over tapping when you start a bar tab, because dipping automatically fills in the cardholder's name as the tab name, while tapping does not, due to limitations set by the card networks. If you tap, update the tab name manually to avoid confusion or potential disputes.

Note: On a dual card reader setup, including guest-facing displays, bar tabs remain swipe-only. For how the guest-facing reader handles payments, see Guest Pay Reader Functionality With Toast Tap™.

Also asked as:

    • Why isn't my bar tab saving the name?
    • Can I start a tab by dipping a chip card?
    • Does pre-auth work with chip cards?

 

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Troubleshooting EMV and the chip reader

Why is the EMV Enabled button grayed out?

The EMV Enabled button is usually grayed out because the card reader has not been activated or is not being detected. Try these steps in order:

    1. (For Toast Go® only) From the passcode screen, select the card icon in the lower-left corner to activate the reader. The card icon stays blue when this works.
    2. If that does not work, power-cycle the device by powering it off and back on. You may need to log back in to your Toast account and wait a few minutes for activation.
    3. Disable and re-enable EMV by setting EMV Enabled to Off and then back to Yes.
    4. Confirm the card reader is listed under connected devices in Device Setup. If it is not listed, troubleshoot the device. See Get Help With Your Card Reader.

Expected outcome: EMV Enabled can be set to Yes. If it stays grayed out after these steps, the reader is not being recognized. See When to contact Toast Customer Care below.


Also asked as:

    • Why can't I enable EMV?
    • EMV Enabled is grayed out?
    • EMV won't turn on?

 

The card didn't work when I dipped it. Should I key in the card?

No, do not immediately key in the card if a dip did not work, instead, dip the card again. If it fails twice, you will be prompted to swipe instead. A dip can fail for several reasons, such as dirt on the chip. Keying in a card number carries the highest risk because it has the least authentication of all the ways to take a payment.

Also asked as:

    • Can I type in the card number if the chip fails?
    • The chip won't read — what do I do?

 

EMV is on and the reader is updated, but nothing happens after I insert a card. Swipes work. What's wrong?

When EMV is on and swipes work but nothing happens after you insert a card, make sure the Time Zone is correct. See Adjust the Time Zone on Your Device. An incorrect device date or time can stop chip reads from completing even when swipes work.

 

I was offered a card reader update, but it isn't working. What should I do?

If a card reader update is not working, wait a minute and try the update again. If it still does not work, contact Toast Customer Care so they can let the appropriate teams know.

 

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When to contact Toast Customer Care

What should I do if EMV still won't enable after I've tried everything?

If EMV still will not enable after you have activated the reader, power-cycled the device, disabled and re-enabled EMV, and confirmed the reader is listed in Device Setup, the reader is not being recognized and the next step is beyond device settings. Contact Toast Customer Care.

Also asked as:

    • EMV is still grayed out after troubleshooting?
    • My card reader isn't detected at all?
    • Who do I contact if EMV won't enable?

 

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