Get Help With Toast Card Reader

Last updated: Mar 31, 2026, 9:13 AM

Learn how to quickly diagnose issues if your card reader isn't working, and discover simple steps to test different USB ports to find a solution.

In this Article:

 

Troubleshoot Toast Tap® Card Reader

Below are the steps on how to troubleshoot the Toast Tap® card reader.

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Check Device

If your Toast Tap™ card reader isn't working as expected, these steps can help you identify and fix common issues:

  1. Check Physical Connections & Condition
    1. First, please ensure your Toast Tap™ card reader is firmly and securely plugged into your Toast terminal or its designated USB port. A loose cable is often a quick fix!
    2. Carefully examine the USB connector on the card reader (the part that plugs into the terminal). Look for any signs that it might be bent, broken, or otherwise physically damaged.
    3. If the USB connector appears bent or broken, please don't attempt further troubleshooting with it. You'll likely need a replacement. Contact Toast Care Support for assistance.
  2. Verify Connection in Android Settings & Try Basic Resets
    1. If there's no visible damage, let's check if your terminal recognizes the card reader:
      1. Navigate to USB Detection by going to Android Settings> About Device> USB Detection.
    2. You should see your Toast Tap™ card reader listed here. It's often identified by its serial number, which you can typically find on a label on the bottom of the Toast Tap™ device.
  3. Check for Card Reader Updates
    1. Inside Toast app, go to Device Setup > Card Reader (BBPOS CHIPPER 2x) > Card reader updates and follow the prompts.
  4. If Your Reader Isn't Listed, Try These Steps:
    1. Carefully unplug the card reader from the USB port, wait a few moments, and then plug it back in securely. Check the USB Detection list again to see if it appears.
    2. In the USB Detection screen, you might see an option labeled Reset All. This is safe to use and will refresh all USB port connections, which can often help with detection problems.
    3. If your terminal has more than one USB port, try connecting the Toast Tap™ to a different port to see if it's recognized there.
  5. Next Steps if Problems Continue:
    1. If Not Detected or No Blue Light: If your Toast Tap™ card reader still doesn't show up in the USB Detection list after trying all the steps above, or if it doesn't have a blue indicator light (if your model usually shows one), please proceed to the Test Payments section.
    2. If the USB Connector is Damaged: As mentioned in Step 1, if the USB connector itself is broken or bent, please contact Toast Care Support for a replacement.

 

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Clear Cache / Restart

  1. Force quit the Toast app by selecting the square icon on the bottom of your screen, swiping all the way to the left, and selecting Close All.

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  2. Clear your terminal’s cache by navigating to your terminal’s home screen and selecting the Clear Cache icon. Then, select the Clear Cache button on the top right of your screen.

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  3. Power cycle your device by turning off the Toast Flex and turning it back on. 
  4. Once the device is back on, check to make sure that the EMV setting on your device is turned on.
    1. To do so, navigate to Device Setup, scroll down to the Payment Processing section, and make sure EMV Enabled is set to yes.

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  5. Then, proceed to test your reader once again.


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Swap USB Ports

If you're experiencing issues processing payments with your Toast Tap™, switching to another USB port on your Toast Flex terminal can often help. Here’s how to do it safely:

 

  1. If your Toast Tap™ is currently secured to its USB port (for instance, with screws), please carefully unscrew it and detach the device.
  2. Your Toast Flex terminal has several USB ports, typically found on the left, right, or top. Choose an available port. You might need to remove a small cover plate to access it.

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  3. Take the Micro-USB cable attached to your Toast Tap™.
    1. Plug this cable firmly into the new USB port you've selected on your Toast Flex.
    2. If your Toast Tap™ or its cable has a mounting plate for that port, please screw it securely to the terminal. This helps keep the connection stable.

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  4. If you have the on-counter version of the Toast Tap™, please also double-check that the cable is securely and correctly plugged into the port on the bottom of the Toast Tap™ device itself.

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  5. Once everything is reconnected, try to process a payment. This will help you see if moving to a new USB port has fixed the issue.
    1. Note: For Toast Tap™ (On-Counter Model), if the problem continues and you use a Toast Printer and/or a Toast Hub, these devices may also have available USB ports. You can try connecting your on-counter Toast Tap™ to one of these as an alternative.

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  6. Sometimes, your Toast Tap™ might show a solid blue light (which usually means it has power and a basic connection) but still won't process payments or pass any diagnostic tests.
    1. If this happens even after trying a new USB port, please repeat the steps above to test any other available USB ports on your Toast Flex terminal that you haven't used yet. Systematically checking each port can help identify if a specific port is causing the trouble.

 

If you've tried all available USB ports and are still experiencing issues, please contact Toast Care Support for assistance.


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Test Payments

If the Toast Tap™ has passed the troubleshooting steps above, and isn’t damaged, but can’t yet process payments, follow the steps below to test payment using a card reader test app on your device.

 

  1. Select the circle icon at the bottom of your device screen to go to the device’s home screen. 

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  2. Select Card Reader Support to open the app. Note: If the Card Reader Support app fails to initialize and an orange banner appears on your screen, go to the Swapping USB Ports section.

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  3. If the app initializes successfully, a screen like the image below will appear. Take a credit card and run a test by tapping, dipping, and swiping the card (all three ways).
    1. The credit card will not be charged, but make sure your credit card has a  Tap icon on a credit card   symbol that says it can be used for tapping.

      Screen Shot 2021-10-22 at 8.53.48 AM.png

  4. Once you’ve tapped, dipped, and swiped the card, each box on the screen will show either green (Result Pass) to show it was successful or orange  (Result Failed) to indicate that it failed. 

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  5. If the test results in at least 1 orange on the screen above, it means the reader itself is broken. You'll likely need a replacement. Contact Toast Care Support for assistance.
  6. If all three modes of payment are working and show as green, then the Toast Flex and Toast Tap™ hardware are functioning properly.
  7. Force Close the Card Reader Support app. Select the gray square at the bottom of your device's screen and swipe up on the Card Reader Support app window to close it.
    1. If you don't perform this step, the card reader will not function within the Toast app.

 

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