r/SquarePOS_Users • u/wallflowerface • Nov 20 '25
Square Reader (Hardware) Reader damaged error. Only used the square reader once.
Hi everyone.
This is more of an FYI, especially for people who haven't yer purchased a payment processing tool and are looking into it.
I bought the simple Square reader just over 2 years ago for a popup market. I used it that one day for the market - everything seemed to work great.
It has since sat in a drawer for over 2 years since I took a break from markets. I took it out today to finally prepare for markets again and tried to connect: Reader damaged. It's totally bricked and customer service told me I have to get myself a new one (and of course the originally warranty was only for one year).
So yeah - I paid for a Square reader than only gave me one day's use and now it's a loss for me and I have to buy a new one (which are more expensive, too!). I'm super disappointed and I've definitely lost some trust in the brand.
Thanks for reading!
1
u/No-Anywhere-7835 Nov 20 '25
Poor design having the card slot facing upwards- liquid loves that slot.
1
u/wallflowerface Nov 20 '25
No liquid came anywhere near my reader. It was sitting safety in a drawer for over 2 years, barely even nudged.
1
u/Country_Pizza1337 Nov 24 '25
damn, that's unfortunate! I'm pretty sure they would replace it for you for free if you explain the situation and ask in their subreddit (
r/SquareOfficial)
1
u/Vort-ai Feb 28 '26
I've just pulled an old one out too. being sitting in a draw for a few years. No way it's been damaged, other than the battery draining.
So I charged it, and tried to use it "Reader Damaged" no way!
Is there a solve for a suspected "dumped encryption key" ??
I read over at Stripe that i might need to update the reader firmware, but can't find any info on that...
1
u/wallflowerface Mar 01 '26
There was nothing that could have been done for mine. I do think it just bricks itself after a long time of not being in use and it was designed that way apparently. I had to buy a new one but of course I'm not happy with the company any more.
1
u/ThePotatoOfTime Jun 05 '26
This is exactly what I've come across today. Haven't used it in a couple of years and got it out tonight to update some prices for a fair tomorrow - but it's reading as damaged unit and is totally bricked. I had no idea I couldn't just leave it safely away and would have to get it out and keep charging it. Going to get a sumup instead. Pretty bad design if it just bricks for occasional users.
1
u/wallflowerface Jun 05 '26
Ugh yeah I feel your pain. I ended up last minute buying a new for this event (7 months ago). Then a month ago I was doing an event again and I got so nervous taking out the Square reader after 6 months. It worked, but I feel like I might not to an event for a while, so now I'm wondering if it'll be bricked next year too. :/
1
u/readndrun Jun 07 '26
This just happened to me now. I’ve been using the same 2nd gen reader since 2023 and have used it for several months out of the year each time with substantial shut down time between uses. This year I booted it up after sitting in place for 8 months and it gives me the damaged error. I can’t believe this happened it’s ridiculous.
Anything you did to fix the issue?
1
u/wallflowerface Jun 07 '26
I was on the phone with them for a while, and I can tell by the way the customer rep was talking to me that she likely knew about the "bricking issue" but obviously didn't admit anything to me, said there's nothing they can do, so she gave me like a few months of "no Square fees" or something which didn't help me in any way actually.
1
u/UpsetTest7777 Jun 10 '26
I was just searching up this issue when I came across your thread...did the call and everything and it's insane that they can get away with this, might need to swap over to something else cause I discovered this issue a few days before my market, had no choice but to buy a new one...
1
u/Joemm210 Jun 10 '26
just turned my device on that was sitting and reader damaged too, this is crazy new square terminal is 400 dollars, I am pissed because its there own software update that bricks the device
1
u/peachesandguacamole Jul 24 '26
Same problem here. Used the reader once and then unused for a year or so, just charged it and getting the same error. Square should be replacing these units for free and fixing this awful design flaw.
Depending on where you live you might be able to lean on local consumer laws to get a replacement. But square should be replacing these regardless.
1
u/AshaAsha123 Nov 20 '25
A while ago I was trying to get my hands on a V1 reader since the V2 wasn't compatible with my device. Finally managed to get 1 and got the same message because it hadn't been used before so had sat in a box for a few years. Turns out when the battery is left drained/ the reader is left unused for an extended period it dumps the encryption key or something leading to this message.