Get to know your PayPal Here Card Reader

The PayPal Here Chip & PIN Card Reader is an easy to use,
quick and secure way to process payments on the go. Overview

  1. Power button
  2. Card reader icons
  3. Charging your card reader
  4. Checking the card reader battery life
  5. Battery management
  6. Pairing the card reader with your mobile device
PLEASE NOTE
You can find more information about PayPal Here Card Reader v.1.

PayPal card reader with numbered diagrams for the various parts of the hardware.

  • Card swipe
  • Charging port
  • ON/OFF
  • Bluetooth
  • PIN entry keypad
  • PIN confirm
  • Insert card here
  • Delete
  • Cancel
  • Contactless lights

Topic 1 of 6Power button

Switching the card reader on

Press the ON/OFF (power) button located on the top of the reader, once.

Switching the card reader off

Press and hold the power button for 3 seconds. Once off, the card reader will not react to any key presses (except the power button).

Placing the card reader on standby mode and conserve power

First minimise or close the app, then press the power button once. In standby mode, the card reader continues to consume a small amount of power, but its Bluetooth connection is off.

Waking the card reader from standby mode

Press any key on the keypad. The card reader will auto connect via Bluetooth to your smartphone or tablet and will be ready to use within a few seconds.

Close up photo of the PayPal card reader.

The power button is located on
the top of the card reader

Blue power button on the PayPal card reader.

The power button is bright blue

Topic 2 of 6Card reader icons

  • Flashing Bluetooth = Ready to connect
  • Solid Bluetooth = Reader paired with mobile
    device when the PayPal Here app is not active
  • Card reader connected
  • Battery level
  • Battery charging

PayPal card reader ready to accept payments.

Topic 3 of 6Charging your card reader

The card reader is fitted with an internal rechargeable battery that cannot be removed or replaced.

Before you start

Before using your card reader for the first time, we recommend you charge the battery for at least 3 hours. You can do this by connecting a USB cable from the micro-USB port on the side of the card reader to your computer or any USB plug adaptor.

Charging

Connect the device to a laptop via the USB cable, make sure that the laptop is connected to a power source, otherwise the device will not charge.

Charging time

Once fully charged, your reader should last up to 7 days (on standby) or up to 100 transactions.

USB charging port on the PayPal card reader.

The charging port is located at the top of the card reader

USB charging cable for the PayPal card reader.

Topic 4 of 6Checking the card reader battery life

There are 2 ways to check the battery level :
  • The battery icon shown on the card reader’s screen
  • Make sure the card reader is connected to your mobile device via Bluetooth. From the PayPal Here app, tap the credit card icon at the top right of your screen to view the percentage of battery

When the card reader’s battery level is at 30% or less, you will be prompted in the app to recharge it.

Smart phone and PayPal card reader showing the two devices are connected.

You can check the battery life on the card
reader and within the PayPal Here app

Topic 5 of 6Battery management

When you are not taking payments, save the battery by placing the card reader on standby. This way the reader only consumes a low amount of energy.

Saving the battery

  • Minimise the PayPal Here app without logging out
  • Press the power button once
TIP: If you minimise the app and do not use the card reader, it will go into standby mode automatically.

Waking the card reader

When you’re ready to take payments again, open up the app then press any button on the card reader – it should reconnect within seconds.

Turning off the card reader

If you are not planning to use the card reader for a while, we recommend you turn it off completely by pressing the power button for 5 seconds.

Check out the PayPal Here Community Forum
for more battery tips

PayPal card reader ready to accept payments.

Topic 6 of 6Pairing the card reader with your mobile device

Pairing for the first time

  • Turn on Bluetooth in your mobile phone/tablet settings
  • Turn on the card reader. The on-screen Bluetooth icon will start to blink rapidly, indicating that it’s ready to connect. If the Bluetooth icon is not blinking rapidly already, hold down the Bluetooth button until it does
  • Select the card reader from the list of available Bluetooth devices in your mobile phone/tablet settings. A steady Bluetooth icon on the card reader will indicate that it’s successfully paired
  • From now on, your card reader will auto-connect to the app whenever you turn it on
TIP: To ensure auto-connect works, make sure the card reader is on and connected via Bluetooth before you open the app.

Bluetooth not picking up card reader?

  • Hold down the Bluetooth button until the Bluetooth icon is blinking quickly
  • Make sure the reader is charged
  • Go into your mobile phone/tablet Bluetooth settings and remove or forget the card reader from your list. Then run through 1-4 on the pairing steps again

Video still of a PayPal card reader and smart phone.

Check out the PayPal Here Community Forum for more pairing tips

Next topic

Taking payments with your PayPal Here Card Reader

Contact Us

Need help? Get in touch
If you have any questions, contact our UK customer support team on 020 8080 6500* or 0800 358 9448* or visit the PayPal Here community support page.
* Calls to the 020 number from a BT landline may be charged at the full national call rate. Calls to the 0800 number are free from a BT landline. Calls from other networks may vary and from mobiles will cost considerably more.