Square POS Outage: Status, Problems & Troubleshooting Issues

This blog post addresses Square POS outages, their causes, and troubleshooting steps. It details recent outage incidents, their impact on businesses, and how to identify them.

We’ll also explore alternatives like KORONA POS, highlighting their features and benefits for businesses seeking more reliable point of sale systems. Read on to learn more.

What Is Square POS?

Square POS is a cloud-based point of sale system designed for small businesses. It offers payment processing, inventory management, and sales tracking through a user-friendly interface.

Square provides both hardware (iPad terminals) and software solutions, allowing businesses to accept credit cards, mobile payments, and contactless transactions.

While it’s a popular choice, advanced POS systems may better suit growing retailers needing scalability and more powerful features.

Common Causes of Square POS Outages

Understanding common causes of Square POS outages can help promptly troubleshoot and minimize downtime. These causes range from simple network issues and system updates to more serious payment processing or DNS problems.

Below is a comprehensive overview of potential causes:

Recent Square POS Outages and Issues

Square, a prominent payment processing platform, has experienced several service disruptions in recent times. Here’s an overview of some of the notable outages and issues:

February 26, 2025 Outage

On February 26, 2025, Square experienced an outage that lasted approximately two hours, starting at 8:14 PM. During this period, users reported difficulties accessing Square services and processing payments. The issue was resolved by 10:16 PM, restoring normal operations.

March 2025 Service Degradations

Throughout March 2025, several minor incidents were reported:

• March 5, 2025: A service warning occurred, lasting about nine minutes.
  
• March 9, 2025: Users experienced a warning status for approximately two hours and nine minutes.
  
• March 10, 2025: A service warning was noted, lasting around 25 minutes.
  
• March 14, 2025: Multiple warnings were issued throughout the day, with durations of 30 minutes, 1 hour 30 minutes, 1 hour 40 minutes, and 2 hours, totaling over six hours of intermittent issues.
  
• March 15, 2025: A minor incident occurred, resulting in a warning status for about 26 minutes.
  
• March 17, 2025: Users faced a warning status for approximately 1 hour and 19 minutes.
  

These incidents involved service warnings and minor disruptions, affecting users’ ability to process transactions seamlessly.

September 2023 Major Outage

In September 2023, Square faced a significant outage that began on the afternoon of September 7 and extended until the morning of September 8. This disruption left many sellers unable to process payments or access their accounts.

The root cause was identified as a Domain Name System (DNS) error arising from standard internal network software updates, which hindered system communications. Square confirmed that there was no evidence of a cybersecurity event or data compromise.

In response, the company implemented measures to prevent similar issues, including deploying new firewall and DNS server changes, expanding offline payment capabilities, and enhancing communication channels during disruptions.

How To Identify When There’s a Square POS Outage?

Whether it’s a complete system failure or intermittent payment issues, recognizing the signs early helps minimize downtime. Here’s how to determine if Square POS is experiencing an outage:

Check Square’s Status Page

• Visit Square’s System Status page for real-time updates
• Look for service disruptions or maintenance alerts

Monitor Error Messages on Your POS

• Transactions failing repeatedly with error codes
• “Processing Error” or “Unable to Connect” messages

Test Internet Connection

• If other apps or websites work but Square doesn’t, it’s likely a Square issue
• Restart your router and device to rule out local connectivity issues

Check Social Media & Community Forums

• Square’s Twitter/X account (@SquareSupport) posts outage updates
• The Square Seller Community often discusses ongoing issues

Try Processing Payments in Offline Mode

• If offline mode works but online transactions fail, Square’s servers might be down
• Ensure offline payments sync once the system is back up

Contact Square Support

• Reach out via Square’s help center or support channels for confirmation
• Check for automated service outage responses

How Square POS Outages Affect Your Business?

When Square’s system goes down, businesses may struggle to process transactions, accept card payments, or access important sales data. It is particularly problematic for high-traffic stores that rely on fast checkouts.

Outages can also impact inventory tracking, employee management, and reporting, leaving business owners in the dark.

If you’ve faced issues with Square’s customer support during an outage, it’s important to mitigate potential damages to your business caused by downtime.

While outages are rare, KORONA POS ensures businesses get help quickly. It also offers an extensive knowledge base and tutorial videos to assist with troubleshooting. To compare solutions, check out this Square POS review and pricing breakdown.

How Long Do Square Outages Typically Last?

Square outages can vary in duration, ranging from less than an hour to over 12 hours, depending on the nature and complexity of the issue.

Most are on the shorter end of the spectrum, but here are some notable instances:

• September 2023 Outage: On September 7, 2023, Square experienced a significant service disruption that began at 1:54 PM ET and lasted until 5:19 AM ET on September 8, totaling over 14 hours. This outage was caused by issues with Square’s Domain Name System (DNS) servers, which are crucial for internal service communication. The disruption affected various services, including payment processing and account access.
  
• February 2025 Outage: On February 26, 2025, Square faced another outage that lasted approximately two to three hours. During this period, merchants could not process card transactions, leading to customer frustration. The incident began around 3:24 PM ET, with services starting to recover by 5:10 PM ET and full functionality restored by 6:00 PM ET.

These examples illustrate that while some outages are resolved within a few hours, others, particularly those involving critical infrastructure components like DNS, can extend beyond half a day.

Best Alternatives to Square POS

​​Exploring alternatives to Square POS can help businesses find systems that better align with their specific needs. Here are eight notable options:

1. KORONA POS

KORONA POS overview

Standout Feature #1: Advanced Inventory Management

Managing stock efficiently is crucial for retailers, and KORONA POS offers an intuitive retail inventory management system. 

The system automates stock tracking, alerts users about low inventory, and helps optimize reorder points to prevent overstocking or stockouts.

Businesses can also analyze product performance to make data-driven purchasing decisions.

Standout Feature #2: Cloud-Based POS System

KORONA POS is a fully cloud-based POS system that allows business owners to access real-time data from anywhere. Sales reports, employee performance, and inventory updates are available remotely, enabling better decision-making and operational flexibility. It also ensures automatic data backups for added security.

Standout Feature #3: Fast & Secure Payment Processing

KORONA POS offers seamless and secure payment processing options, allowing businesses to choose their preferred processor. 

It supports contactless payments, mobile wallets, EMV chip cards, and gift cards. 

Since it’s processing-agnostic, businesses can find competitive rates without being locked into a specific provider.

Standout Feature #4: Employee Management & Permissions

KORONA POS includes robust employee management features like time tracking, role-based access control, and sales performance monitoring. Business owners can assign different permission levels to employees to ensure security while tracking individual productivity.

Standout Feature #5: 24/7 Customer Support & Training

A reliable POS system needs excellent support. KORONA POS offers dedicated, 24/7 customer support with personalized onboarding and training to ensure a smooth setup. Businesses can also access extensive resources to help them maximize their POS system’s potential.

With these powerful features, KORONA POS is an all-in-one solution for businesses looking to optimize operations, improve customer retention, and drive growth.

Pricing (Built-in table from WordPress)

Where KORONA POS Shines

• Retail-Focused Features: KORONA POS offers powerful tools designed specifically for retail businesses, including real-time inventory tracking, automated ordering, and advanced reporting. These capabilities help retailers streamline operations and boost efficiency. Learn more about what makes it the best POS system for retail.
  
• Flexible Payment Processing: Unlike many POS systems that lock businesses into specific processors, KORONA POS provides processing-agnostic payment solutions, allowing merchants to choose the best provider for their needs while keeping transaction costs competitive.

• Comprehensive Merchant Services: From built-in customer relationship management (CRM) to integrations with various business tools, KORONA POS goes beyond just transactions. Its merchant services provide businesses with essential tools to seamlessly manage sales, employees, and finances.

Where KORONA POS Falls Short

• Initial Learning Curve: While the system is feature-rich, new users may experience a steep learning curve, particularly when setting up advanced functionalities. Before purchasing, it’s crucial to understand what to consider when choosing a POS system.
  
• Limited Industry Support: While KORONA POS excels in retail and ticketing businesses, it may not be the best fit for restaurants or service-based businesses that require specialized features like table management or appointment scheduling.

• Customization Constraints: Although the system offers many out-of-the-box features, users seeking deep customization might find limitations in tailoring the interface and reports to specific business needs.

Customer reviews

KORONA POS has received positive feedback on platforms like G2 and Capterra. Users commend its intuitive interface, real-time inventory tracking, and robust reporting tools, facilitating efficient business operations. 

The system’s cloud-based design allows remote management. However, some users note a learning curve for advanced features and desire more customization options. 

Occasional software glitches and higher costs for smaller businesses have also been mentioned. Overall, KORONA POS is valued for its comprehensive features and responsive customer support.

Who KORONA POS Is Best for?

KORONA POS is designed for businesses that need fast transactions, detailed inventory tracking, and flexible payment processing. 

Whether you run a retail store, a quick-service restaurant, or a specialty shop, KORONA POS provides industry-specific features to streamline operations. Here’s who benefits the most:

• Liquor Stores: KORONA POS offers age verification, case-break inventory tracking, and automated reordering, making it ideal for liquor store owners.
• Vape and Smoke Shops: With flexible payment processing and high-risk merchant compatibility, vape and smoke shops can operate smoothly.
• Cannabis or CBD Stores: The system ensures compliance with regulations while providing robust inventory tracking and ID verification.
• Quick-Service Restaurants: Streamlined ordering, tipping options, and fast transactions make it a great quick-service POS system.
• Thrift Stores: KORONA POS simplifies pricing donated goods and managing tax exemptions for nonprofits. Learn more about its thrift store POS features.
• Hardware Stores: From bulk inventory tracking to special orders, KORONA POS supports complex inventory needs. See how it enhances hardware store operations.
• Convenience Stores: Fast checkout, loss prevention tools, and customizable product management make it a strong choice.

Specialty Retail Shops: Whether managing apparel, pet supplies, or outdoor gear, its inventory tools provide real-time insights. Get a breakdown of inventory management software costs.

2. Lightspeed Retail POS

Lightspeed Retail overview

3. Clover POS

CLOVER overview

4. Toast POS

Toast POS overview

5. Shopify POS

shopify POS overview

6. SumUp POS

Avoid Square POS Outages and Get 24/7 Troubleshooting Support

Don’t let Square POS outages disrupt your business or leave you without support when needed. KORONA POS offers a reliable, cloud-based solution with 24/7 troubleshooting support to keep your operations running smoothly.

Plus, as a processing-agnostic system, it helps retail owners avoid high credit card fees by letting them choose the best payment processor.

If you’re tired of downtime or costly transactions, it’s time to explore a better option.

Sign up for a free demo today and see how KORONA POS can give your business the stability and flexibility it deserves.