Troubleshooting Reader Bluetooth & BLE Scans
Diagnose Bluetooth/BLE connection problems with your Stripe M2 reader, using the exact status messages the app shows you.
1. Reading the Connection Status Banner
The Reader tab always shows a status banner at the top. Its label tells you exactly what's happening:
| Banner | Meaning |
|---|---|
| No reader connected | Idle — nothing connected, nothing in progress. |
| Searching for readers… | A Bluetooth or Tap to Pay scan is running. |
| Connecting… | A reader was found and the app is pairing with it. |
| Reader connected | Success — the reader's name/serial replaces this label. |
| Updating reader… | A firmware update is installing. |
| Reader disconnected | The reader was connected but dropped. |
| Connection error | Something failed — a detail line appears underneath with the specific reason. |
2. "Terminal Location Required"
Before any reader can connect, a one-time Stripe Terminal location has to exist for your account. If you see a card reading "Terminal Location Required", tap Create Terminal Location — this only needs to be done once.
3. Location Permission Errors (Android)
Android requires Location, Bluetooth Connect, and Bluetooth Scan permissions to be granted at runtime before any Bluetooth scan can work — this is an Android OS requirement, not a Membrzs one. If you deny the prompt, you'll see:
"Bluetooth and Location permissions are required to connect a reader. Please enable them in Settings."
To fix it: go to your device's Settings > Apps > Membrzs Market > Permissions and turn on Location (and Bluetooth, if separately listed), then try connecting again from the Reader tab.
4. No Readers Found During a Scan
If a Bluetooth scan is running and nothing shows up, the app displays: "Make sure your M2 reader is powered on and within range." Things to check:
- Power — hold the M2's power button until its status LED turns on.
- Range — the M2 uses Bluetooth 5, rated for roughly 30+ feet, but metal booth frames, other vendors' readers, and crowds can shorten that in practice. Move closer and try again.
- Battery — a very low battery can prevent the reader from advertising over Bluetooth at all; charge it and retry.
- Tap Stop searching to cancel a scan that's stuck, then start over.
5. Reconnecting After a Drop
If the banner shows "Reader disconnected" mid-market:
- The app will attempt to reconnect automatically in many cases.
- If it doesn't reconnect on its own, go to the Reader tab and tap Stripe M2 again to start a fresh scan and reconnect.
- If the reader still won't reconnect, power-cycle it (hold the power button to turn it off, then on again) and retry.
6. Disconnecting Intentionally
To disconnect a reader on purpose (switching devices, end of day), tap Disconnect Reader on the Reader tab and confirm "Disconnect reader? Are you sure you want to disconnect?"
Frequently Asked Questions
My connection failed with an error I don't recognize — what do I do?
The "Connection error" banner shows the specific message from Stripe underneath the status line. If it doesn't point to an obvious fix (permissions, power, range), forget the reader in your phone's Bluetooth settings and reconnect from scratch via the Reader tab.
Does Wi-Fi affect my reader connection?
No — the Stripe M2 connects over Bluetooth, not Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi/cellular connectivity affects whether the charge itself can be authorized, not whether the reader pairs.
Can two staff members' phones connect to the same M2 reader?
A Stripe M2 reader connects to one phone at a time. To hand it off, disconnect it on the first device before connecting from the second.