---
schema_version: "1"
id: aa140bc8e37e5a7a3fc2a899d70653bad0184dbbfa3ad31a209c77335133c47a
title: External Credit Card Reader Transactions
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/commerce/264-0-0/rt_cms_hardware_external_credit_card_reader.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=commerce.rt_cms_hardware_external_credit_card_reader.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: 371a2ed42397b43fa1a35f883f58b2bbf7f4f7dcd12956af78706e603ca425b1
description: Use an external credit card reader that isn’t connected to the Point of Sale app to process sales and refunds.
products:
  - Commerce
release: "264"
---
# External Credit Card Reader Transactions

Use an external credit card reader that isn’t connected to the Point of Sale app to process sales and refunds.

This article outlines the setup and usage of the POS with an external credit card reader that is not meant to be connected to the POS. Such a credit card reader requires the manual input of certain values while processing both sales and refunds.

## Prerequisites

- Modern POS App build: 5.12.3 and later
- Platform Support: iPad only
- Offline Support: yes

## CMS Setup

To use an external credit card reader in an app, select External from the list of Card Readers For Store Associate Checkout for that app.![The External option checked in the Supported Card Readers for Store Assocaite Checkout wndow in Point of Sale CMS.](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-commerce-retail-264-0-0-production-enus/17d647fb-8988-49fb-9add-c4f4cc79c9e4/retail/images/rt_cms_hardware_external_card_cms_setup.png)

![Note](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-commerce-retail-264-0-0-production-enus/17d647fb-8988-49fb-9add-c4f4cc79c9e4/images/icon_note.png)

Note You’ll also want to set the default card reader as External as well.

To add credit card types, go to **Store Management > POS Store Settings** in the CMS. Type in a list of card type names for the value of **Applicable Credit Card Types**.![The Applicable Credit Card Types setting in the POS Store Settings section of Point of Sale CMS.](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-commerce-retail-264-0-0-production-enus/17d647fb-8988-49fb-9add-c4f4cc79c9e4/retail/images/rt_cms_hardware_applicable_card_types.png)

## POS App Setup

To set the card reader to External from within the app, select Choose Reader from the sidebar menu. Then, make sure External is selected in the list in the middle of the screen, as shown.![The Choose Card Reader window in the POS app, with External selected.](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-commerce-retail-264-0-0-production-enus/17d647fb-8988-49fb-9add-c4f4cc79c9e4/retail/images/rt_cms_hardware_external_card_app_setup.jpeg)

## POS App Sale Flow

If making a sale that'll be paid for with a credit card, you'll be presented with a form requiring these pieces of information:

- Amount
- Card Type
- Last Four Digits of Card
- Authorization Code

While this form is presented, carry out the transaction on the external card reader. After the transaction is complete, the card reader provides the authorization code. As shown, this form will be presented both in multitender mode and only if a single credit card is used to pay![The Add Card window in the POS app.](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-commerce-retail-264-0-0-production-enus/17d647fb-8988-49fb-9add-c4f4cc79c9e4/retail/images/rt_cms_hardware_external_card_pos_flow.jpg).![The Authorization window after you add your card and try to make a payment.](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-commerce-retail-264-0-0-production-enus/17d647fb-8988-49fb-9add-c4f4cc79c9e4/retail/images/rt_cms_hardware_external_auth_card.jpg)

## POS App Refund Flow

If processing a refund with an external card, a similar form with this information shows:

- Amount
- Card Type
- Last Four Digits of Card
- Authorization Code
- First Name
- Last Name
- Email (optional)![The Authorization window that shows in the POS app when you enter your card information to get a refund.](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-commerce-retail-264-0-0-production-enus/17d647fb-8988-49fb-9add-c4f4cc79c9e4/retail/images/rt_cms_hardware_refund_authorization.jpeg)