A retailer is setting up Shopify POS on a generic Android tablet for their first Christmas pop-up but cannot connect their Wisepad 3 card reader. While the Wisepad pairs directly via Bluetooth and works fine with their iPhone, the Shopify POS app on the tablet won’t scan for devices—it immediately shows “no devices found.”
Troubleshooting attempted:
Verified Android OS 10+ requirement is met
Checked all Bluetooth and app permissions
Uninstalled/reinstalled the app
Restarted the tablet multiple times
Attempted pairing through the app instead of system Bluetooth settings
Key suggestions from community:
Ensure the tablet model appears on Shopify’s official hardware compatibility list, as Play Store certification doesn’t guarantee POS app compatibility
Disconnect the Wisepad from the iPhone to prevent conflicting connections
Update both POS app and Wisepad firmware
Consider using a Shopify POS terminal instead for better customer experience
Current status: Unresolved. The issue appears to be app-level rather than hardware-level, as direct Bluetooth pairing works but in-app device scanning fails immediately.
Summarized with AI on October 23.
AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.
I am doing a retail pop-up over Christmas (my first!) and I needed an inexpensive POS setup. Usually I use my iPhone but I need one system at checkout that all staff can use. I have a wisepad 3 that I’ve been using at markets with my iPhone, no issues. I decided to purchase a generic Android tablet. It’s certified in the play store.
But I cannot get the tablet to connect to it. It’s driving me bananas! It connects to the tablet direct by Bluetooth but the Shopify POS app doesn’t even seem to be scanning for devices. I’ve tried everything… uninstalled and reinstalled the app, checked my permissions etc. Can anyone please help me resolve this? I’m losing my marbles!
Congratulations on your first retail pop-up. That sounds like an exciting milestone.
Regarding the Wisepad 3 issue, this is a common problem when using non-Shopify-certified Android tablets with the Shopify POS app. Even if your tablet is Play Store certified, the POS app may not always detect the Wisepad 3 unless the hardware fully meets Shopify’s compatibility standards.
Here are a few things you can try:
Check Bluetooth permissions. Go to Settings → Apps → Shopify POS → Permissions and make sure Bluetooth and Nearby Devices are enabled.
Forget and re-pair the device. Remove the Wisepad from your tablet’s Bluetooth list, then connect it through Shopify POS → Settings → Hardware → Connect Card Reader instead of pairing it directly in the Bluetooth settings.
Update both the Shopify POS app and the Wisepad firmware to their latest versions.
Test the reader with your iPhone again to confirm that the Wisepad itself is working correctly.
If none of these steps work, check Shopify’s hardware compatibility list to see whether your tablet model is fully supported with the Wisepad 3. It may be a compatibility limitation rather than a setup error.
Hope this helps you get everything running smoothly before your pop-up event.
Thank you for responding! I’m super confused though. I’ve checked the Shopify website and for Bluetooth connection it only says that for an Android device it needs to be OS 10+. Which I have. But when I open the app… it won’t scan for devices. It just immediately says no devices found. All permissions are on and I’m trying to scan for devices within the app.
It’s definitely not working. I think it’s an issue with the app because it doesn’t scan for Bluetooth devices. When I scan, it immediately says nothing found.
I’ve restarted several times and the Wisepad connects directly but not through the app.