Shopify repeatedly declining credit card payments at POS

Topic summary

Credit card payments are being declined on Shopify POS (point-of-sale) with tap/chip readers (contactless tap and EMV chip), starting last night/June 1. Some declines resolve on a second attempt; tap fails more often, while inserting the chip can work.

Impact reported:

  • Failed transactions and confusing “Shopify issue” decline messages at checkout.
  • Pending/double charges on customers’ cards even when no successful POS order exists or only one success shows in the merchant portal.
  • Uncertainty about refunds when backing out of checkout.

Shopify status and guidance:

  • Issue acknowledged; investigation in progress (no resolution yet).
  • Workaround: update POS app to v9.10.0; then reset/restart the app.
    • iOS: Settings > Shopify POS > App Settings > toggle “Reset Account” on.
    • Android: Settings > Apps > Shopify POS > Force Quit.
    • Log back in and retry.
  • For double charges or refund confirmation, contact Support via the POS app’s Support tab or the Help Center.

Open questions:

  • Confirmation and timing of refunds for pending/duplicate charges.
  • Whether Shopify will coordinate reversals with banks/processors.

Note: One off-topic suggestion to use an external card provider was mentioned; not an official solution.

Summarized with AI on December 23. AI used: gpt-5.

If we don’t use POS then what is the solution?