by Grace Barone

Clover Outage: What to Do When Your Clover POS Goes Down

Introduction

When you’re running a busy business, the last thing you want is for your Clover POS system to go down unexpectedly. Whether it’s a network issue, hardware malfunction, or a system-wide Clover outage, you need a quick and effective action plan to keep your business running smoothly.

A Clover outage can disrupt transactions, slow down service, and create frustration for both your staff and customers. But don’t panic—there are steps you can take to minimize downtime and continue processing payments. This guide provides clear, actionable steps to help you navigate a Clover outage and get back up and running as quickly as possible.

Step 1: Identify the Type of Clover Outage

Before jumping into solutions, you need to determine what kind of Clover outage you’re experiencing. There are three common types:

• Internet Connectivity Issues: Your Clover POS depends on a stable internet connection. If your Wi-Fi or network is down, Clover won’t function properly.
• Clover System Outage: Sometimes, Clover’s servers experience downtime, preventing transactions from being processed. This can affect all Clover merchants nationwide.
• Hardware Malfunction: Your Clover device might be frozen, unresponsive, or experiencing technical issues that prevent it from working.

Identifying the cause of the outage will help you take the right steps to fix it quickly.

Step 2: Check for a Clover System-Wide Outage

If your internet is working but your Clover POS is still down, it might be a Clover system outage.

How to Check If Clover Is Experiencing an Outage:

1. Visit Clover’s Status Page: Go to Clover’s system status page to see if there’s a reported outage.
2. Check Clover’s Social Media & Forums: Sometimes, Clover updates merchants via their official Twitter (@CloverCommerce) or support forums.
3. Call Clover Support: If you can’t access the status page, call Clover customer support at (855) 853-8340 to verify if there’s a system-wide issue.

If Clover is down nationwide, you’ll have to rely on backup payment methods until the issue is resolved.

Step 3: Troubleshoot Internet & Network Issues

If Clover’s system is not down, but your Clover device isn’t working, the issue is likely with your Wi-Fi or network connection.

Steps to Fix Network Issues:

1. Restart Your Router & Modem – Unplug them for 30 seconds, then plug them back in and reconnect your Clover device.
2. Test Internet on Another Device – Use your phone or computer to see if Wi-Fi is working. If not, you may need to contact your internet provider.
3. Switch to a Mobile Hotspot – If your internet is down, use your phone as a temporary Wi-Fi hotspot to get Clover back online.
4. Check Clover’s Ethernet Connection – If your Clover device is connected via Ethernet, make sure the cable is securely plugged in.
5. Restart Your Clover Device – Power down the Clover POS, wait 10 seconds, then turn it back on to reconnect.

If your internet is still down, you’ll need backup payment solutions to keep processing sales.

Step 4: Use Offline Payment Methods

When Clover is down, you don’t have to stop taking payments. There are several ways to continue processing transactions while waiting for the outage to be resolved.

Option 1: Use Clover’s Offline Mode (If Enabled)

Clover has an Offline Payments Mode, allowing you to process credit card transactions even when there’s no internet. These transactions are stored and processed once Clover reconnects.

How to Enable Offline Mode:

1. Open the Clover Dashboard on your device.
2. Navigate to Settings > Payments > Offline Mode and turn it ON.
3. Set a transaction limit to protect against declined payments.

⚠ Important: Transactions made in Offline Mode are not authorized in real-time, meaning there’s a small risk of declined payments once Clover comes back online.

Option 2: Use a Backup Payment Processor

If you have a secondary card reader or manual payment processing system, now is the time to use it. Some businesses keep a Square, PayPal, or mobile card reader as a backup for emergencies.

Option 3: Accept Cash Payments

Always keep enough cash on hand for situations like a Clover outage. If you typically rely on card payments, post a sign at checkout letting customers know about the issue and requesting cash payments if possible.

Option 4: Use a Manual Credit Card Imprinter

If you don’t have access to online payments, consider using an old-school credit card imprinter (also called a “knuckle buster”) to take manual card impressions. Later, you can enter the transactions into your POS system once Clover is back up.

Step 5: Contact Clover Support for Help

If you’ve tried all troubleshooting steps and Clover is still not working because of the Clover outage, it’s time to reach out to Clover Support for further assistance.

How to Contact Clover Support:

• Call: (855) 853-8340
• Live Chat: Available on Clover’s website
• Email: merchantservices@clover.com

When contacting support, be ready to provide:

• Your business name and Clover device model
• A description of the issue
• Steps you’ve already tried to fix the problem

Clover’s team can help diagnose the issue and provide next steps, whether it’s a hardware problem, software glitch, or account issue.

Final Thoughts: Stay Prepared for Future Clover Outages

While a Clover outage can be frustrating, having a clear action plan in place ensures that your business keeps running smoothly. The key steps are:

1. Determine if it’s a Clover-wide outage or a local internet issue.
2. Troubleshoot your internet and restart your Clover device.
3. Use Clover’s Offline Mode if available.
4. Rely on backup payment options like cash, mobile card readers, or manual card processing.
5. Contact Clover Support for assistance if the issue persists.

Having a backup plan in place before an outage occurs can save you time, reduce stress, and keep customers happy. Consider training your staff on what to do in case of an outage so they can react quickly when the situation arises.

Need more help with Clover POS? Contact us today to learn how to keep your business running smoothly even during unexpected disruptions.