Keeping card payments working when the internet goes down
Most card terminals today send payments over the store's internet connection or Wi-Fi. When that connection drops, so does the terminal, and the line at the counter starts asking if you take cash. A little planning keeps an outage from turning into a lost afternoon of sales.
Updated October 16, 2026 · Twisted VoIP
Find out how your terminals connect
Terminals connect in one of a few ways: a network cable, Wi-Fi, a cellular connection built into the terminal, or, on older setups, a phone line. Many use more than one, with a preference order set by your processor.
- Check each terminal's network settings, or ask your processor how it is set up.
- If it uses Wi-Fi, find out which network. Customer Wi-Fi and the payment network should be separate.
- If an older terminal dials out over a phone line, find out which line. Copper phone lines are being retired across the country; see copper line retirement.
What offline mode does and what it risks
Some terminals can take a card while offline, store the payment, and send it once the connection is back. It keeps the line moving, but the card hasn't been checked yet. If it's declined when it finally goes through, that sale is usually your loss.
- Ask your processor whether your terminals support offline payments.
- Ask what limits apply: a maximum per payment, a total, or a time limit to reconnect.
- Decide in advance whether staff should use it, and up to what amount.
Ways to keep taking cards
| How it works | Good fit | |
|---|---|---|
| Backup internet | A cellular connection that takes over automatically when the main line drops. Terminals, phones and computers keep working. | Stores and restaurants where an outage stops more than payments |
| Cellular terminal | The terminal has its own cellular connection as a fallback. | One or two terminals and nothing else that needs the internet |
| Offline mode | Payments are stored and sent later. | Short outages, small amounts, accepting the decline risk |
We sell cellular backup internet. It switches over on its own, so nobody has to do anything when the main connection drops.
A short outage plan for the counter
- Post your internet provider's support number and account number by the router, not on a computer.
- Know how to restart the modem and router, and in what order.
- Tell staff whether to use offline mode and the limit for it.
- If your phones run on the same internet, set up a rule that forwards the main number to a cell phone, and know how to turn it on.
Questions
Do card terminals work without internet?
It depends on the terminal and how your processor set it up. Some have a cellular connection, some can store payments offline, and some stop until the connection is back. Check yours before you need to know.
Is offline mode safe to use?
It keeps sales moving, but payments aren't approved until they're sent. A card that is declined later is usually the merchant's loss, so keep offline sales small and short.
Will backup internet keep my phones working too?
If your phones run over the internet, yes. A backup connection keeps everything on the network working, not just the terminals.
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General information, not legal advice. Check your own contracts and equipment.