# Connect to a reader

Connect your application to a Stripe Terminal reader.

> If you haven’t chosen a reader yet, compare the available [Terminal readers](https://docs.stripe.com/terminal/payments/setup-reader.md) and choose one that best suits your needs.

# Internet Readers


Smart readers run Stripe reader software to communicate directly with Stripe over the internet. Before you can connect your application to a smart reader, you must register the reader to your Stripe account.

#### Dashboard

You can register your reader directly in the [Dashboard](https://dashboard.stripe.com/terminal).

#### Register by registration code

1. In the [Readers](https://dashboard.stripe.com/terminal/readers) page, click **Register reader**.
2. If you have a [smart reader](https://docs.stripe.com/terminal/smart-readers.md), enter the key sequence `0-7-1-3-9` to display a unique registration code. If you have a BBPOS WisePOS E or Stripe Reader S700/S710, go to the [reader settings](https://docs.stripe.com/terminal/payments/setup-reader/bbpos-wisepos-e.md#settings) and tap **Generate pairing code**.
3. Enter the registration code then click **Next**.
4. Optionally, choose a name for the reader.
5. If you already created a Location, select the reader’s new Location. Otherwise, create a Location by clicking **+ Add new**.
6. Click **Register** to finish registering your reader.

#### Register by serial number

1. In the [Readers](https://dashboard.stripe.com/terminal/readers) page, click **Register reader**.
2. Find the serial number on the device and enter the serial number. To register multiple devices at once, you can enter multiple serial numbers separated by commas.
3. Optionally, choose a name for the reader.
4. If you already created a Location, select the reader’s new Location. Otherwise, create a Location by clicking **+ Add new**.
5. Click **Register** to finish registering your reader. You can only register readers that you or your platform have ordered.

#### Register by hardware order

1. In the [Hardware orders](https://dashboard.stripe.com/terminal/hardware_orders) page, find an order with a status of either “shipped” or “delivered.” Click the overflow menu (⋯) at the end of the row, then click **Register**.
2. On the **Register Readers** page, select one or more readers from the hardware order to register, then click **Register**.
3. Optionally, choose a name for the reader. If you selected multiple readers, the name serves as a prefix and we name the readers sequentially (for example, for a given input of “Test reader”, we name the readers “Test reader 1”, “Test reader 2”, and so on).
4. If you already created a Location, select the reader’s new Location. Otherwise, create a Location by clicking **+ Add new**.
5. Click **Register** to finish registering your readers.

#### API

For larger deployments, enable users in the field to receive and set up new readers on their own. In your application, build a flow to [register](https://docs.stripe.com/api/terminal/readers/create.md) a reader with the Stripe API.

1. Go to the [reader settings](https://docs.stripe.com/terminal/payments/setup-reader/bbpos-wisepos-e.md#settings), and then tap **Generate pairing code**.
2. The user enters the code in your application.
3. Your application sends the code to Stripe:

```curl
curl https://api.stripe.com/v1/terminal/readers \
  -u "<<YOUR_SECRET_KEY>>:" \
  -d registration_code={{READER_REGISTRATION_CODE}} \
  --data-urlencode "label=Alice's reader" \
  -d "location={{TERMINALLOCATION_ID}}"
```

To confirm that you’ve registered a reader correctly, list all the readers you’ve registered at that location:

#### curl

```bash
curl https://api.stripe.com/v1/terminal/readers \
  -u <<YOUR_SECRET_KEY>>:
```

After you register your reader, it’s ready to use with the server-driven integration. We recommend storing the reader ID (`tmr_xxx`) within your application so you know which reader to send transactions to from your point of sale. You can retrieve reader IDs using the [list readers](https://docs.stripe.com/api/terminal/readers/list.md) endpoint.


## Next steps

You’ve connected your application to the reader. Next, [collect your first Stripe Terminal payment](https://docs.stripe.com/terminal/payments/collect-card-payment.md).

The BBPOS and Chipper™ name and logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of BBPOS Limited in the United States or other countries. The Verifone® name and logo are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Verifone in the United States and/or other countries. Use of the trademarks doesn’t imply any endorsement by BBPOS or Verifone.