Factory Resetting a Card Reader

If you are moving a card reader, from one store location to another store location, you will need to factory reset the reader so that it can be re-activated to the new store's Support ID and Location ID.

Note: you do NOT need to factory reset a reader if you are just moving the reader from 1 machine, to a different machine, in the same store location.

When a reader boots up, from being powered OFF, it will run through some self test messages;

one of the first test screens will indicate what Location ID the reader's currently activated to, as well as what firmware version is currently loaded on the reader:

If the location ID of the reader is not the same location ID of the store's it's installed in, then it's been activated to the incorrect store, and will need to be factory reset so it can be re-activated to the correct store/location ID, using that store's Activation Card

Note: The self test screens will only shows the Location ID the reader's been activated to.

It's possible the reader's been activated to the correct Location ID, but incorrect Support ID (which you will NOT be able to tell from the self test messages).

If you suspect a reader may be activated to a different Support ID (reader was originally used in a completely different store), it's recommended to factory reset the reader, so you can re-activate it to the correct Support and Location ID.

  Step 1) You need to remove the reader from the machine so that you can access the back of the card reader board:

Once you've taken the reader off of the machine, on some readers, there may also be a back plate that you need to remove in order to gain full access to the reader's control board.

  Step 2) Locate the Red Reset Button on the reader's control board:

The reader will need to remain connected to power during the next steps.

If you've unplugged the reader's harness in order to locate the reset button, you need to reconnect the reader's harness, and let it boot back up first, before moving on to the next step.

  Step 3) Press and HOLD the red reset button for 10 seconds - then release the button - and then press and HOLD the button again until you see the "Factory Default Rebooting..." message (approx. 8 seconds):

If after releasing the red reset button, you see the message "Button Disabled" on the reader's display:

you will need to get in contact with our technical support team for assistance in deactivating this specific reader.

Note: if you held the reset button and nothing happened (reader display didn't react at all during the 2nd hold of the button; try power cycling the reader (unplug reader connector for 2 seconds, then plug it back in).

Let the reader fully boot back up, and then try the factory reset procedure again to see if it works correctly this time.

  Step 4) Reader has now been reset to factory default settings.

Once the reader has finished rebooting, it will be in a deactivated state, and can now be re-activated with a store location's activation card.

You will know that the reader has been factory reset when you see "Not Activated" on the reader's display:

To re-activate this reader, simply place the activation card (from the correct store location) onto the card reader until you see "Activated LocID:#######": 

Once you see this message on the reader's display, you can remove the Activation card and let the reader finish activating itself (usually takes approx. 30 seconds or so).

If you do not have the Activation Card for the specific store the reader needs to be activated to,

you can use the Laundro Portal to create a new Activation Card for the store; you'll be converting a regular user card, into the new activation card for this store.

To create a new Activation Card for the store, follow the instructions in our Creating New System Cards article.

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