How to Use a PAX A920 Pro Card Machine – User Guide

The PAX A920 Pro card machine is a portable, touchscreen payment terminal designed to make taking payments simple and secure. Whether you’re setting the device up for the first time, connecting it to WiFi, or learning how to process sales and refunds, this guide explains how to use your PAX A920 Pro step by step.

What Comes in the Box?

When your PAX A920 Pro arrives, it includes everything required to get started. Before switching the terminal on, it’s worth checking that all items are present to avoid delays during setup.

 

Inside the box you will find:

 

PAX A920 Pro Buttons and Functions

The PAX A920 Pro is designed with clearly positioned buttons and readers to support different payment methods. The power button controls turning the terminal on and off, as well as waking it from sleep mode. Volume buttons allow you to adjust sound levels, while the card readers are positioned around the device to suit how customers naturally pay.

 

The terminal includes:

 

  • Contactless reader at the top of the device
  • Chip & PIN card reader at the bottom
  • Magstripe reader on the side
  • Micro USB port for charging
PAX A920 - Buttons and Functions

How to Turn the PAX A920 Pro On and Off

To power on the PAX A920 Pro, press and hold the power button for around three seconds until the screen turns on. When the terminal is not in use, pressing the power button once will place it into sleep mode. To fully shut the device down, press and hold the power button until the power menu appears, then select Power Off.

How to Connect a PAX A920 Pro to WiFi

A stable internet connection is required for transactions to be processed correctly. Connecting the PAX A920 Pro to WiFi is done through the device’s settings menu.

 

To connect to WiFi:

 

  1. Tap the three dots in the top-right corner of the screen
  2. Select WiFi Settings
  3. Choose your WiFi network from the list
  4. Complete the connection process
  5. Use the back arrow to return to the main screen

 

Once connected, the terminal will use the selected network to process payments.

Logging into the POSitive Payment Application

All payments on the PAX A920 Pro are handled through the POSitive payment application. From the boot-up screen, select Payments to open the app. When logging in for the first time, the user ID is 1234 and password is set to 0000. After logging in, you will be prompted to set a new password for the manager account.

 

Once logged in, you will arrive at the main menu, which acts as the home screen for all transaction and reporting functions.

What You Can Do from the Main and Admin Menus

The menu system on the PAX A920 Pro is split into two areas, each designed for different tasks.

 

From the Main Menu, you can:

 

  • Conduct sales
  • Process refunds
  • Carry out card-not-present transactions
  • Reprint and view receipts
  • Test the acquiring connection

 

From the Admin Menu, you can:

 

  • Print system information
  • Generate Z reports for end-of-day reconciliation
  • Generate X reports without resetting totals
  • Print transaction history
  • Manage user accounts

How to Take a Payment on a PAX A920 Pro

Processing a payment on the PAX A920 Pro is designed to be quick and intuitive. From the main menu, select Sale, enter the transaction amount, and confirm by selecting Done. The terminal will then prompt the customer to complete payment using their preferred method.

 

Customers can pay by tapping their card on the contactless reader, inserting their card into the chip & PIN reader, or swiping their card using the magstripe reader. If the customer is not present, the Card Not Present option allows you to enter the card details manually.

 

Once the transaction is complete, the terminal will display a green tick for approved payments or a red cross if the transaction is declined. You will then be prompted to print the receipt.
PAX A920 card machine with user interface lit up showing different apps

Processing Payments with Gratuity or Cashback

If gratuity is enabled on your terminal, you will be prompted to add a gratuity amount after entering the sale value. The gratuity amount is selected before the payment is completed.

 

Cashback can also be offered where enabled, but it can only be processed when a customer inserts or swipes their card. Cashback is not available for contactless payments. Once the cashback amount has been entered and approved, the transaction will complete and the receipt will print automatically.

Issuing Refunds on the PAX A920 Pro

Refunds are processed directly from the main menu by selecting Refund. After entering the refund amount, the customer can complete the transaction using their card, or you can select Card Not Present if applicable. When the refund is approved, the terminal prints the receipt and returns to the main menu.

Reprinting and Viewing Receipts

The PAX A920 Pro allows you to reprint receipts or view them on screen through the Reprint Manager. You can reprint the most recent receipt or search for a specific transaction using its receipt number. This is useful if a customer requests a copy of their receipt after a transaction has been completed.

Running End-of-Day and Mid-Shift Reports

For reconciliation purposes, the PAX A920 Pro provides two types of reports.

 

Z Reports are used at the end of the trading day and reset all totals back to zero.
X Reports can be generated at any time to review totals without resetting them.

 

Both reports are accessed from the admin menu.

How to Change the Paper Roll

To replace the thermal paper roll:

 

  1. Turn the device over
  2. Pull the paper cover latch away from the device
  3. Remove the old roll
  4. Insert the new roll with paper feeding out of the top
  5. Close the lid until it clicks into place
  6. Tear off excess paper
PAX A920 - Changing Paper Roll

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using the PAX A920 Pro

While the PAX A920 Pro is designed to be straightforward to use, some issues can occur if certain steps are missed or features are misunderstood. Being aware of these common mistakes can help ensure transactions run smoothly and reports remain accurate.

Running a Z Report too early

A Z Report is intended to be run at the end of the trading day. Running it before the day has finished will reset all transaction totals back to zero, which can make reconciliation more difficult.

Attempting cashback on contactless payments

Cashback transactions can only be completed when a card is inserted into the chip & PIN reader or swiped using the magstripe reader. Cashback is not available for contactless payments.

Not fully completing the WiFi connection process

After selecting a WiFi network, it’s important to complete the connection process and return to the main screen using the back arrow. Exiting before the connection is complete may prevent transactions from processing.

Forgetting to close the paper cover securely

When changing the receipt paper, the lid must be fully closed until it clicks into place. If the cover is not properly secured, receipts may not print correctly.

Using default login details for longer than necessary

The POSitive payment application uses default login details during initial setup. You are prompted to change the password after first login, which helps keep access to the terminal controlled.

Expecting contactless payments for all transaction types

Some transaction types, such as cashback, require the customer to insert or swipe their card. If the terminal prompts for a specific method, this should be followed to complete the transaction.

Need Support With Your PAX A920 Pro?

If you are a BMS customer and need help with your terminal, contact Bespoke Merchant Solutions on:
 
📞 Freephone: 0800 989 0142
📧 Email: [email protected]