When integrating Square with WooCommerce, you have two modes to choose from:
- Sandbox
- Production
Each mode serves a specific purpose, depending on whether you are ready to accept live payments or if you are just testing the integration.
Sandbox Mode
Sandbox mode is designed for testing the integration to ensure that everything works as expected before going live.
It lets you simulate transactions without involving real money.
Key features:
- No real transactions: Transactions made in Sandbox mode do not involve real payments. They are purely for testing purposes.
- Test payments: Test various payment scenarios like successful transactions, failed payments, and refunds, without affecting actual funds.
- Environment for developers: Sandbox mode is ideal for developers or businesses setting up the integration for the first time. It helps you troubleshoot and verify the setup before going live.
In your WooCommerce settings under the Square tab, choose Sandbox from the Choose Environment dropdown menu.
Make sure to copy the Sandbox API Key and Access Token from your Square Developer dashboard.
Once you’ve copied both the API Key and Access Token, click on the Test Connection button to verify the Sandbox mode connection.
Production Mode
Production mode is used when you are ready to process live transactions.
It connects WooCommerce with your live Square account, enabling real-time payments to be processed in your store.
Key features:
- Real transactions: Payments made in Production mode are real, and actual funds are processed. Be sure your store is fully configured and tested before switching to this mode.
- Live payment gateway: This mode links directly to your live Square account, meaning it’s used for real customers and real payments.
- Actual inventory management: In Production mode, inventory updates and product management are directly synced between Square and WooCommerce, affecting actual stock levels.
To go live, just select Production from the choose environment dropdown.
