# Square Payments: Smoother and More Secure Payments with 3D Secure (3DS) > GHL Customer Care now supports 3D Secure (3DS) with Square to meet SCA, cut fraud, and capture more payments—automatic verification when issuers require it. - Source: https://docs.ghlcustomercare.com/docs/payments/payment-integrations-methods-and-settings/square-payments-smoother-and-more-secure-payments-with-3d-secure-3ds - Section: Payments / Payment integrations, methods and settings - Reading time: 4 min - Images: 3, each explained below - Modified on Tue, 14 Oct, 2025 at 10:57 AM --- GHL Customer Care now supports 3D Secure (3DS) with Square, adding an extra layer of cardholder authentication to online checkouts. This enhancement automatically triggers the verification step whenever a buyer’s card or regional regulations require Strong Customer Authentication (SCA), helping you capture more payments while keeping fraud at bay. ([squareup.com](https://squareup.com/help/us/en/article/7623-risk-manager-3d-secure-3ds)) --- **TABLE OF CONTENTS** - [What is 3D Secure (3DS) for Square?](#what-is-3d-secure-3ds-for-square) - [Key Benefits of 3D Secure (3DS) for Square](#key-benefits-of-3d-secure-3ds-for-square) - [3DS High-Level Checkout Flow](#3ds-high-level-checkout-flow) - [Prerequisites & Supported Flows](#prerequisites-and-supported-flows) - [3DS Error Handling & Troubleshooting](#3ds-error-handling-and-troubleshooting) - [How does it work?](#how-does-it-work) - [3DS flow on Square -](#3ds-flow-on-square)  - [3DS flow on NMI -](#3ds-flow-on-nmi)  - [Check out Public key addition on NMI -](#check-out-public-key-addition-on-nmi)  - [Frequently Asked Questions](#frequently-asked-questions) --- ## **What is 3D Secure (3DS) for Square?** 3D Secure (3DS) is an industry-standard protocol that prompts the buyer to verify their identity (e.g., a one-time SMS code, Face ID, or redirect to the issuing bank) before the transaction can be authorized. Enabling 3DS greatly reduces fraud-related chargebacks because liability shifts to the card issuer once authentication succeeds. Square provides 3DS as part of its built-in Risk Manager, and GHL Customer Care now passes the required data so Square can invoke the extra verification step whenever needed.  --- ## **Key Benefits of 3D Secure (3DS) for Square** The new Square 3DS integration delivers immediate advantages: - Fewer payment failures on cards that mandate 3DS, boosting conversion rates. - Added fraud protection and chargeback liability shift once authentication succeeds. - Automatic SCA compliance in regions such as the UK and EU—no extra coding required. - A friction-light, in-checkout pop-up keeps customers inside your GHL Customer Care funnel for a smoother experience. --- ## **3DS High-Level Checkout Flow** 3DS is entirely automatic once your Square account is connected in GHL Customer Care. - The Buyer enters the required billing address and contact fields on an Order Form, Payment Element, Invoice, or Store checkout. - GHL Customer Care sends the transaction request to Square; Square risk rules decide whether 3DS is required based on the card, amount, location, and other factors. - If 3DS is triggered, a secure pop-up/modal appears for the buyer to complete authentication. - On successful verification, the payment is captured, and the GHL Customer Care order/invoice status updates to “Paid.” - If verification fails or times out, the payment is declined, and GHL Customer Care surfaces the error so the buyer can try another card. --- ## **Prerequisites & Supported Flows** 3DS for Square is available anywhere you can already accept Square card payments in GHL Customer Care: Order Forms, Payment Links, Ecommerce Store, Invoices, and more.  Prerequisites: - A connected Square account at Sub-Account → Payments → Integrations. - Square location set to Live mode. - Billing Address + Email/Phone fields visible (and preferably required) on the checkout form so Square can validate the buyer. - The buyer uses a card and an issuing bank that supports 3DS. --- ## **3DS Error Handling & Troubleshooting** Understanding common scenarios helps you support customers: - **“Authentication failed”** — Buyer entered an incorrect SMS code or declined Face ID. Ask them to retry or use another card. - **“Issuer declined”** — The card-issuing bank blocked the transaction before or after 3DS. Suggest contacting their bank. - **“3DS not completed”** — Buyer closed the pop-up. Please encourage them to complete the step. GHL Customer Care always logs the gateway response under Payments → Transactions for easy reference. --- ## **How does it work?** - **Square**: No setup needed - it just works once the address and contact fields are added by the customer during checkout. - **NMI**: A quick one-time setup is required to enable 3DS: - Enroll in Payer Authentication 2.0 in your NMI account. - Confirm the service status is Active. - Generate a Checkout Public Key for 3DS in your NMI Merchant Portal, and add it to your GHL Customer Care integration. Once set up, whenever a card requires 3DS, your customers will automatically see a pop-up to verify and complete their payment. Refer to the [Help article](https://docs.ghlcustomercare.com/docs/payments/payment-integrations-methods-and-settings/how-to-set-up-the-nmi-integration). ### **3DS flow on Square -**  ![3DS flow on Square - (image 1 of 3)](https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.freshdesk.com/data/helpdesk/attachments/production/155055734493/original/LGFC9Zao8SCoOuRY9PTj9t4FUr5LTP0nBw.png) **3DS flow on Square - (image 1 of 3)** This screenshot appears in the "3DS flow on Square -" section of "Square Payments: Smoother and More Secure Payments with 3D Secure (3DS)". The text alongside this image reads: Once set up, whenever a card requires 3DS, your customers will automatically see a pop-up to verify and complete their payment. Refer to the Help article. Immediately after, the guide continues: Q: Do I need to enable anything in the Square Dashboard? - What this covers: Once set up, whenever a card requires 3DS, your customers will automatically see a pop-up to verify and complete their payment. Refer to the Help article. - Next: Q: Do I need to enable anything in the Square Dashboard? ### **3DS flow on NMI -**  ![3DS flow on NMI - (image 2 of 3)](https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.freshdesk.com/data/helpdesk/attachments/production/155055734693/original/dVnEpwdSrrFB7sPsTtqaNc4Uo7j1BGB_zg.png) **3DS flow on NMI - (image 2 of 3)** This screenshot appears in the "3DS flow on NMI -" section of "Square Payments: Smoother and More Secure Payments with 3D Secure (3DS)". The text alongside this image reads: Once set up, whenever a card requires 3DS, your customers will automatically see a pop-up to verify and complete their payment. Refer to the Help article. Immediately after, the guide continues: Q: Do I need to enable anything in the Square Dashboard? - What this covers: Once set up, whenever a card requires 3DS, your customers will automatically see a pop-up to verify and complete their payment. Refer to the Help article. - Next: Q: Do I need to enable anything in the Square Dashboard? ### **Check out Public key addition on NMI -**  ![Check out Public key addition on NMI - (image 3 of 3)](https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.freshdesk.com/data/helpdesk/attachments/production/155055734649/original/fZqOcq4KN3rowN8LG9vZbWFJIivy8c1hlw.png) **Check out Public key addition on NMI - (image 3 of 3)** This screenshot appears in the "Check out Public key addition on NMI -" section of "Square Payments: Smoother and More Secure Payments with 3D Secure (3DS)". The text alongside this image reads: Once set up, whenever a card requires 3DS, your customers will automatically see a pop-up to verify and complete their payment. Refer to the Help article. Immediately after, the guide continues: Q: Do I need to enable anything in the Square Dashboard? - What this covers: Once set up, whenever a card requires 3DS, your customers will automatically see a pop-up to verify and complete their payment. Refer to the Help article. - Next: Q: Do I need to enable anything in the Square Dashboard? --- ## **Frequently Asked Questions** **Q: Do I need to enable anything in the Square Dashboard?** No. Square’s default Risk Manager rules already apply 3DS to high-risk or SCA-mandated transactions. **Q: Does 3DS work for saved “Card on File” payments?** Square 3DS applies only to real-time cardholder-initiated payments. Card-on-file debits are exempt.  **Q: Is there an extra fee for using 3DS?** Square does not charge additional 3DS fees; standard Square processing rates apply. **Q: Will 3DS appear on every transaction?** No. The card issuer and Square’s risk engine decide when to trigger 3DS. Many low-risk payments go straight through without the challenge. **Q: Can I disable 3DS?** You cannot disable 3DS from inside GHL Customer Care; Square manages the rules. You may adjust risk rules in the Square Dashboard, but this is not recommended for SCA regions. **Q: Does 3DS slow down checkout?** The additional step adds only a few seconds and is embedded in-page, minimizing friction. **Q: Is 3DS supported on POS or Mobile Payments?** No. 3DS is solely for online (card-not-present) flows. In-person Square POS transactions use chip or tap for security instead. **Q: How do I troubleshoot repeated 3DS failures?** Check that the billing address matches the card issuer’s records, confirm the buyer’s device allows pop-ups, and ask them to retry with another card if problems persist. --- Documentation for GHL Customer Care. Support: support@ghlcustomercare.com