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Square’s built-in time tracker is Square Shifts time tracking. Employees can clock in and out at a Square POS register with a personal passcode or, when enabled, through the Square Team app. Square creates digital timecards that managers can review and use to prepare payroll. Payroll setup is separate, and some clock-in controls require an eligible paid plan.
What Square Shifts time tracking records
Square Shifts creates a timecard when a team member clocks in. A timecard records a set of shifts, usually for a business pay period, and can include shifts that are still in progress as well as completed shifts. Depending on the setup, records cover clock-in and clock-out times, breaks, overtime, and shift history. Managers can review timecards for a pay period or another timeframe.
Square also offers timecard and scheduling reports, including labor percentage of net sales and scheduled-versus-actual labor. Those reports provide metrics for reviewing labor; they do not establish a guaranteed reduction in labor costs.
How employees clock in on Square
At a Square POS register
Team members can clock in and out at a POS register using their personal passcodes. The passcodes need to be assigned before time tracking can begin.
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In the Square Team app
Employees may also clock in through the Square Team app if the business enables app clock-ins. Square describes geofencing as an option for controlling app clock-ins; confirm the available settings and requirements in the account.
Set up time tracking
- Assign personal passcodes. Give each team member a passcode in Square before they start tracking time.
- Enable time tracking. In the Square POS app, go to Settings > Shifts > Track team member time. In Square Dashboard, the documented setup path is Staff > Settings > Clock in/out, then choose the relevant POS mode.
- Configure clock-in options. Set whether employees can clock in through the Team app and whether to apply controls such as automatic clock-out or restrictions on early or unscheduled clock-ins. Availability depends on the plan.
- Have employees clock in. Staff use their personal passcode at the POS or the Team app if app clock-ins are enabled. Their timecards are generated as they begin shifts.
- Review timecards. An account owner or a team member with the Shifts permission can manage timecard reports in Square Dashboard. Team members can view their timecards and scheduled hours in the Team app.
Square’s US setup documentation lists Square Shifts Free and Plus, Square for Retail Free, Plus, and Premium, and Square for Restaurants Free, Plus, and Premium as subscriptions eligible for time tracking. It says automatic clock-out and blocking early or unscheduled clock-ins require Shifts Plus or Premium Plans. Product bundles and availability can change, so verify eligibility and settings in your Dashboard. The setup documentation’s menu labels may also change.
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Using timecards for payroll
Timecards can support payroll preparation with Square Payroll, but Square Payroll requires separate setup and a subscription. If you use a third-party payroll provider, Square documents an option to export timecards from the Shifts Dashboard. Do not assume that an outside payroll service will receive an automatic direct sync; check the specific provider’s connection and workflow.
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When Square’s time tracker may be a fit
Square Shifts is a straightforward option to consider if your staff already use Square POS and you want their shift hours captured in Square tools. Before choosing it, check whether your plan includes the controls you need and whether the workflow suits your payroll process.
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- Confirm that your current Square subscription includes the time-tracking features your team needs.
- Decide whether staff will clock in at a POS register, in the Team app, or both.
- Check whether you need scheduling, time off, shift swapping, multi-location reporting, or labor metrics beyond timecards.
- Confirm how payroll hours will move to your payroll provider, whether through Square Payroll or a timecard export.
- Identify who can view, manage, or correct timecards and ensure the right people have the Shifts permission.
For custom integrations, Square’s Labor API provides developer access to timecards and scheduled shifts. Its reference covers work hours, breaks, declared cash tips, payroll processing, labor-cost calculations, and searches by location, time period, status, and team-member assignments. The reference is labeled API version 2026-08-19.
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