---
title: "Connect and manage readers on Android"
description: "Pair a Bluetooth card reader, read its status, and prepare it for checkout with the Android SDK."
image: "https://developer.sumup.com/og/index.png"
---

> Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://developer.sumup.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Connect and manage readers on Android

After [authenticating](/terminal-payments/sdks/android/authentication/), open the card reader page to pair a supported reader. These examples run in your activity.

## Card reader page

Once the merchant is logged in, open the reader settings to:

- Connect to new readers.
- View the saved reader's battery level, serial number, and firmware version.
- Connect to the last saved reader if it is inactive.
- Update firmware of the reader if available.
- View the saved reader's name and connection status.

```java
 	SumUpAPI.openCardReaderPage(MainActivity.this, 4);
```

To integrate with the Activity Result API, use `SumUpCardReaderPageContract`:

```kotlin
val cardReaderPageLauncher = registerForActivityResult(SumUpCardReaderPageContract()) { result ->
        // Card reader page result
    }
cardReaderPageLauncher.launch(null)
```

![Card Reader Page](</img/guides/android_sdk_reader_view.png>)

## Preparing the SumUp card terminal for checkout

Call `prepareForCheckout()` before a payment to connect the reader in advance and reduce checkout time.

The merchant must be logged in and a reader must already be paired.

```java
SumUpAPI.prepareForCheckout();
```

Air and Solo readers normally stay connected over Bluetooth after a payment. Use `prepareForCheckout()` to reconnect if the reader was turned off or moved out of range, or if your app lost focus.

## Retrieve connected card reader's data

You can check the connection status and retrieve details about the saved card reader using the following methods:

- **`isCardReaderConnected()`**: Returns a `boolean` indicating whether a card reader is currently connected.
- **`getSavedCardReaderDetails()`**: Returns `SavedCardReaderDetails` with the reader's serial number, type, and last known battery percentage, or `NoSavedReader` if no reader is saved.

### Supported reader types

When the result contains `SavedCardReaderDetails`, its reader type is one of these constants:

- `SOLO`
- `SOLO_LITE`
- `AIR`
- `THREE_G`
- `PIN_PLUS`
- `UNKNOWN` — returned only if the SDK encounters an issue and cannot identify the reader type.

> **Note**
>
> The `lastKnownBatteryPercentage` is **not** real-time. It reflects the battery level recorded during the last transaction. As a result, this value may not match the current battery level exactly if the reader has been idle or charged since the last payment.

## Verify the connection

Use `SumUpAPI.isCardReaderConnected()` to check the connection after pairing.

## Next step

[Accept a reader payment](/terminal-payments/sdks/android/payments/).

Source: https://developer.sumup.com/terminal-payments/sdks/android/readers/index.mdx