Square KDS on Android is now the only first-party way to run Square kitchen tickets. The iOS version was disabled on 12 January 2026, so kitchens that ran tickets on iPads have either moved already or are running on a workaround. This is what actually changed, what the published hardware bar is, and how to pick a screen without buying twice.
Key takeaways
- The Square KDS iOS app was fully disabled on 12 January 2026. It does not open and it does not display tickets.
- Square publishes three minimums for Android: Android 9 or above, at least 3 GB of RAM, and Google Play enabled.
- Square guarantees appearance and prioritises bug support on the hardware it lists. Other Android screens are allowed but not promised.
- The Google Play requirement is the real filter. A lot of rugged Android hardware ships without Google Mobile Services and is therefore out.
- SUNMI FLEX 3 KDS units clear all three published minimums on paper. Validate on one screen before committing a fleet.
What changed, and when
Square announced in July 2023 that the kitchen display app would be retired on iOS. The app stopped receiving updates that November and was pulled from the App Store. The shutdown itself landed on 12 January 2026, and it was not a soft deprecation. The app stops opening.
The stated reason was demand for larger and cheaper screens than an iPad range offers. Whatever the motivation, the practical effect for an operator is the same: the kitchen display is now an Android decision, and it is a hardware decision rather than a software one.
Square documents the migration path and the alternative on its own support page, which is worth reading before you buy anything: Square’s migration guide.
The published bar for Square KDS on Android
Square lists three minimum requirements. They are short enough to check against a spec sheet in under a minute, and every one of them has knocked out hardware we have been asked about.
| Requirement | What it rules out |
|---|---|
| Android 9 or above | Older industrial panels still shipping on Android 7 or 8 |
| At least 3 GB of RAM | Entry-level signage boxes and 2 GB tablets |
| Google Play Store enabled | Any device without Google Mobile Services, which is a large share of rugged Android hardware |
The third one is the trap. Plenty of well-built commercial Android screens ship as AOSP or as a vendor-managed build with no Play Store. They will run a sideloaded app in a lab and then fail on the sign-in or the update path in production. If an app has to come from Google Play, the device has to have Google Play.
What supported actually means here
Square sells its own kitchen screens and says plainly that other Android devices may work, but that it cannot guarantee how the app will render and that bug support is prioritised for its listed hardware.
That is a narrower statement than either camp usually reports. It is not “nothing else works”, and it is also not “anything Android works”. It means the risk of a rendering or update problem sits with you rather than with the vendor.
For a single store, that risk is small and easy to reverse. For twenty stores, it is the whole decision. This is why we will not tell you a screen is certified when the vendor has not certified it, and why the only responsible sequence is to prove one unit in a real kitchen first.
Your three options, honestly framed
- Buy the screens the vendor lists. Lowest risk, least choice, and you are tied to that catalogue for spares and sizes.
- Buy Android hardware that clears the published bar. More choice of size, mounting and ingress protection, and you own the validation step. This is the route most multi-site operators take once they have more than a handful of stations.
- Keep the iPads and change the app. Move to a third-party kitchen display product that talks to your point of sale. Sensible if the iPads are recent and the mounting already works.
There is no universally correct answer. There is a correct answer for your station count, your kitchen environment and how much validation work you are willing to own.
Need Hardware for Square KDS on Android?
Share your station count, mounting needs, network setup, and number of locations, your destination, and target date. Rosper will confirm a compatible Square KDS hardware configuration, current warehouse availability, and a quote with a realistic lead time. For a multi-site deployment, include the site count and rollout schedule so we can plan staging and kitting.
Where SUNMI hardware fits
Rosper is SUNMI’s authorized distributor for the US and Canada. On the question people actually ask, which is whether these screens clear the published bar, here is the honest read from our SKU records.
| SKU | Screen | Android | RAM | Google Play | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P11050016 | 18.5 inch FHD | 13 | 4 GB | Yes, GMS-EDLA | Gigabit LAN and Power over Ethernet |
| P11050010 | 22 inch FHD | 13 | 4 GB | Yes, GMS-EDLA | Largest of the stocked KDS sizes |
| P11050019 | 15.6 inch FHD | 13 | 4 GB | Yes, GMS-EDLA | Availability confirmed on the quote |
| P03144017 | 15.6 inch, D2s KDS | 11 | 4 GB | Confirm per SKU | Power over Ethernet, ask us before assuming Play Store |
The FLEX 3 KDS units clear Android 9, clear 3 GB of RAM and ship as GMS-EDLA, which is what puts Google Play on the device. The chassis is rated IP54 and takes power over the same Ethernet run as the data, which in a kitchen is worth more than it sounds when you are looking for a spare outlet behind a hot line.
What we will not claim: that Square lists these devices, or that anyone has certified them for this app. They have not. Clearing published minimums and being on a vendor support list are two different things, and treating them as one is how a twenty-store rollout goes wrong.
The D2s KDS deserves its own line. It is a capable 15.6 inch kitchen screen with Power over Ethernet, but our record does not mark it as a Google Mobile Services unit, so for a Play Store app it is a question rather than an answer. Ask us to confirm the exact SKU.
How to choose without buying twice
- Count your stations and note the screen size each one can physically take. Expo and the line usually want different things.
- Check the three published minimums against the spec sheet before anything else. It takes a minute and eliminates most candidates.
- Order one screen, not twelve. Run it through a real service, including a rush.
- Check the things a spec sheet does not tell you: glare under your lights, legibility from where the cook actually stands, and whether the mount survives a wipe-down.
- Only then place the fleet order, and order at least one spare.
For a wider view of what to check on any kitchen screen regardless of which software you land on, our Android KDS hardware guide covers the environmental and mounting factors in more detail.
Talk to us about your kitchen
Tell us how many stations you have, the screen size each one can take and whether you have Ethernet at the wall. We will come back with the SKUs that clear the published requirements, current availability and a lead time. Most orders arrive in 2 to 7 business days from eight North American warehouses.
SUNMI provides a three-year warranty on third-generation devices and Rosper assists with warranty claims, coordinating them from within North America. Send us your station count and we will size it with you.
Rosper is SUNMI’s authorized distributor for the United States and Canada. Our team helps buyers match SUNMI devices, compatible accessories and deployment services to the workflow, confirm exact configurations and current warehouse availability, and coordinate shipping, staging, kitting and warranty support for pilots or multi-location rollouts. Contact our sales team for configuration guidance or to check current stock.
Frequently asked questions
Does Square KDS still work on an iPad?
No. Square disabled the iOS app on 12 January 2026. It no longer opens and kitchen tickets no longer display on iPads through that app. The app also stopped receiving updates in November 2023 and was removed from the App Store before the shutdown date.
What are the minimum requirements for Square KDS on Android?
Square publishes three: Android 9 or above, at least 3 GB of RAM, and the Google Play Store enabled on the device. A device that misses any one of the three is not a candidate, and the Play Store requirement is the one that quietly rules out a lot of industrial Android hardware.
Can I run Square KDS on a screen I did not buy from Square?
Square states that other Android devices may work, but that it cannot guarantee how the app will appear and that bug support is prioritised for the hardware it lists. Treat any non-listed screen as something you validate on one unit before you commit a fleet, not as something anyone can promise you in advance.
Do SUNMI FLEX 3 KDS units meet the published requirements?
On paper yes. The FLEX 3 KDS SKUs run Android 13, carry 4 GB of RAM and ship as GMS-EDLA units, which means Google Play is present. That clears all three published minimums. It is still not the same thing as Square listing the device, so the sensible step is to prove it on one screen first.
Is the SUNMI D2s KDS the same situation?
Not quite, and the difference matters. The D2s KDS is a 15.6 inch Android 11 screen with Power over Ethernet, but our SKU record does not mark it as a GMS unit. For any app that has to come from Google Play, ask us to confirm the Google Mobile Services status of the exact SKU before you order.
What if we want to keep using our iPads?
That path exists, but it means moving to a third-party kitchen display app that integrates with your point of sale rather than using the first-party one. It is a reasonable choice if the iPads are recent and well mounted. It is a poor choice if you were already fighting heat, glare or screen size in the kitchen.
How long does replacement hardware take to arrive?
Rosper holds stock in eight North American warehouses and most orders arrive in 2 to 7 business days. Availability is confirmed per SKU when we quote, because a kitchen rollout usually needs several identical screens rather than one.