Magnetic Stripe Entry Mode

Payment cards typically store customer data on a magnetic stripe embedded in the back of the card. For this entry mode, a customer swipes their card on a payment terminal to pass this data to the merchant's point-of-sale system. Swiping the payment card is typically used for non-EMV cards, such as pre-paid cards, or as an alternative payment method when a contact or contactless EMV payment fails.

The magnetic stripe entry mode describes how a payment terminal reads card data from the magnetic stripe on the back of a payment card. The terminal captures this data when the customer swipes the card, enabling the point-of-sale system to process the transaction.

This entry mode is often used for non‑EMV cards, such as prepaid cards, or when EMV contact or contactless interaction cannot be completed due to card or terminal issues.

Although magnetic‑stripe entry provides a fallback when EMV methods are unavailable, it offers less security because magnetic‑stripe data is easier to copy or compromise. Standard risk‑control measures still apply when using this entry mode. For more information, see Card-Present Transaction Risk Control Requirements.