---
title: "Use test mode"
description: "Practice taking payments without charging a real card, and find where test mode is turned on in each Jovvie product."
url: https://docs.jovvie.com/payments/test-mode/
section: "Payments and accounts"
last_updated: 2026-10-26
---

# Use test mode

Section: Payments and accounts

> Practice taking payments without charging a real card, and find where test mode is turned on in each Jovvie product.

Test mode lets you practice the whole payment flow without charging a real card. Use this page to find where to turn it on, so you can train staff and check your setup before you take real payments.

Test mode only works with Stripe. Each product has its own test mode setting, and Jovvie follows that setting.

## Where test mode is set

| Product                           | Where you turn test mode on or off                                                                                                                                           |
| --------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Jovvie Point of Sale (Stripe)     | **Mode** on the **POS** > **Settings** > **Stripe Connect** tab                                                                                                              |
| Jovvie Point of Sale (NMI)        | No test mode setting                                                                                                                                                         |
| Jovvie Checkout for WooCommerce   | **Test mode** (**Enable test mode**) in the Jovvie Payments **Account Management** settings                                                                                  |
| Jovvie Checkout for Gravity Forms | **Test Mode** (**Use the Jovvie test environment**) in the Jovvie Payments settings                                                                                          |
| Jovvie Checkout for GiveWP        | GiveWP’s own test mode setting                                                                                                                                               |
| Jovvie Checkout for Event Tickets | The Tickets Commerce test mode (sandbox) setting                                                                                                                             |
| Your own Checkout integration     | Your developer sets the mode in the integration (Stripe only). See [Test a Jovvie Checkout integration with Stripe test mode](https://docs.jovvie.com/developers/test-mode/) |

Live mode (real payments) and test mode are kept apart. Card readers, locations, and payments in one mode do not appear in the other.

> **Caution**
>
> Before you take real payments, turn test mode off and check that your live readers are set up. Payments you take while test mode is on are not real, and no money is collected.

## Point of Sale with Stripe

**Mode** applies to every Stripe payment method in the register, including **Swipe/Insert/Tap**, **Enter Card**, and **Invoice**. It applies to all stations.

1. In your dashboard, go to **POS** > **Settings** > **Stripe Connect**.
2. Under **Mode**, select **Test**.
3. Click **Save Changes**.

To go back to real payments, select **Live** and click **Save Changes**. **Live** is the default.

After you change the mode, check each station’s **Stripe** tab. Locations that Jovvie created are marked **\[Live]** or **\[Test]**. Make sure each station uses a location and readers for the mode you are in. See [Set up card readers for a station](https://docs.jovvie.com/point-of-sale/set-up/card-readers/).

To test with a physical reader, register it on the station’s **Stripe** tab while **Mode** is **Test**.

You need to be an administrator or shop manager to change these settings.

## Point of Sale with NMI

Point of Sale has no test mode for NMI. Every NMI terminal payment you take in the register is real.

If you want to try NMI before you go live, contact [Jovvie support](https://jovvie.com/support/).

## Checkout for WooCommerce

The WooCommerce plugin has its own test mode setting. It does not follow any other WooCommerce setting.

1. In your WordPress admin, go to **WooCommerce** > **Settings** > **Payments** > **Jovvie Payments** > **Account Management**.
2. Next to **Test mode**, select **Enable test mode**.
3. Save your changes.

While test mode is on, checkout shows the notice **Note! Test Mode is enabled.** To go back to real payments, clear **Enable test mode** and save.

Payment confirmations from Stripe (called [webhooks](https://docs.jovvie.com/start-here/glossary/#webhook)) need their own setup in test mode. Before you test, contact [Jovvie support](https://jovvie.com/support/) to confirm they are set up. Otherwise, test orders stay **Pending payment**. See [Install and connect Jovvie Checkout for WooCommerce](https://docs.jovvie.com/checkout/woocommerce/install-and-connect/).

## Checkout for Gravity Forms

The Gravity Forms add-on has its own test mode setting. The same keys work for live and test, so you do not connect again to switch.

1. In WordPress, go to **Forms** > **Settings** > **Jovvie Payments**.
2. In the **Jovvie Payments Account** group, next to **Test Mode**, select **Use the Jovvie test environment**.
3. Save your settings.

While test mode is on, the **Jovvie Payments** field on your forms shows **Test mode is enabled. No live payment will be processed.** To go back to real payments, clear the checkbox and save. See [Install and connect Jovvie Checkout for Gravity Forms](https://docs.jovvie.com/checkout/gravity-forms/install-and-connect/).

## Checkout for GiveWP

Jovvie follows GiveWP’s test mode setting. When GiveWP is in test mode, Jovvie is in test mode too. You do not need to connect again.

The test mode setting is part of GiveWP itself, not the Jovvie plugin. To turn it on or off, see GiveWP’s own documentation.

To check which mode you are in, go to **Donations** > **Settings** > **Payment Gateways** > **Jovvie Payments** > **Account Management**. The status label shows **Connection Status (test)** or **Connection Status (live)**.

## Checkout for Event Tickets

Jovvie follows the Tickets Commerce test mode (sandbox) setting. When Tickets Commerce is in test mode, Jovvie is in test mode too.

The test mode setting is part of Tickets Commerce in Event Tickets, not the Jovvie plugin. To turn it on or off, see the Event Tickets documentation.

## Readers for Checkout in test mode

When you create a location in the plugin settings, Jovvie creates a live location and a test location together. Jovvie uses the one that matches the plugin’s mode.

These steps are for [web terminals](https://docs.jovvie.com/start-here/glossary/#web-terminal). App terminals are registered by the Jovvie app. See [Web terminals and app terminals](https://docs.jovvie.com/hardware/web-and-app-terminals/).

Before you start, create a location with **Create location**. In WooCommerce, GiveWP, and Event Tickets, the **Register Reader** section appears only after you do. See [Set up a location and readers in WordPress](https://docs.jovvie.com/checkout/locations-and-readers/).

To test with a physical web reader:

1. Open the Jovvie settings for your plugin:

   - WooCommerce: **WooCommerce** > **Settings** > **Payments** > **Jovvie Payments** > **Location & Terminals**
   - Gravity Forms: **Forms** > **Settings** > **Jovvie Payments**
   - GiveWP: **Donations** > **Settings** > **Payment Gateways** > **Jovvie Payments** > **Location & Terminals**
   - Event Tickets: **Tickets** > **Settings** > **Payments** > **Jovvie**

2. Go to the **Register Reader** section. In Gravity Forms, go to the **Reader Registration** group.

3. Under **Mode**, select **Test**.

4. In **Registration Code**, enter the code shown on the reader.

5. Save your changes.

A browser connection also belongs to one mode. If you connected a shared device in live mode, connect it again in test mode. See [Use Checkout on a shared or kiosk device](https://docs.jovvie.com/checkout/connect-a-browser/).

## What you see on the payment page in test mode

When the payment is in test mode, the Jovvie payment page shows:

- An orange bar across the top with **Test Mode** and **You’re using test data. No real transactions will be processed**.
- A list of simulated readers under **Choose a reader**, with the message **This is a simulated mode readers list. To select real readers, click the button below:**

A simulated reader is not a real device. To run a test payment without a card, select one and click **Process Payment**.

To test with your own reader instead:

1. Click **Switch to live readers**.
2. Select your reader. The list shows available test mode readers. If this browser is connected to a location, it shows readers from that location.
3. Click **Process Payment**.

Despite its name, **Switch to live readers** does not take you out of test mode. The payment is still a test payment, and no real card is charged.

For the rest of the payment page, see [Take a payment on the Jovvie payment page](https://docs.jovvie.com/checkout/jovvie-payment-page/).

## Find test payments

Test payments do not appear with your live payments. To see them, switch your Stripe Dashboard to test mode.

## Before you go live

1. Turn off test mode in each product you use.
2. Check that your readers are registered in live mode.
3. If you use shared devices for Checkout, connect each browser again in live mode.
4. Ask staff to look for the **Test Mode** bar on the payment page. If they see it, the payment is not real.

## Need help?

If you do not see your readers in test mode, see [Reader not showing on the payment page](https://docs.jovvie.com/troubleshooting/reader-connection/).

Contact [Jovvie support](https://jovvie.com/support/).