Short answer: Your Stripe account isn't activated yet, so Stripe only allows test payments. Finish activating it in the Stripe Dashboard, and real payments go through.
In the app, a payment stops with:
Test mode only — activate your Stripe account to process live payments
How do I fix it?
- Open your Stripe account activation and finish every step Stripe asks for: business details, your bank account for payouts, and identity checks.
- Wait for Stripe to confirm. Most accounts are approved in minutes; some take a day or two while Stripe reviews them.
- Come back to the app and charge again.
If Stripe asks for more information or says it can't approve the account, only Stripe can sort that out. See My Stripe account is restricted, rejected or "ineligible".
"Your request was in live mode, but used a known test card"
This one's the reverse: your account is live, but the card is a Stripe test card (like 4242 4242 4242 4242) or a test card on a reader. Test cards only work in test mode. Use a real card instead.
Want to try the app without charging anyone? See How can I make a test charge?