How to Switch Between Keyboard Emulation (KBE) and HID Modes on an Elo Magnetic Stripe Reader (MSR)

This article explains how to switch supported Elo USB Magnetic Stripe Readers (MSRs) between Keyboard Emulation (KBE) mode and Human Interface Device (HID) mode.

Switching Between KBE and HID Modes

1. Download the USB MSR Change Mode Utility and extract MSR Change Mode.exe.
2. Verify that the Elo monitor is powered on and that both the video and USB cables are connected.
3. Locate MSR Change Mode.exe and double-click it to launch the utility.
4. When the utility opens, it displays:
   • The current operating mode
   • Change Mode button
   • OK button
5. If you receive the message "MSR Change Mode has encountered a problem and needs to close", verify that:
   • The MSR is connected.
   • The monitor is powered on.
   • The USB cable is securely connected.
   • The MSR is functioning properly.
6. If the utility displays ??? as the current mode, the connected MSR does not support changing operating modes using this utility.
7. Click Change Mode to switch the MSR to the opposite operating mode.
8. During the process, the utility temporarily displays ???. This is normal and typically lasts only a few seconds.
9. Once complete, the new operating mode is displayed as the current mode.
10. Click OK to close the utility.

Verify the Operating Mode

Keyboard Emulation (KBE)

1. Open Notepad or another text editor.
2. Swipe a magnetic stripe card.
3. If the card data appears in the document, the MSR is operating in Keyboard Emulation mode.

Human Interface Device (HID)

The simplest way to verify HID mode is to test the reader with your POS or other HID-compatible application. If the application successfully reads the card, the MSR is operating in HID mode.