Authorize.net Setup

Authorize.net is a popular third-party payment gateway that allows merchants to electronically process credit card and electronic check transactions securely. It connects your Pulse Commerce store to your merchant account over a PCI compliant connection.

Why Authorize.net?

• Industry-leading payment gateway trusted by thousands of merchants
• Real-time credit card processing
• PCI compliant and secure
• Supports Authorize & Capture or Authorize Only modes
• Advanced fraud detection tools (AVS/CVV)

Getting Started

Contact Authorize.net directly to sign up:

• Email: sales@authorize.net
• Phone: 866-437-0476
• Website: www.authorize.net

For pricing and merchant solutions, visit: Authorize.net Pricing

You need your API Login ID and Transaction Key to connect Authorize.net to Pulse Commerce.

Retrieving Credentials

1Log into your Authorize.net account.

2Navigate to Settings > Security Settings > API Credentials & Keys.

3Locate your API Login ID (this is always visible).

4Generate a new Transaction Key or retrieve existing one:

• Click New Transaction Key
• Answer your secret security question
• Copy the Transaction Key immediately (it's only shown once)

5Save both credentials to a secure location.

Required Authorize.net Settings

Before connecting to Pulse Commerce, configure these settings in your Authorize.net account:

Disable Password Required Mode:

• Go to Settings > Security Settings > General Security Settings
• Set Password Required Mode to OFF

Ensure Test Mode is OFF (for production):

• Go to Settings > Test Mode
• Verify Test Mode = OFF for live transactions

You can configure your Authorize.net credentials directly in your Pulse Commerce admin panel. If you need assistance, our support team can configure this for you.

Configure Credentials in Your Admin Panel

1Log into your Pulse Commerce admin panel.

2Navigate to Settings > Pay Methods.

3Click the Online - Payment Options (Credit Cards Only) tab.

4Locate Authorize.net and click Enable.

5Once enabled, click Edit to open the configuration popup.

6In the Merchant ID field, enter your API Login ID and Transaction Key separated by two colons (::):

7Configure additional settings:

• Capture Type: Select Authorize and Capture OR Authorize Only
• Use AVS: Check to enable Address Verification System
• Use CVV: Check to enable CVV verification
• Order Confirmation Message: Customize the message shown to customers after checkout (optional)

8Click Update to save your configuration.

Payment Processing Options

Authorize and Capture (Default): Customer credit cards are charged immediately when orders are placed.

Authorize Only, Capture Later: Credit cards are authorized to reserve funds but not charged until you manually capture payment from the order. Use this if you charge when shipping or need to verify inventory before processing payment.

Need Assistance? Support-Assisted Configuration

If you prefer to have our support team configure Authorize.net for you, submit your credentials securely:

1Go to our secure credential upload form: https://mtfiles.egnyte.com/ul/eGbQGUB0oJ

2Upload a document with your credentials in this format:

3Create a support ticket with subject: "Authorize.net Setup - [Your Store Name]" and reference your secure form submission.

Support will configure your gateway and notify you when complete (typically within 1 business day).

Always test with live credit cards to confirm the full payment flow works correctly.

Testing Your Configuration

After configuring your credentials, thoroughly test your payment processing:

1Process a valid test transaction using a real credit card with a small amount ($1-5).

2Test an invalid transaction (declined card or incorrect CVV) to verify error handling.

3Test with different card types (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover).

4Verify transactions appear in both:

• Your Pulse Commerce Orders > Order page > Payment History tab

• Your Authorize.net merchant account transaction list

5Refund the test transaction(s).

Common Issues

Error: "Transaction declined"

• Verify Test Mode is OFF in Authorize.net (Settings > Test Mode)
• Check that Password Required Mode is disabled
• Confirm Transaction Key is current (not regenerated)
• Verify merchant account is active and funded

Error: "Invalid API credentials"

• Verify API Login ID and Transaction Key are correct
• Check if Transaction Key was recently regenerated
• Create a support ticket to verify configuration

Payments not appearing in Authorize.net

• Check Authorize.net account login (correct account?)
• Verify date range in transaction search
• Check if transactions are in "Unsettled" status

Getting Help

For Pulse Commerce configuration issues:
Create a support ticket at support.pulse-commerce.com

For Authorize.net account questions:
Contact Authorize.net support directly at 866-437-0476

Updating Credentials

If you regenerate your Transaction Key or need to update credentials, submit new credentials using the same secure form process above and create a support ticket referencing your submission.

Related Articles

• Payment Gateway Setup Guide - Understanding payment gateways and merchant accounts
• Payment Security & Fraud Prevention - AVS, CVV, and fraud prevention best practices

Authorize.net Resources

• Authorize.net Merchant Solutions
• How Authorize.net Works Diagram
• Authorize.net Knowledge Base