This page tells you all about Authorize.net: how to sign up for an Authorize.net account; how to configure the Authorize.net payment processor; and at the bottom of the page, we supply some additional links to the Authorize.net help pages.

Step 1. Sign up for an Authorize.net account
Step 2. Activate your Authorize.net Account
Step 3. Generate Your API Login ID and Transaction Key
Step 4. Configure the Authorize.net payment processor

Step 5. Processing Orders

Other: Links to Authorize.net help pages

Other: International Sales
Other: Authorize.net Video Help

1. Sign up for an Authorize.net account

 2. Activate your Authorize.Net account

You will need to activate your new Authorize.net account. Please follow the instructions that come with your welcome email from Authorize.net. (for more assistance, see the Authorize.net Support Center: Authorize.Net Account Activation Guide)

 3. Generate Your API Login ID and Transaction Key

To connect your Website to the Authorize.net payment gateway, you must first generate your API Login ID and Transaction Key from your Authorize.net account, and then enter both codes in your website Payment Processor.

For assistance in generating your API Login ID and Transaction Key, see the Authorize.net Support Center: How do I obtain my API Login ID and Transaction Key? ).

4. Configure the Authorize.net Payment Processor

After you have generated your API Login ID and Transaction Key, you will need to setup the Payment Processor on your STN website. To do this, Login to your website Administration (back-end), and go to the Shopping Cart >> Store >> List Payment Methods.

Here you will see the list of Payment Processors (also called Payment Method Types):

Look for the Payment Method with the Code “AUT”, then click on the red name “Credit Card” name to open it. This will display the configuration options for the Authorize.net Payment Processor. There are 2 tabs that you will need to setup, the “General”and “Configuration”.

General Tab

On the “General” tab you should only need to update these three settings:

1. Activate the payment processor

2. Change the “Payment Method Name”. This text is what is displayed to the consumer during the checkout process. The most common name used is simply “Credit Card“.

3. Select the Credit Card Types that you will accept with your Authorize.net account. (note: Your Authorize.net account MUST be enabled for each of the cards you select here! Refer to the Authorize.net support site for help in adding or enabling new card types: )

Advanced Options:

(Advanced used may have different settings. Check with your project manager if you have questions) 

The Shopper Group option allows you to make this payment processor available only to a specific shopping group. By default it is assigned to the default shopper group. This would be changed only if you wanted to offer a specific shopper group this payment option.

The Discount field is where you would set a discount that would be applied during checkout at the time of payment.

The List Order is for the arrangement of multiple payment options. For example; if you are offering 2 different payment options and you wanted this payment option to be 1st in the list, you would enter “1” in this field and put a number greater than 1 in the other active payment processor(s).

Configuration Tab

On the “Configuration” tab, you will need check several settings, as well as enter your API Login ID and Transaction Key from your Authorize.net account. Below is an explanation of each setting:

Test Mode. Select ‘Yes’ while testing. When you are ready to run transactions for real, you will want to set test mode to ‘No’. 

Authorize.net Transaction Key. Note: Please follow these instructions carefully. Many people are confused by the extra security steps required to set this Key.

After you have entered your Login ID, click on the “Show/Change the Transaction Key” button: 

This will take you to a login prompt screen, where you will need to enter your User Password for your website Administrator login. This is the password you used to login to the back-end of your website, NOT the new Transaction Key.

After entering your site password and clicking the “Submit Query” button, you will then need to enter your Authorize.net Transaction Key and your site administrator password once again. Then click on the button “Submit Query” 

Request Credit Card CVV Code. You will next need to decide if you are going to require that the shopper enter their credit card security code, or “Card Verification Value” code. At STN we recommend this, and most gateway and merchant accounts require the CVV code.

Show Response Codes for Failed Transactions. If set to ‘YES’, the customer will see the Authorize.net Transaction Response Codes for failed transactions. This setting can be helpful in testing the gateway if you experience problems in sending card transactions to Authorize.net. Here is the response code reason lookup page: Authorize.Net Response Codes

Also from experience we see most issues caused by AVS (Address Verification Service) or the Fraud Detection filters. Please take care in setting those up. 

5. Authorize Only vs. Authorize & Capture

If you set your website module to AUTH_ONLY, your customer’s card is authorized for the charge, but is not charged until you trigger a Capture command. Changing the order status for an order can trigger this action within your Authorize.net account. see below.

• If you have your payment module configured for AUTH _ONLY, changing the order status from Pending  to Confirmed * will remotely trigger your Authorize.net account to go ahead and capture the funds. (You can alternatively login to your Authorize.net account, & go to Unsettled Transactions in order to capture the funds.). *note: The Confirmed status must be assigned to use the default code “C”, so if you make custom Order Status Types, you may break this connection.