Understanding and Managing Authorize.net Test Mode

Test Mode in Authorize.net can be controlled in two places:

• At the account level (inside the Merchant Interface)
• At the integration/API level (in your website, software, or payment plugin)

If you continue seeing Test Mode banners or Test Mode email receipts—or if no transactions appear in your account reports—your integration may still be sending transactions as test=true even if your account is set to Live Mode. This article explains how both levels work and how to resolve this.

What Test Mode Does?

• All newly created Authorize.net accounts start in Test Mode.
• While in Test Mode:
  • Transactions you submit are not authorized.
  • Transactions are not saved, so nothing appears in Reports or Search Transactions.
  • Email receipts indicate that the transaction was submitted in Test Mode.
  • You can test website or software integrations without real card activity.

How to Tell When Your Account Is in Test Mode?

• Merchant Interface Indicators
  When your account is in Test Mode, the Merchant Interface shows a blue banner on every page:
  “Your account is in TEST MODE – To update click here”
• Email Receipt Indicators
  Receipts sent for Test Mode transactions show:

  ************* TEST MODE *************

  In addition, test receipts originate from noreply@mail.testauthorize.net and include a warning message instructing the recipient not to reply, click links, or take action.

Test Mode vs. Live Mode – What Changes

How to Turn Test Mode On or Off (Account‑Level)

1. Sign in to the Merchant Interface.
2. Click Account in the main toolbar.
3. Select Settings on the left menu.
4. Click Test Mode under Security Settings.
5. Use the toggle to switch between Test and Live.
6. A confirmation message will appear when the change is applied.

If the system will not allow you to disable Test Mode, your account may still be completing merchant account setup or awaiting processor configuration.

Test Mode Can Also Be Set in Your Integration (API‑Level)

• Even if your account is set to Live Mode, your integration may still be sending transactions as test=true.
• This will cause:
  • Test Mode messages to appear in receipts
  • No transactions to appear in reports
  • Continued Test Mode behavior even when the Merchant Interface shows Live Mode
• Examples of integration‑level Test Mode settings include:
  • API calls containing testRequest=true
  • Developer‑side configuration toggles labeled Test Mode or Sandbox Mode
  • Shopping cart modules or plugins with their own environment switch
  • SDKs configured to test endpoints
• If you are seeing Test Mode activity while your Merchant Interface says Live Mode, check your code or contact your developer/integration provider to disable API‑level Test Mode.

Billing While in Live Mode

• When Test Mode is off, all received transactions will be processed normally and transaction fees will apply.

Sandbox Accounts (Recommended for Developer Testing)

• Instead of testing in your production account using Test Mode, you can create a Sandbox/Developer account, which:
  • Is always in a test environment
  • Is completely separate from your production account
  • Allows full testing of website, API, and payment integrations without risk
• Developers can sign up in the Authorize.net Developer Center under Getting Started.

Test Mode Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• Do I need to provide additional information before switching to Live Mode?
  • Possibly. If your merchant account setup is not complete, Test Mode cannot be disabled.
• Why do I see “Unanticipated error occurred. Please try again later” when switching modes?
  • This usually means your merchant account or processor setup is incomplete. Once your merchant account is connected or your processor information is configured, the toggle will work.
• I applied for a Payment Gateway Only account—what must be done?
  • You must enter and configure processor information before the system will allow switching to Live Mode.