Scanning Issues

Fix barcode scanning problems

If barcodes aren't scanning or products aren't being found after a scan, here's how to track down the cause.

The Camera Won't Activate

The app needs permission to use your camera. If the camera icon doesn't do anything:

Look for a camera or lock icon in the browser's address bar, click it, and choose Allow
On iPhone/iPad: go to Settings → Safari → Camera and set it to Allow
On Android: go to Settings → Apps → your browser → Permissions → Camera and enable it
Try opening the app in Chrome or Safari — these have the most reliable camera support

After changing permissions, refresh the page and try again.

If the camera is working but barcodes won't read:

Lighting — make sure the label is well lit; shadows and glare both cause problems
Distance — try holding the device 6–12 inches from the label and keep it steady
Label condition — faded, torn, or wrinkled labels often can't be read; type the barcode manually instead
Camera permission — if the camera view shows but doesn't scan anything, try closing and reopening the scan panel

If the barcode reads but the app says the product wasn't found:

Check Shopify — go to the product in Shopify Admin, open the variant, and confirm the barcode field matches the label
Leading zeros — the app already tries the code with and without a leading zero, so "012345678901" finds "12345678901" and vice versa; other differences (a missing digit, a different code on the label) still need fixing in Shopify
SKU labels — if the label carries the SKU rather than a barcode, that works too: the SKU field is checked when no barcode matches
Use Select — if the code isn't in Shopify at all, click Select and pick the product from the picker
Location stock — for inventory counts, the product must have inventory tracked at the selected location in Shopify; if it isn't stocked there, it won't be in the prepared list (scanning it still adds it as an extra line)

If a Bluetooth or USB scanner isn't being picked up by the app:

Bluetooth — check the scanner is paired and shows as connected in your device's Bluetooth settings
USB — try a different USB port; some ports don't supply enough power
Scanner mode — the scanner must be in Keyboard Wedge (or HID) mode; scan the mode barcode from your scanner's manual if unsure
Test it — open any text field (like the browser address bar or Notes), place your cursor, and scan a barcode; if numbers appear, the scanner works and the issue is with the app connection
Restart — turn the scanner off and back on, or disconnect and reconnect it

If there's a noticeable delay between scanning and the item appearing:

Network — a weak internet connection slows things down; move closer to your WiFi router or switch to a stronger connection. Scans are queued, so keep scanning: a "waiting" note under the scan field shows how many are still being saved
Focus — with an external scanner on a desktop or tablet, the scan field takes the input even if you clicked elsewhere; if a scan seems to go nowhere, tap the field once and scan again
Session size — very large stock takes (thousands of items) are shown 100 rows at a time; scanning jumps to the right page automatically