How to Scan barcodes using the Barcode Scanner application on Android phones

Your Android device can scan any barcode or QR code using a free app from the Play Store. Once the barcode scanning app is installed, your device's camera will be used as the scanner. You can then perform different operations depending on the barcode content.

Install Barcode Scanner

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Open Play Store on your device. You can find the Play Store in your list of apps. The icon looks like a shopping bag with the Google Play logo on top.

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Click the Search bar . This bar can be found at the top of the Play Store screen.

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Enter barcode scanner.

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Click QR & Barcode Scanner from Gamma Play. You can try many other types of scanners available. The working features of most machines are similar.

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Click Install .

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Click Accept .

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Click Open . This button will appear once the application has been successfully downloaded and installed.

Barcode Scanner

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Point the camera at a barcode.

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Make sure the barcode is sufficiently illuminated. The scanner will have difficulty reading if part or all of the barcode is dark.

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Line up the entire QR code in the viewfinder. Make sure the entire square code fits within the frame on the screen.

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Line up traditional barcodes in the viewfinder. When scanning traditional barcodes, the lines in the viewfinder need to be perpendicular to the lines of the barcode.

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Adjust the distance between the camera and the barcode. This can help bring barcodes into focus if they are blurred.

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Keep the device steady during barcode scanning. When the scan is successful, you will see the device vibrate and hear a beep.

Decode barcodes

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Review the barcode information. After scanning the code, you will see the type of information it contains. Content can range from text to website URLs. The content will be displayed at the top of the screen.

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Press the action button to decode the barcode. Available operations vary depending on the type of code being scanned.

For example, if you scan a code for a website address, you can press the Open button to open the website in your browser or the Share button to send the code to someone else.

If you scan a contact, you can add it to your contacts or share it.

If you've scanned a product, you can do a product search and a web search. Searching for a product will find retailers that carry that product.

If you scan a calendar event, you can add it to your calendar.

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Troubleshoot code that doesn't work. QR codes can contain many different types of links and content. Traditional barcodes contain only one number. This number may be associated with a product if that product is popular. If the barcode is created specifically for a store or some other local store, it may just be meaningless numbers.