Help cannot get any barcode scanning app to work

[nmbs]

When i try to use any barcode scanning app i cannot get my phone to pick up on the barcode. The image is always out of focus and no matter when angle or lighting conditions i try to scan the barcode it just does not work. Is anyone else having this issue? Is there a special trick/tip to scanning a barcode?

 

[trophynuts]

Which apps have u tried ?

 

[mustardtiger]

Is there a special trick/tip to scanning a barcode?

I found that rather then getting right up on top of the bar code, it helps to scan from a considerable distance away.

I use the shop savvy scanner and it works really well when I pull back to what I initially thought would be too far to scan, like 8-10 inches away from the bar code. Thus far, I've been able to scan pretty much whatever I want without issues. If I'm too close, forget it.

 

[nmbs]

Ive used barcode scanner, Qr scanner, one with the amazon app, a whole bunch included with calorie counting type apps like loseit and fuducate.

I'll try holding the phone really far away, i am not sure if i tried that.

 

[Demache]

Ive used barcode scanner, Qr scanner, one with the amazon app, a whole bunch included with calorie counting type apps like loseit and fuducate.

I'll try holding the phone really far away, i am not sure if i tried that.

You don't really need to hold it too far away. I mean, this about the distance that mine will work. It just focuses and then the barcode is scanned almost immediately.

Make sure the lense on the camera is clean. It seriously does improve camera quality and sharpness (which is what you need the most for barcode scanning).

 

[nmbs]

It just focuses and then the barcode is scanned almost immediately.

Make sure the lense on the camera is clean.

My phone does not focus by itself. I've never gotten it to. I also checked the lens before and made sure that was clean. That was the first thing i checked to figure out why the image was not focused.

 

[Demache]

My phone does not focus by itself. I've never gotten it to. I also checked the lens before and made sure that was clean. That was the first thing i checked to figure out why the image was not focused.

Methinks your phone is defective if it doesn't focus period. Or maybe there is a software issue. You should be able to see it refocusing regularly.

 

[PA Curmudgeon]

This thread got me curious because the bar code reader function always worked well on my Moto Droid. So, last night I tried "Barcode Scanner" by ZXing Team, seemed highly rated and showed over 50 million DLs.

Anyway, I couldn't get it to read the codes on a gift card I had handy, kept trying to focus over and over. A key component of an auto-focus failure is lack of contrast / poor lighting. I picked up a little LED flashlight and shined it near the gift card. That was enough. Picked it up right away.

This particular app allows you to have the LED/flash turn on in low light situations, and the default setting is OFF. I changed the setting to ON and tried it, instant read! I'm posting this as an addition to the other good answers already shown above, hope it helps.

 

[nmbs]

My phone never really auto-focused, I mean it did a little but when i am using the camera to take a picture for example i press on the screen on the are when i want to definitely focus and it auto-adjusts.

It never auto-focused when using a barcode scanner program. I tried turning on the LED function as suggested and that did not work either.

 

[PA Curmudgeon]

My phone never really auto-focused, I mean it did a little but when i am using the camera to take a picture for example i press on the screen on the are when i want to definitely focus and it auto-adjusts.

It never auto-focused when using a barcode scanner program. I tried turning on the LED function as suggested and that did not work either.

I have had times where it took the pic before focus was achieved, yielding disappointing results compared to the pics the Nexus is capable of when fully focused. It does sound like something isn't quite right with yours, hope you can get it resolved.

 

[nmbs]

update: so there was something wrong with my phone

got a new one and i can definitely tell the difference with auto focus from one to the other

 

[thiatt52]

I am having problems with it also. I tried using ZipList and Baarcode Scanner. I keep getting yellow lines going back and forth on the line.

 

[zenithanthony]

hi......want to know what are the better option to scan barcode with Android app?