---
title: "Scanning barcodes and QR codes"
description: "Scanning QR codes and barcodes with the phone camera in the Requiply mobile app: the scan screen, the flashlight, typing a code by hand, and what a scanned unit, SKU or package barcode does in bookings, checklists and sales."
canonical_url: "https://requiply.com/docs/en/guides/mobile-app/scanning"
---
# Scanning barcodes and QR codes

> Scanning QR codes and barcodes with the phone camera in the Requiply mobile app: the scan screen, the flashlight, typing a code by hand, and what a scanned unit, SKU or package barcode does in bookings, checklists and sales.

**The phone camera is a barcode scanner: point it at a label and Requiply opens the unit, adds it to a booking or ticks it off a checklist.** Every place that scans also has **Enter code**, for a worn label or a code read out over the phone.

Scanning with the camera is part of the **Advanced** plan and up, and needs **QR codes & barcodes** switched on under [Settings → Organization → Features](https://requiply.com/docs/en/guides/settings/organization/features#enable-qr-codes-barcodes). Printing labels and tying manufacturer barcodes to units are explained in [QR codes and barcodes](https://requiply.com/docs/en/guides/inventory/qr-and-barcodes).

## Where you can scan

<table>
<thead>
  <tr>
    <th>
      Where
    </th>
    
    <th>
      What a scan does
    </th>
  </tr>
</thead>

<tbody>
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        Search
      </strong>
      
       tab, the round scan button
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Opens what the code belongs to: a unit, a product for sale, or the booking, client or product of a Requiply QR code.
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        New Booking
      </strong>
      
      , <strong>
        Inventory
      </strong>
      
       step: <strong>
        Scan
      </strong>
      
       / <strong>
        Enter code
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Adds the unit's product, pins the unit when <a href="https://requiply.com/docs/en/guides/bookings/add-booking/scanning-and-pinning#assigning-units-on-creation">
        assigning units on creation
      </a>
      
       is allowed, or adds one product for sale.
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      A pickup or return checklist: <strong>
        Scan
      </strong>
      
       / <strong>
        Enter code
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Ticks the unit off, assigns it, or offers to replace a reserved unit. See <a href="https://requiply.com/docs/en/guides/mobile-app/bookings#handover-checklists">
        Handover checklists
      </a>
      
      .
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>
        New sale
      </strong>
      
      : <strong>
        Scan
      </strong>
      
       / <strong>
        Enter code
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Adds one of the product for sale. See <a href="https://requiply.com/docs/en/guides/sales/new-sale#in-the-mobile-app">
        New sale
      </a>
      
      .
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      A unit, <strong>
        Actions
      </strong>
      
       → <strong>
        Tie barcode
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Ties a manufacturer barcode or serial label to that unit.
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      A product for sale, <strong>
        Actions
      </strong>
      
       → <strong>
        Tie barcode
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Sets the package barcode of the product.
    </td>
  </tr>
</tbody>
</table>

## The scan screen

Open the **Search** tab and tap the round scan button in the corner. The camera opens full screen with *Point your camera at a Requiply QR code or a barcode*.

- The first time, the phone asks for camera access. If you said no, the screen shows **Camera access needed** with **Open settings**.
- Tap the flashlight button (**Turn on flashlight**) in a dark warehouse, a van or a basement.
- The phone vibrates when a code is read. Codes it cannot use show a short message, and scanning continues after a moment.

The camera reads QR codes and EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A, UPC-E, Code 128, Code 39, Code 93, ITF-14 and Data Matrix barcodes.

### What a scan opens

<table>
<thead>
  <tr>
    <th>
      You scan
    </th>
    
    <th>
      What happens
    </th>
  </tr>
</thead>

<tbody>
  <tr>
    <td>
      A Requiply QR code
    </td>
    
    <td>
      The booking, client, product or unit it points to opens.
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      A barcode of one of your units: the Requiply code, the generated EAN-8, or a tied manufacturer code
    </td>
    
    <td>
      The unit opens, with its status, barcodes and reservations.
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      A SKU of one of your units
    </td>
    
    <td>
      The unit opens.
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      The package barcode of a product for sale
    </td>
    
    <td>
      The product opens.
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      A Requiply code of another organization
    </td>
    
    <td>
      <em>
        This Requiply code belongs to another organization
      </em>
      
      .
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      A barcode that is not linked yet
    </td>
    
    <td>
      <strong>
        Unknown barcode
      </strong>
      
      : <em>
        Barcode {code} is not linked to any SKU yet. Link it now?
      </em>
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      Any other QR code
    </td>
    
    <td>
      <em>
        Not a Requiply code
      </em>
      
      .
    </td>
  </tr>
</tbody>
</table>

On the **Core** plan the scan button shows a crown; tapping it says **Advanced plan feature**: *QR codes and barcodes are available on the Advanced plan. Upgrade in the Requiply web app.* When an Advanced organization has the feature off, the button is hidden.

<note>

**Any phone camera can read a Requiply QR code.** Requiply QR codes are links to `app.requiply.com`. Scanned with the phone's own camera app, they open the Requiply app when it is installed, and the web app otherwise.

</note>

### Linking an unknown barcode

Equipment often arrives with the manufacturer's barcode already on it. Scan it, tap **Link to SKU** (or **Link** when [Sales](https://requiply.com/docs/en/guides/sales) is on), search for the unit or the product for sale, and tap it. The app confirms *Barcode linked to {sku}*, and the next scan opens it directly.

If the code already belongs to another unit, the app asks **Already linked**: *Barcode {code} is already linked to {sku}. Move it to {new sku}?* Tap **Move** to move it. Linking needs **Allow inventory management**.

## Typing a code with Enter code

Every **Scan** button has an **Enter code** button next to it. In a new booking it opens **Add by code** (*Enter a unit barcode, SKU or the barcode of an item for sale.*); type the code printed under the barcode, or the SKU, and tap **Add** (in a checklist, **Check**).

<figure>

![The Inventory step of New Booking on an iPhone after a unit code was added with Enter code: the highlighted green message Rode Procaster added to the booking at the top, the hint that Rode Procaster is part of the bundle Podcast duo kit, 1 qty and the Scan and Enter code buttons](https://requiply.com/docs/assets/mobile-app/slow-and-offline/offline-scan.png)<figcaption>

A code typed with **Enter code** adds the unit's product, here with no connection at all.

</figcaption>
</figure>

**Enter code** does not use the camera. In checklists it is there on every plan. On the **Inventory** step of a new booking it shows when camera scanning is available, or when your organization allows [assigning units on creation](https://requiply.com/docs/en/guides/bookings/add-booking/scanning-and-pinning#assigning-units-on-creation). Use it when a label is torn, the code is read to you over the phone, or a Bluetooth scanner types it in.

## Adding items to a booking

On the **Inventory** step of **New Booking**, tap **Scan** to open the camera above the list, or **Enter code**. Depending on the code:

- **A unit** pins that exact unit to the booking (*Unit {sku} pinned to the booking*) when your organization allows [assigning units on creation](https://requiply.com/docs/en/guides/bookings/add-booking/scanning-and-pinning#assigning-units-on-creation) and your group has the permission. Otherwise it adds one of its product (*{name} added to the booking*).
- **A product for sale** adds one to the sold goods.
- A unit held by another booking for the chosen dates, on maintenance or lost is refused with the reason, for example *Unit CAM-004 is booked by another reservation for these dates*.

Tap **✕** next to a pinned unit to unpin it.

## Tying a barcode to a unit

Open a unit (from **Inventory**, or by scanning it), tap **Actions** and **Tie barcode**. Point the camera at the serial number or asset tag, or type it under **Or type the code**. The app shows the code it read with *Detected: {symbology}* and *Check that the code matches the label on the unit.* Tap **Tie to {sku}** to save it, or **Scan another code**.

The unit's **Barcodes** card shows every code of the unit as a scannable barcode, tagged **Requiply**, **Generated** or **Third-party**, with **Primary** on the one your organization prints. Tap a code to show it large, **Copy code**, or **Unlink** a third-party code. See [QR codes and barcodes](https://requiply.com/docs/en/guides/inventory/qr-and-barcodes#from-a-unit-in-the-mobile-app).

## With a weak signal or no connection

With [Keep data on this phone](https://requiply.com/docs/en/guides/mobile-app/slow-and-offline#keep-data-on-this-phone) on, every scan and every typed code is looked up on the phone itself: instantly on a weak signal, and also with no connection at all. A code linked a few minutes ago on another phone is checked with Requiply when there is a connection. Without the switch, each scan asks Requiply, and with no connection the app says *Could not look up this code. Check your connection and try again.*

## Common scenarios

### Checking what a case on the shelf is

Open **Search**, tap the scan button and point at the label. The unit opens with its status and the booking it is reserved for.

### Using the manufacturer's barcode instead of printing labels

Scan the barcode on a new microphone. **Unknown barcode** appears; tap **Link to SKU**, pick the unit, and from then on that barcode opens it.

### Handing out twenty cables in a dark van

Open the pickup checklist, tap **Scan**, turn on the flashlight and scan the cables one after another. The camera stays open, and each scan ticks the next unit.

## Tips and cautions

<tip>

**Tip:** Hold the phone 10 to 20 cm from the label and keep the barcode across the middle of the screen. Small EAN-8 labels read best with the flashlight on.

</tip>

<warning>

**Heads up:** A barcode can belong to one unit at a time. Moving it to another unit with **Move** means the old unit no longer opens with that label.

</warning>


## Sitemap

See the full [sitemap](https://requiply.com/docs/sitemap.md) for all pages.