Barcode scanner guide: choose and connect
Last updated: 3 October 2026
A barcode scanner adds a product to the cart in a second, without searching the list. This guide covers which type to choose, connecting it to an Android tablet or a Windows PC, and what to check when it won't read.
Which scanner?
| Type | For | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wired USB (1D) | A fixed till on a PC or tablet | Simplest: plug in, it types like a keyboard |
| Bluetooth | Tablets, moving around the shop | Handy for stock counts; needs charging |
| 2D | If you also read QR codes | Reads standard 1D codes too |
Tested with PosSwift: Zebra LI2208 (1D, USB, plug-and-play, recommended for grocers) and Honeywell Voyager 1200g (1D, USB, durable for high volume).
Connecting it
- USB on a Windows PC: plug it in, that's all. The scanner acts as a keyboard (HID mode).
- USB on an Android tablet: use an OTG adapter (USB-C or micro-USB to USB-A).
- Bluetooth: put the scanner in pairing mode (often by scanning a code in its manual), then pair it in the tablet's Bluetooth settings.
- Quick test: open a note or any text field and scan a product. If digits appear, the scanner is ready.
It won't read: checks
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Beeps but nothing types | Wrong connection mode | Set the scanner back to keyboard (HID) mode with the code in its manual |
| Wrong digits or letters | Keyboard layout mismatch (AZERTY/QWERTY) | Set the scanner's keyboard language to match the device (codes in the manual) |
| Won't read some codes | Damaged or tiny code | Print a sharper label; a 1D scanner can't read QR codes |
| Adds the product twice | Double line ending | Turn off the extra suffix in the scanner's manual |
With PosSwift
In PosSwift, scanning a code adds the product to the cart. For items without a barcode (loose goods, clothes, parts), make labels with our free generator: codes starting with 2 are reserved for in-store use and never clash with manufacturer codes.
- Free barcode labels
EAN-13 and Code 128, on thermal rolls or A4.
- Guide: receipt printer
Choose, connect, troubleshoot.
- Discover PosSwift
Offline point-of-sale for Moroccan shops.