Barcoder Support

Help for Barcoder for iPhone and Barcoder for Mac.

Contact us

info@thearktech.com

Please tell us which version you use (on your iPhone: Settings › About Barcoder; on your Mac: Barcoder › About Barcoder) and what you see on screen.

Getting started

1. Install Barcoder on your iPhone from the App Store. It works on its own: scan, keep lists and export them.
2. To have scans typed into your Mac, download Barcoder for Mac, open the disk image and drag Barcoder to Applications.
3. Open Barcoder for Mac and follow the welcome steps: allow Accessibility, allow the local network, then pair your iPhone.

Pairing

How do I pair my iPhone?

1. On your Mac, open Barcoder. The welcome steps show a QR code under “Pair your iPhone”; later, click Pair iPhone in Devices or in the menu bar to show a new one.
2. On your iPhone, open Barcoder, go to Computer and tap Scan Pairing Code. Scan the QR code, check the name of your iPhone and tap Pair.
3. Your iPhone shows a 6-digit code. Type it on your Mac and click Allow.

Can't scan the screen? Click Copy Link on your Mac, then on your iPhone open the Computer tab and tap Paste next to “Copied a pairing link on your Mac?”. This uses Universal Clipboard, so both devices need to be signed in to the same Apple Account with Handoff turned on.

The pairing code expired or was already used

A pairing QR code works once and expires after 5 minutes. Click Regenerate on your Mac and scan the new code. If your Mac ever asks you to allow a device you don't recognise, click Deny.

Why do I have to type a 6-digit code?

It proves that the iPhone asking to pair is the one in your hand. Your Mac allows a new iPhone only after you type the code shown on that iPhone; three wrong entries cancel the request.

Can I pair more than one iPhone?

Yes. Barcoder for Mac accepts scans from more than one paired iPhone, and you can turn each one off or remove it in Devices. With Barcoder Pro, an iPhone can also be paired with more than one computer; it sends scans to the one marked as active.

My iPhone says “Removed by … · Pair Again”

Your Mac removed this iPhone from its Devices list, so this iPhone can no longer send scans to it. Tap Pair Again and pair as usual.

Permissions

Why does Barcoder for Mac need Accessibility permission?

macOS lets an app type into other apps only with Accessibility permission. Barcoder uses it for exactly that: typing your scans into the app in front. Turn it on in System Settings › Privacy & Security › Accessibility; the button in the welcome steps opens the right place.

If scans aren't typed although the switch is on (for example after an update), turn the Barcoder switch off and on again.

Local Network permission on your iPhone

Barcoder asks for local network access when you pair, so that it can find and connect to your Mac. If you chose Don't Allow, Barcoder shows “Local Network access is off”: open Settings › Privacy & Security › Local Network and turn on Barcoder.

Local Network permission on your Mac

On macOS 15 or later, macOS also asks whether Barcoder may find devices on your local network. If you clicked Don't Allow, Barcoder shows “Local network blocked”: turn on Barcoder in System Settings › Privacy & Security › Local Network.

Camera

Barcoder uses the camera only to scan. Frames are analysed on your iPhone and never stored. Without camera access you can still pick codes from a photo or type them in.

Typing on your Mac

I use a Chinese input method (速成, 倉頡, Pinyin…)

While a Chinese or Japanese input method is on, typed characters would go into the input method instead of the app. So by default Barcoder for Mac pastes the text and types keys such as Enter and Tab normally. It puts your previous clipboard back afterwards, unless you copied something else in the meantime. If you had copied a password from a password manager, Barcoder clears the clipboard instead of putting the password back.

In Settings › Output you can choose Switch to ABC while typing or Type anyway instead.

Why doesn't Barcoder type into Terminal?

A scanned code followed by Enter could run a command. So by default Barcoder for Mac doesn't type into terminal apps (Terminal, iTerm2, Warp, Ghostty and others), Script Editor, Automator, Shortcuts, or launchers such as Spotlight, Alfred and Raycast. You can edit this list in Settings › Safety, or set Type into to Only these apps.

Scans arrive but aren't typed

The message on your Mac, and the status on your iPhone, say why:

• “Not typed — a password field is active”: Barcoder doesn't type while Secure Input is on, as it is in password fields. Click into a normal field.
• “Not typed — Terminal is blocked in Safety settings” (or another app): the app in front is on the blocked list.
• “Not typed — Barcoder is paused (⌃⌥⌘P)”: press ⌃⌥⌘P again or click Resume.
• “Not typed — allow Accessibility in System Settings”: see Permissions.
• “Click the app you want to type into”: Barcoder doesn't type into its own windows.

When it's fixed, open the list on your iPhone, filter by Not typed and tap Resend All.

Typing stopped in the middle of a code

Barcoder for Mac stops at once if you switch to another app, a password field becomes active or typing is paused, so it doesn't carry on typing into the wrong place. The scan is marked Not typed on your iPhone; resend it when you're ready.

Can I add Tab, a quantity or the date after each code?

Yes. In the menu bar, choose what follows each scan (Enter, Tab or nothing), or build a template in Settings › Output from Barcode, Text, keys (Enter, Tab, arrows and more), Delay, Quantity, Type, Device, List, Date and Time. The preview shows exactly what will be typed.

Characters come out wrong, or a code is rejected

By default Barcoder for Mac types printable ASCII characters only, and rejects codes that contain anything else. For codes with accents or Chinese characters, choose Any text under allowed characters in Settings › Output. If an app shows the wrong characters, try the Paste output mode.

Network

Your iPhone shows “Can't reach …”

• Make sure your Mac is awake and Barcoder for Mac is running (look for its icon in the menu bar).
• Connect both to the same Wi-Fi network. Guest Wi-Fi and some office networks keep devices apart.
• Turn off VPN on both devices, or allow local network access in your VPN app.
• Try Personal Hotspot: turn it on on your iPhone and connect your Mac to it.
• Enter the address by hand: in Barcoder for Mac under Settings › Network, find a local IP address, such as 192.168.x.x, 10.x.x.x, 172.16.x.x–172.31.x.x or an IPv6 address starting with fd or fe80 (public IP addresses and names can't be added). Then on your iPhone open the computer in the Computer tab and add it under Addresses. If your Mac shows no local address, its network keeps devices apart: connect both to the same Wi-Fi network or use Personal Hotspot instead.

Do my scans go over the internet?

No. Scans go directly from your iPhone to your Mac over your local network, end-to-end encrypted. There is no Barcoder server.

What is “Allow direct Wi-Fi (AWDL) connections”?

A setting in Barcoder for Mac under Settings › Network that also accepts connections from a nearby iPhone over peer-to-peer Wi-Fi (AWDL). It's on by default, and you can turn it off there.

Updates

How do I update Barcoder for Mac?

Choose Barcoder › Check for Updates… to open the download page. Download the new version, quit Barcoder, and replace the app in your Applications folder. Your pairings and settings stay. Barcoder for iPhone updates through the App Store.

“Update Barcoder on your iPhone and Mac”

The two apps are on versions that don't work together. Update Barcoder on your iPhone from the App Store, and Barcoder for Mac with Barcoder › Check for Updates….

Barcoder Pro

What is free, and what does Barcoder Pro add?

Barcoder is a free download. Scanning, lists, checking and export on your iPhone are free with no limits, and so is typing up to 50 codes a day into one computer. Barcoder Pro is an in-app purchase for 6 months, 1 year or lifetime, each a one-time purchase that never renews automatically; buying 6 Months or 1 Year again adds the time. Barcoder Pro adds unlimited typing, more than one paired computer, checklists and find lists imported from CSV or TXT files and custom accept patterns. Buy it on your iPhone in Settings › Barcoder Pro, which also shows until when it lasts. Barcoder for Mac stays free.

My scans say “Not sent · Free limit”

Today's 50 free codes were already typed, so these scans stayed on your iPhone. They are never typed later by themselves, and the count starts again at midnight. To send them, open the list, filter by Not sent and tap Resend All — tomorrow, or straight away with Barcoder Pro.

How do I restore Barcoder Pro?

On a new iPhone, or after you install Barcoder again, Barcoder Pro usually comes back by itself. If it doesn't, open Settings › Barcoder Pro and tap Restore Purchases, signed in with the Apple Account that bought it.

Who does the purchase belong to?

Barcoder Pro belongs to the Apple Account that bought it, not to one iPhone. It works on every iPhone that uses that Apple Account for App Store purchases, and with Family Sharing your family can use lifetime Barcoder Pro too (6 Months and 1 Year can't be shared). Deleting Barcoder or using Delete All Data doesn't remove it. Apple handles payments and refunds; we never see your Apple Account or payment details.

Your data

Where are my scans stored?

Your lists stay on your iPhone. If you use Barcoder for Mac, your Mac keeps a log of recent scans and monthly CSV files (on by default, in its Logs folder or a folder you choose; you can turn them off in Settings › Log). Nothing is sent to us. See the privacy policy.

How do I delete my data?

On your iPhone: Settings › Delete All Data removes all lists, settings and pairing keys. To unpair one computer, open it in the Computer tab and tap Forget Computer. Deleting the app removes its lists and settings, but iOS keeps its pairing keys in the keychain until Barcoder is installed again, so use Delete All Data first if you want them gone at once.

On your Mac: remove an iPhone in Devices, clear the scan log with Clear Log… in Log, and delete CSV files from the folder shown in Settings › Log (Reveal in Finder).

To remove everything from your Mac:

1. Quit Barcoder and move it to the Trash.
2. Delete the folder ~/Library/Application Support/com.arktech.barcoder.mac (the scan log, the IDs of recent scans and, unless you chose another folder, the CSV files in its Logs folder).
3. Delete ~/Library/Preferences/com.arktech.barcoder.mac.plist (the settings file).
4. Open Keychain Access, search for “Barcoder” and delete the two items for com.arktech.barcoder.mac — “Barcoder pairing key” and “Barcoder paired devices”.

Scanning tips

A code won't scan

• Hold your iPhone steady with the code inside the frame: codes outside it are never read. For small labels, use 2× zoom, the torch or tap to focus; for large ones, choose a bigger Frame Size in Settings › Scanning.
• Check Settings › Scanning: the barcode type must be turned on, and an Accept Only rule rejects codes that don't match it (for example “Not a valid EAN or UPC”).
• Damaged label? Pick the code from a photo, or type it with Enter Code.

What does the red aim line do?

With Aim Line for 1D Barcodes on in Settings › Scanning, Barcoder reads only the 1D barcode the red line crosses, so it picks the right one on a label with several barcodes. QR codes and other 2D codes aren't read while it's on. Hold the label so that the red line runs across all the bars, or turn the aim line off.

What does Code Lock do?

When a label has several barcodes, a code lock reads only the kind you want. In Settings › Code Lock, tap Learn from a Sample… and scan one code, or tap the lock button on the last scan's card: from then on only codes of its barcode type, characters and length are read. A lock you add by hand can also require a fixed start. Tap the lock's name at the top of the scanner to switch locks or turn the lock off. While a lock is on, Accept Only isn't used. Code Lock is free.

A code on my find list isn't found

A find list reacts only to codes exactly as they are listed, letter case included; every other code is ignored without a sound. The camera reads a UPC-A as an EAN-13 with a leading 0, so a UPC-A listed with its 12 printed digits is found only when EAN-13 Starting with 0 to UPC-A is on in Settings › Clean-Up. A listed code that a code lock or an Accept Only rule rejects isn't found either.

I don't hear the scan beep

Barcoder's sounds follow the media volume, and they stay silent while your iPhone is in silent mode. Choose Classic Scanner, Soft or Off and set the volume in Settings › Feedback.

The camera stopped

To save battery, Barcoder pauses the camera after 2 minutes without a code. Tap to resume, or change the time under Auto-Pause in Settings › Scanning. If you see “Camera paused — in use by another app”, close the other app and tap Resume.

“Scanning slowed — iPhone is warm”

Barcoder lowers the frame rate while your iPhone is hot, and speeds up again once it cools down.

My scans show “Waiting”

They are queued on your iPhone because your Mac isn't connected or Barcoder for Mac is paused. They are sent automatically as soon as it's back, and each one is typed once.