thread Re: Scan barcode with Android phone in Hardware Setup & Troubleshooting

Scan barcode with Android phone

nigel_f — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 11:32:00 GMT

Hello

I have the Square app and the Square Retail Beta app on my Andoid phone.

I don't seem to be able to find a way to scan a product barcode to add it to a cart.

In contrast, on my other half's iPhone I can do it with no problem.

Have I missed something in the setup? I'm coming from Shopify which has done this for year, I can't believe the functionality isn't available.

Thanks

Nigel

Re: Scan barcode with Android phone

ehflower — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 23:16:16 GMT

That would be a great function for my android.

Re: Scan barcode with Android phone

rtfulk — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 16:26:16 GMT

@nigel_f Just a few things that come to mind to check. If I remember the regular Square POS doesn’t’t give you the ability to scan a barcode with your camera on your phone. The Square Retail app does, where the search bar is located to the right there should be a camera icon or barcode icon (see photo below) tap that and it activates your camera to scan a barcode.

If the camera doesn’t come on when you tap it, you may not have given permission for Square to access your camera.

Android Settings → Apps → Square → Permissions → Camera → Allow

Hopefully this will get you scanning with your phone.

Re: Scan barcode with Android phone

Sarahsstitches — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 12:10:11 GMT

Camera is allowed permissions in my app and it doesn't show me that little icon in the search bar. I also followed the directions on the square website, but the option for enable phone camera for barcode scanning is not available. When I click barcode scanner under hardware it says there isn't a compatible scanner attached.

Re: Scan barcode with Android phone

Sarahsstitches — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 12:11:31 GMT

I can use my camera to scan barcodes at every store I shop at, but I can't use it for POS on Android. This is ridiculous.

Re: Scan barcode with Android phone

rtfulk — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 01:28:54 GMT

I did a little more digging into Square documentation and I found this. Hopefully it will work

Android camera barcode scanner

Use your Android device’s built-in camera to scan barcodes directly from Square Point of Sale. To enable the camera scanner:

Open the Square Point of Sale app on your Android device.
Tap ≡ More > Settings > Hardware.
Toggle on the Camera Barcode Scanner.

To scan a barcode:

Press the volume key on your Android device to activate the camera scanner.
You will see a green barcode icon in the POS status bar if the current page can be scanned.
Point the camera at the barcode you want to scan.
The item is automatically added to the sale once the barcode is recognised.