How to Read Barcodes With iPhone Camera (5 Steps)

By Spanner Spencer

Most bar code-scanning apps can read two-dimensional bar codes, which contain a lot information.
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Apple's iPhone features a built-in digital camera on the back of the device, which can be accessed and utilized by a host of different applications. By installing a bar code-reading application, you can take a photo of a book or product's bar code and use the application to decipher the information, or to perform an online search based on the bar code's data.

Step 1

Launch the "App Store" application on the iPhone and search for "bar code." Select and download a bar code-scanning application of your choice, such as "RedLaser," BeeTag" or "Bakodo."

Step 2

Launch the bar code-scanning application by tapping its icon on the iPhone's home screen once it has finished downloading.

Step 3

Tap the option to capture a bar code directly from the iPhone's camera.

Step 4

Point the iPhone's camera at the bar code you want to read, and position the bar code within the on-screen reticle. If required, tap the button to take a photo once the bar code is properly aligned and in focus. Many bar code-scanning applications take the photo automatically once the bar code has been detected.

Step 5

Wait for the application to decipher the bar code in the captured image. The information contained within the bar code will be displayed, or the application will perform an online search for the same product.

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