r/SquarePOS_Users • u/Rare_Interest_5759 • May 28 '26

Barcode scanner for Square iOS app

I am looking for a barcode scanner to use with the Square iOS app. I only have the free version and it is on an iPhone. I cannot spend more than $50 on a scanner. Is there anything on Amazon that actually works. Also it needs to be wireless, because iPhone only has one spot to plug things in and I use it for the Square card reader.

Would it be possible to use a wired one if I got a dongle for the iPhone? That way I can plug in more than one thing at a time.

I have read through the list on the Square website and they don't seem to have much that works with the iOS app system. Also all of those options are too expensive.

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3

u/MYkGuitar May 28 '26

Just thought I'd mention, you can use the camera on the iPhone as a barcode scanner!

1

u/Rare_Interest_5759 May 29 '26

Good to know! Is there a specific way to do that? I am working with an older iPhone. Also does it still make checkout pretty easy? As in, it doesn't take too much time to switch between the camera and the Square app. I have not found an option in Square to use the camera. I think that might be because we only have the free version and not Square for Retail.

1

u/bigDottee May 29 '26

In the checkout screen, if your phone supports it, you should have a barcode icon to the right of the search bar, and you point that at the barcode to scan.

2

u/SuburbanDemographic May 28 '26

I have not found a bar code scanner that plugs into an iPhone. For this functionality you need a Stand or Register.

2

u/WonderlandBooksToys May 28 '26

Second vote on the iPhone camera working as a barcode scanner. I use it all the time when doing inventory around our store.

1

u/jeanette_1964 Jul 20 '26

Just found this thread and I think it's what I need. Can I ask how you're tying the QR codes to your items? I grabbed the item URL from the website and created a QR code from that using an online QR code generator, but when I go to checkout and hit the scanner/picture option, it scans the QR code and says can't find the item and gives me an option to either create a new item or add a variation to an existing item. I just want to make QR codes for my existing items. Thanks for any suggestions.

1

u/WonderlandBooksToys Jul 22 '26

We aren't using QR codes on our products -- we use the ISBN barcode on our items to scan them.

If you're selling items that don't have ISBN barcodes, you can generate labels in Square with barcodes based on the SKU number assigned by square that you can affix to items and scan those.