---
title: "Set up barcode scanning in Jovvie Point of Sale"
description: "Choose how a station handles barcode scans, and what staff can use to scan."
url: https://docs.jovvie.com/point-of-sale/set-up/barcode-scanning/
section: "Jovvie Point of Sale > Set up"
last_updated: 2026-10-26
---

# Set up barcode scanning in Jovvie Point of Sale

Section: Jovvie Point of Sale > Set up

> Choose how a station handles barcode scans, and what staff can use to scan.

Choose how barcode scanning finds products and adds them to the cart in Jovvie Point of Sale. Each [station](https://docs.jovvie.com/start-here/glossary/#station) has its own scan settings.

For the barcodes themselves, see [Add barcodes to products](https://docs.jovvie.com/point-of-sale/set-up/product-barcodes/). To see how staff scan products into the cart, see [Scan a barcode to add a product](https://docs.jovvie.com/point-of-sale/sell/scan-a-barcode/).

## What can scan

- **A hardware scanner that types like a keyboard.** The scanner types the barcode into the register, just as if someone had typed it. Use hardware with verified support for your operating system.
- **The camera in the Jovvie app.** In the Jovvie app on an Android or iOS device, a camera scan button appears next to the search field. It does not appear in a regular desktop browser.

## Before you start

- You need to be an administrator or shop manager.
- Add barcodes to your products first.

## Choose how the search field works

1. In your dashboard, go to **POS** > **Stations**.

2. Find the station and click **Edit Station**.

3. Open the **Products** tab.

4. Go to **Product Search Default**.

5. Choose one:

   - **Search mode:** the field searches by product name. This is the default.
   - **Barcode mode:** the field is for scanning barcodes.
   - **Unified search:** one field for names, SKUs, and barcodes. A scanned or typed barcode that matches a single product follows your settings in [Choose what a scan does](https://docs.jovvie.com/point-of-sale/set-up/barcode-scanning/#choose-what-a-scan-does). Anything else filters the product grid.

6. Click **Save**.

## Choose what a scan does

1. Open the station’s **Cart** tab.

2. Under **Barcode Scanning Cart Action**, choose your options:

   - **Barcode scan automatically adds item to cart.** When on, a scan adds the matching product to the cart. When off, a scan only finds the product.
   - **Enable repeat Barcode scans functionality.** When on, a repeat scan button appears next to the scan field. Staff turn it on to keep the register ready for the next scan, so they can scan several items in a row.

3. Click **Save**.

These options are off by default.

## Set up scanning with a hardware scanner

If your scanner types the barcode into the register, turn on the barcode listener. The register then recognizes a scan even when staff have not clicked into the search field. It does not listen while a text field is selected.

1. On the station’s **Cart** tab, select **Enable Barcode listener**.

2. Choose how the register knows a scan has finished:

   - If your scanner presses Enter after each scan, select **Use Prefix/Suffix Detection (Enable if scanner sends Enter key after each scan)**.
   - Otherwise, leave that option cleared and set **Barcode listener Scan Timeout**. This is the longest gap, in milliseconds, between characters that still counts as one scan. The default is 150 and the lowest allowed value is 25.

3. Click **Save**.

> **Note**
>
> A timeout that is too large may make fast manual typing look like a scan. Use the smallest value that works with your scanner.

The register ignores any code shorter than three characters.

## Hide the scan button

To hide the **Scan** button from the top bar, see [Show or hide register buttons](https://docs.jovvie.com/point-of-sale/set-up/register-buttons/). Hiding the button does not change your scan settings.

## Test your setup

1. Open the register for the station.
2. Scan a product that has a barcode.
3. Check that the product is found or added to the cart, as you chose.