Scanning Books with Your Camera

The fastest way to add books to your collection is by scanning the ISBN barcode on the back cover with your phone’s camera.

Using the Scanner

Tap Add Books in the navigation
Tap Start Scanning (or Scan Barcode on mobile)
Point your camera at the barcode on the back of the book
Hold steady — the scanner detects the barcode automatically
The book appears in the list below the scanner as it’s processed

You can keep scanning immediately after each detection — the camera stays active and books are processed in the background. You’ll hear a beep each time a barcode is detected and a success tone when the book is added.

Scanning Multiple Books

Just keep scanning! There’s no special mode to activate. Each book is queued and processed in the background while you move on to the next one. A running count shows how many books you’ve scanned.

The “Recently Added” list below the scanner shows all books from your current session with their status — a spinner while processing, a checkmark when added, or a warning if something went wrong.

Positioning the Barcode

For best results:

Hold the phone steady about 6-8 inches from the barcode
Make sure there’s good lighting — avoid shadows on the barcode
Keep the barcode within the frame shown on screen
Ensure the barcode is flat — curved spines may need adjusting

The scanner works with both small and large barcodes.

Typing an ISBN

If the barcode won’t scan, you can type it manually:

Tap Type ISBN below the scanner
Enter the 10 or 13-digit ISBN number
The book is added automatically when a valid ISBN is entered

This also works with hardware barcode scanners — just focus the input field and scan.

Using the Flashlight

In low-light conditions (on mobile apps only):

Start the scanner
Tap the flashlight icon to turn on your phone’s flash
Tap again to turn it off

When a Book Isn’t Found

If the scanner can’t find a book:

Try searching by title — Type in the search bar at the top of the page
Check the barcode — Some older books have damaged or non-standard barcodes

See Book not found for more troubleshooting tips.

Camera Permissions

The first time you scan, your device will ask for camera permission:

Tap “Allow” to enable scanning
If you accidentally denied — See Scanner not working to fix permissions

Tips

Clean your camera lens — A smudged lens can slow down detection
Mute scan sounds — Tap the speaker icon if you prefer silent scanning
Choose where books go — Tap the destination bar at the top to change your collection or sharing settings

Still Need Help?

If you’re having trouble with the scanner, contact support.