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Scanner Not Working

Having trouble with the barcode scanner? Here’s how to fix common issues.

Camera Permission Issues

Section titled “Camera Permission Issues”

The most common problem is camera permission. The scanner needs access to your camera to work.

”Camera permission denied” Message

Section titled “”Camera permission denied” Message”

On iPhone/iPad:

  1. Open the Settings app on your device
  2. Scroll down and tap Agathos Books
  3. Tap Camera
  4. Select Allow
  5. Return to Agathos Books and try scanning again

On Android:

  1. Open Settings on your device
  2. Tap Apps (or Applications)
  3. Find and tap Agathos Books
  4. Tap Permissions
  5. Tap Camera and select Allow
  6. Return to Agathos Books and try scanning again

In a Web Browser:

  1. Look for the camera icon in your browser’s address bar
  2. Click it and select Allow
  3. If you don’t see the icon:
    • Chrome/Edge: Click the lock icon → Camera → Allow → Refresh the page
    • Firefox: Click the shield icon → Permissions → Camera → Allow
    • Safari: Safari menu → Settings → Websites → Camera → Allow

[Screenshot: browser camera permission settings]

Camera Shows Black Screen

Section titled “Camera Shows Black Screen”

If the camera view is completely black:

  1. Check if another app is using the camera — Close other apps that might be using your camera (video calls, other camera apps)
  2. Restart the app — Close Agathos Books completely and reopen it
  3. Restart your device — Sometimes a restart clears camera issues
  4. Check for physical obstruction — Make sure nothing is covering your camera lens

Barcode Not Being Detected

Section titled “Barcode Not Being Detected”

If the camera works but barcodes aren’t detected:

Check Lighting

Section titled “Check Lighting”
  • Too dark — Move to better lighting or use the flashlight (tap the light icon)
  • Too bright — Avoid direct sunlight causing glare on the barcode
  • Shadows — Position the book so the barcode isn’t in shadow

Check Positioning

Section titled “Check Positioning”
  • Hold steady — Keep the phone about 6-8 inches from the barcode
  • Keep it flat — Curved book spines make barcodes harder to read
  • Center the barcode — Position it within the scanning frame
  • Fill the frame — The barcode should take up a good portion of the frame

Check the Barcode

Section titled “Check the Barcode”
  • Clean the barcode — Wipe away dirt or stickers covering it
  • Damaged barcodes — Heavily worn or scratched barcodes may not scan
  • Non-standard barcodes — Some older books use barcode formats we can’t read

”Camera not supported” Message

Section titled “”Camera not supported” Message”

Your device may not support camera scanning if:

  • Old browser — Update your browser to the latest version
  • Desktop without webcam — Camera scanning requires a camera
  • Restricted browser — Some in-app browsers (like Facebook’s) don’t support camera access; open in your regular browser

Try the Search Instead

Section titled “Try the Search Instead”

If scanning isn’t working, you can always add books by searching:

  1. Tap Add Books
  2. Select the Search tab
  3. Type the book title, author, or ISBN
  4. Select the correct book from results

The ISBN (the number under the barcode) can be typed directly into search for exact matches.

Still Not Working?

Section titled “Still Not Working?”

If you’ve tried everything above and scanning still doesn’t work:

  1. Note which device and browser you’re using
  2. Take a screenshot of any error message
  3. Contact support with these details
Section titled “Related Articles”

Still Need Help?

Section titled “Still Need Help?”

If the scanner still isn’t working, contact support.