Can I scan barcodes? Does Book Tracker support Bluetooth scanners?

Yes. Book Tracker supports two complementary barcode scanning paths, both useful for adding books quickly without typing:

📷 Camera scanner

Use the device’s built-in camera to scan a book’s ISBN barcode (the usual 13-digit EAN-13 on the back of any modern book).

  • Available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac (if your Mac has a built-in or external webcam).
  • Open Book Tracker → tap + → Scan barcode (camera).
  • Hold the barcode in the camera frame; the scan happens automatically.
  • The book is added immediately if found in the online databases.

Continuous scan: the camera scanner stays open after each successful scan, so you can scan a whole shelf of books in a row without tapping anything in between. Great for setting up the app from scratch.

📡 Bluetooth / hardware scanner

Book Tracker also supports dedicated barcode scanners, the kind that connect over Bluetooth (or USB on Mac) and look like a pen or a small handheld device.

  • Pair the scanner with your iPhone, iPad, or Mac through the system Bluetooth settings, as you would any other accessory.
  • Open Book Tracker → tap + → Scan with barcode reader.
  • Use the physical trigger on the scanner to scan each book.

Why use a Bluetooth scanner? Two reasons:

  • Speed. For a large library (hundreds of books), a dedicated scanner is much faster than the camera.
  • Convenience. You don’t need to hold the device steady or align the barcode, the dedicated scanner handles awkward angles and bad lighting better than a phone camera.

Most generic USB-HID Bluetooth barcode scanners work, including the cheap ones widely available online.

Where Book Tracker looks up the scan

Once the ISBN is captured (via either method), Book Tracker queries the online book databases and adds the book with its full metadata: title, authors, publisher, cover, page count, language. You don’t need to fill anything in manually.

If the ISBN can’t be found online (rare books, very old editions, self-published titles), see Can I add a book that isn’t found online?.