How to add a new book in Book Tracker

Adding books is the first step to building your personal library in Book Tracker.

The app offers several ways to add titles, making it easy whether you prefer searching online, scanning barcodes, or entering data manually.

Methods to Add a Book

Book Tracker supports four official methods for adding books:

1. Search online

  • Tap the + button on the home screen or in any book list.
  • Select Search online.
  • Type the book’s title, author, or ISBN.
  • Choose the correct result from the search and add it to your library.

Tip: Using the ISBN usually gives the most accurate match, including metadata and cover art.

2. Scan barcode (camera)

  • Tap the + button.
  • Choose Scan barcode (camera).
  • Use your iPhone or iPad’s camera to scan the barcode.
  • Book Tracker will automatically retrieve the book details and cover.

This works best with modern books that have an ISBN barcode on the back cover.

3. Scan barcode (reader)

If you have a Bluetooth barcode reader, you can connect it to your device and use it with Book Tracker.

  • Pair your Bluetooth scanner in the iOS Settings > Bluetooth menu.
  • Tap + > Scan barcode (reader) in Book Tracker.
  • Scan barcodes directly with the reader for fast entry, perfect for adding large libraries quickly.

4. Manually insert

  • Tap the + button.
  • Choose Manually insert.
  • Fill in the book’s details: title, author, publisher, genre, page count, etc.
  • You can also upload a cover manually from your photo library.

This method is useful for rare or out-of-print books that aren’t available in online databases.

Editing Book Details

After adding a book, you can always edit its information:

  • Open the book detail page.
  • Tap the Edit button at the top of the page.
  • Update any field (title, description, publisher, format, page count, etc.).

Tips for Adding Books Efficiently

  • Use the Bluetooth barcode reader if you have a large library (fastest method).
  • Prefer ISBN-based searches for accurate metadata and covers.
  • For collections of rare or vintage books, manual entry may be the only option.
  • If a book imports with missing or incorrect details, you can edit it or re-search by ISBN.

✅ With these methods, you can quickly build and personalize your digital library in Book Tracker.