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How to Scan Barcodes with Your Phone

A complete step-by-step guide to scanning barcodes and exporting them to CSV using your smartphone.

Whether you're taking inventory, cataloging books, or tracking assets, scanning barcodes with your phone and exporting them to a spreadsheet is one of the fastest ways to digitize physical data. This guide shows you exactly how to do it — for free, without installing any apps.

What You'll Need

  • A smartphone (iPhone or Android) or a computer with a webcam
  • A modern web browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or Edge)
  • Barcodes to scan (product labels, ID cards, QR codes, etc.)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Open the Scanner

Go to BarcodeToCSV Scanner on your phone or computer. No download or installation needed — it works right in your browser.

Step 2: Start the Camera

Click the "Start Camera" button. Your browser will ask for permission to access your camera — tap "Allow". The scanner uses your rear (back) camera by default, which provides better focus for barcode scanning.

Step 3: Scan Your Barcodes

Point your camera at a barcode and hold it steady. Keep the barcode within the scanning area (the highlighted box on screen). The scanner will automatically detect and read the barcode — you'll hear a beep and see it appear in the results table below.

Pro tip: Enable "Continuous Scan" mode to scan multiple barcodes in a row without stopping.

Step 4: Review Your Results

Each scanned barcode appears in the results table with its value, type (e.g., EAN-13, QR Code), and timestamp. You can:

  • Click the copy icon to copy a single value
  • Click the delete icon to remove a mistaken scan
  • Add barcodes manually using the text input below the camera

Step 5: Export to CSV

When you're done scanning, click the "Export" button and choose your format:

  • CSV — Opens in Excel, Google Sheets, and any spreadsheet app
  • JSON — For developers and data processing pipelines
  • Copy to Clipboard — Paste directly into any document

Supported Barcode Types

BarcodeToCSV supports all major barcode formats:

  • 1D Barcodes: Code 128, Code 39, EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A, UPC-E, ITF, Codabar
  • 2D Barcodes: QR Code, Data Matrix, PDF417

Not sure which type you have? Check our Barcode Types Explained guide.

Tips for Better Scanning

  1. Good lighting: Make sure the barcode is well-lit. Avoid shadows and glare.
  2. Steady hands: Hold your phone steady for a second while the scanner reads.
  3. Right distance: Keep your phone 6–12 inches from the barcode. Not too close, not too far.
  4. Clean barcodes: Damaged, wrinkled, or very small barcodes may be harder to scan.
  5. Landscape mode: For long 1D barcodes, try rotating your phone to landscape orientation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this work on iPhone?

Yes! BarcodeToCSV works on Safari on iPhone and iPad. Simply open the website and allow camera access.

Is my data stored on a server?

No. Everything runs in your browser. Your scanned data is saved in your device's local storage and never sent to any server. Read our privacy policy.

Can I scan without a camera?

Yes! Use the manual entry field below the camera to type or paste barcode values directly.

How many barcodes can I scan?

There's no limit on the number of barcodes you can scan in a session. Your browser's local storage can typically hold thousands of entries.

Ready to start scanning?

Open Barcode Scanner