How do I scan a barcode to quickly add items to inventory?

Updated September 5, 2026

Use Scan & Add to scan a product barcode, automatically look up the product details (title, brand, category), and add it to your inventory in seconds. No manual data entry required.

How It Works

When you scan a barcode, Flippd looks up the product in a database of millions of products. If found, the title, brand, and category are pre-filled for you. You can edit any field before saving, then add the cost and quantity.

Getting Started

Tap the + button in the bottom navigation
Tap Scan & Add Item
Point your camera at the product barcode
The product details load automatically
Review the pre-filled title, category, and add your cost
Tap Add to Inventory

After saving, you can immediately scan another item -- the scanner reopens automatically for fast batch entry.

Where You Can Scan & Add

Scan & Add is available in several places:

Add Menu -- Tap the + button and select Scan & Add Item
Inventory Screen -- When you scan a barcode that doesn't match an existing item, Flippd automatically offers to add it
Bulk Purchases -- Scan items directly into a bulk purchase to track costs together

What Gets Looked Up

When a barcode is found in the product database, Flippd fills in:

Title -- The product name
Brand -- The manufacturer or brand
Category -- Matched to your configured categories (defaults to "Other" if no match)
Product Image -- Downloaded and saved to your item automatically

All fields are editable before you save.

If the Product Isn't Found

If the barcode isn't in the database, you'll see a "not found" message. You can still:

Enter the title, cost, and quantity manually
Tap Scan Another to try a different item
The barcode is still saved to the item for future scanning

If you cancel the not-found sheet from the Inventory screen, the scanned barcode is dropped into the Inventory search bar instead, so you can look for it manually.

Good to Know

Works with standard UPC, EAN, and ISBN barcodes (8-14 digits)
Product lookups are cached -- scanning the same barcode again is instant
New (never-seen) barcode lookups are capped at 100 per day; cached lookups don't count toward the cap
The product image is saved to your account storage, not linked to an external URL
Use the flash toggle in the scanner for low-light conditions
Cost is entered per item, not total cost
Items are created with status "Unlisted" and today's date as the acquisition date