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Using the barcode field in Airtable

  • Updated on Jun 25, 2026
  • Published on Jun 30, 2022
  • 2 minute(s) read
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Plan availability

All plan types/levels  

Platform(s)

iOS and Android apps 

Related reading

Supported field types in Airtable overview 

Creating a barcode field

The barcode field type allows you to use the camera on your iOS or Android device to scan barcodes and QR codes.

To create a barcode field

  1. Open your Airtable mobile app.

  2. Open or create a base.

  3. Tap a non-primary field and select Customize field. 

  4. Tap the down-arrow under FIELD TYPE. 

  5. Select Barcode and then tap Save.

Using the barcode field

Note

If this is your first time using your mobile device's camera to scan a barcode, then you will need to allow the Airtable mobile app access to your phone's camera. 

To scan a barcode

  1. Open your Airtable mobile app.

  2. Open or create a base.

  3. Select your preferred record in the barcode field.

  4. Move around your device to center the barcode within the green guide marks. When the scanner detects a barcode, it automatically fills in the field.

    1. Alternatively, you can enter the barcode manually using your keyboard. Tap the keyboard icon from the scanner menu to bring up the keyboard.

Supported barcode types

Barcode types supported in Airtable

  • UPCE

  • Code39

  • EAN13

  • EAN8

  • Code93

  • Code128

  • PDF417 (Macro)

  • PDF417

  • QR (numeric, alphanumeric, byte/binary, Kanji)

  • Aztec

  • Code39Mod43

  • Interleaved2of5

  • ITF14

  • DataMatrix

  • Semacode

  • UPC-A 1D

Searching by barcode

To search by barcode

  1. Tap the search icon from within your base.

  2. Tap the barcode scanning icon.

    1. After scanning the barcode, the search function will open the associated record.

FAQs

Can I scan barcodes into the web/browser version of Airtable?

No. Although you can't scan barcodes directly into the web app, any barcodes scanned through the mobile version will appear in the web version of Airtable and can be altered manually.

Do barcode fields and interfaces work when using Airtable forms?

No. Barcode fields aren’t supported when using Airtable forms. Barcode fields and interface only work on mobile browsers, which don't support the barcode field type.

In the meantime, consider using a newer table layout, like a list, and then have users add records via a record detail form. Because users can access the list through the Airtable mobile app, they should be able to use the barcode field as designed.

Can Airtable generate barcodes or QR codes from my data?

No. Airtable's Barcode field is scan-only and uses your mobile device's camera to read a barcode or QR code and store its value in a record. It does not generate a printable barcode or QR code image from data already in your table. To create barcode/QR images from your records, use one of these approaches:

  • A marketplace extension that generates barcodes/QR codes from a field and saves them as image attachments (several support formats like Code 128, EAN-13, UPC, and QR; some require a subscription).

  • A button field that calls a third-party QR/barcode generator and saves the resulting image into an attachment field — useful if you then place it into a PDF or label.

  • A document/label tool that renders barcodes from Airtable fields at PDF-generation time.