Barcode scanning is not working
Scan in the food search opens your camera and reads the product barcode (the row of lines with digits underneath) printed on packaged food. It works in any browser that can use a camera. On a device with no camera the scanner goes straight to a field where you type the digits; if you decline camera access, select Enter manually for the same field.
The browser asks for camera permission the first time you select Scan and only then. VegaLoop does not keep the video. The scanner reads the code several times before it accepts it, so hold still for a second; Centre the barcode in the box is its prompt while it looks.
What each message means
| What you see | Why | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Camera unavailable | Camera access was declined or the camera is in use elsewhere. | Select Enter manually, type the digits under the barcode, and select Look up. To use the camera later, allow it for app.vegaloop.com in the browser’s site settings. |
| We couldn’t find that barcode in our database | The product is not in the food database. | Search by name, or Create Custom Food from the label. |
| We read the barcode, but the food lookup didn’t come back | The lookup could not reach the food database. | Check your connection and try again. If every scan fails, check the status page. |
The scanner does not read the code
- Hold the barcode flat, filling about half the frame, in good light.
- Scan the product barcode, not a QR code or a coupon code. Retail barcodes of 8, 12, 13, or 14 digits are what the database knows; the scanner can also read some other barcode types, which then come back as not found.
- If the camera image is black, another tab or app may be using the camera; close it and try again.
The product is wrong or the serving is odd
The database entry is the product as its maker listed it. Change the serving size and quantity on the portion step before logging. If the entry itself is wrong, log a custom food from the label instead and use that from then on.