Barcode Scanner Not Working On Workshop Pc

Summary

This guide helps you troubleshoot and resolve: Barcode Scanner Not Working On Workshop Pc. Follow the steps below to fix the issue.

Common Causes

Barcode scanners are essential for inventory management and production tracking on the shop floor. When a scanner stops communicating with your production software, it can halt receiving, picking, and labelling workflows. This guide walks you through diagnosing and resolving connectivity issues between USB barcode scanners and workshop workstations.

Quick Fix Steps

1. Unplug the barcode scanner from the workshop PC and plug it back in.
2. Restart the production software on the affected workstation.
3. Restart the industrial PC if the scanner is still not recognised.
4. Test the scanner in a text editor such as Notepad to confirm it is outputting data.

Detailed Instructions

Check Physical Connections

1. Inspect the USB cable for damage, especially near the connector where workshop dust and vibration can cause wear.
2. Disconnect the scanner and reconnect it to a different USB port on the back of the PC, avoiding front-panel ports where possible.
3. If you are using a powered USB hub, bypass it and connect the scanner directly to the workstation.
4. Ensure the scanner cable is routed away from heavy machinery, welders, or other sources of electromagnetic interference.

In dusty workshop environments, inspect USB ports for debris. Use compressed air to clean the port before reconnecting the scanner.

Verify Scanner Recognition in Windows

1. Press Windows key + X and select Device Manager.
2. Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers and look for your barcode scanner or a generic USB input device.
3. If you see a yellow warning triangle, right-click the device and select Update driver, then choose Search automatically for drivers.
4. If the device does not appear at all, try the scanner on a different PC to determine whether the issue is the scanner or the workstation.

Test Scanner Output

1. Open Notepad or another plain text editor.
2. Place the cursor in the document and scan a barcode label.
3. If the barcode data appears and is followed by a carriage return, the scanner is functioning and the issue lies within your production software configuration.
4. If no data appears, the scanner may not be configured for the correct keyboard interface mode. Refer to the scanner manufacturer’s manual to reset to factory defaults.

Check Production Software Configuration

1. Open your production or inventory application on the shop floor workstation.
2. Navigate to the hardware or peripheral settings menu and confirm the correct input device is selected.
3. Ensure the software is set to listen for keyboard wedge input or the correct COM port if your scanner uses a serial interface.
4. Verify that the workstation has a stable connection to the local server, as offline-first workflows may queue scans until connectivity is restored.

Do not modify machine control computer settings unless you are authorised. Incorrect changes to industrial PCs can disrupt production equipment.

Troubleshooting

Scanner Beeps but No Data Appears

• The scanner may be in a different interface mode. Scan the “USB Keyboard” or “HID Keyboard” barcode from the manufacturer’s setup guide.
• Check whether another application has focus and is receiving the input instead of your production software.
• Confirm the scanner prefix and suffix settings match what your production software expects.

Intermittent Connection Drops

• Replace the USB cable; workshop vibration and movement often cause internal cable breaks.
• Disable USB selective suspend in Windows power settings to prevent the port from powering down.
• Keep scanner cables clear of high-voltage equipment and motor drives on the factory floor.

Scanner Works on One PC but Not Another

• Compare Device Manager entries between the two workstations to identify missing drivers.
• Ensure both PCs are running the same version of the production software.
• Check that the non-working PC has a stable network connection to the local server if the software requires online validation.

Additional Isolation Steps

• Test with a different barcode scanner on the same workstation to determine if the original scanner is faulty.
• Check BIOS/UEFI settings to ensure USB legacy support is enabled.

If you have completed these steps and the barcode scanner is still not working, please Open a Ticket so our team can investigate further.

Still Having Issues?