A Bluetooth scanner is a normal barcode scanner without the cable, but it adds choices a USB scanner never asks about: which Bluetooth profile to use, how to pair, and what happens when you walk out of range. Pick wrong and the scanner connects but nothing shows up in your app.
This guide covers the generic steps. Menu names and setup barcodes differ by brand, so keep your model's manual open. The examples use Zebra's DS2278 reference guide because it is public and explicit about each mode.
HID, SPP and batch: what the modes mean
Bluetooth scanners usually offer two main connection types. In Zebra's guide, HID means the scanner connects to the host and behaves like a keyboard, while SPP means it connects and performs like a serial connection (Zebra DS2278 guide).
| Mode | What the host sees | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| HID (keyboard) | A Bluetooth keyboard; scans arrive as keystrokes | Spreadsheets, web forms, most POS and inventory apps | Layout, Caps Lock and Enter settings apply, as with any keyboard-wedge scanner |
| SPP (serial) | A virtual serial port | Apps or drivers written for the scanner (some brands label this SSI) | Needs software that reads the port; nothing types into a spreadsheet |
| Batch | Nothing until stored scans are sent | Counting where the connection drops | Scans wait in the scanner's memory |
Batch is not a separate connection type. It changes when stored scans are sent.
Start with HID unless your software says otherwise
If your app is a spreadsheet, a browser form or an inventory tool that simply has a scan field, use HID. It needs no driver, and it is the same behavior described in how barcode scanners work.
Choose SPP only when your software's instructions name it. Microsoft says a Bluetooth scanner must be in Serial Port Protocol - Simple Serial Interface (SPP-SSI) mode to work with the Windows barcode scanner APIs (Microsoft Learn). That applies to apps built on those APIs, not to typing into Notepad or Excel. Check your manual for the exact setting: the DS2278 lists "SSI Bluetooth Classic" and "SPP Bluetooth Classic" as separate options.
Pair the scanner, step by step
- Charge it. Then keep it near the host while you pair.
- Set the mode. In the manual, scan the setup barcode for the mode you want. On the DS2278 that is "HID Bluetooth Classic" or "HID Bluetooth Low Energy (Discoverable)" for keyboard use. Switching host types resets the radio, and Zebra says scanning is disabled for several seconds while it restarts.
- Make it discoverable. In the Zebra HID setup you can finish pairing from the host (Peripheral Mode); the Classic variant also supports scanning a pairing barcode that holds the host's address (Central Mode). Other brands may use a "start pairing" barcode instead.
- Pair from the host.
- iPhone: Apple says to put the accessory in discovery mode, open Settings > Bluetooth, and tap its name when it appears (Apple Support). Stay within about 33 feet (10 meters).
- Android: swipe down, touch and hold the Bluetooth icon, tap Pair new device and choose the scanner. If asked for a passcode, Google suggests trying 0000 or 1234 (Google).
- Windows: use Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices > Add Bluetooth or other device, per Microsoft's page above (on Windows 11 the equivalent is generally Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Add device).
- Test in a plain text box. Click into Notepad or a notes app and scan a label. If text appears, the link works.
If the phone or tablet will not list the scanner, check that you scanned the discoverable variant of the mode, then repeat from step 2.
Set the suffix before you build a workflow
Out of the box, many scanners send the scan with no Enter, or with one you do not want. Zebra's guide provides barcodes to add an Enter key or a Tab key after the scanned data. Its stored suffix value is Enter (carriage return/line feed), but scans are sent "as is" by default, so you must scan the Add Enter Key or Tab Key barcode to turn a suffix on. Which to choose is covered in scanner typing wrong characters.
Do this once, scan a few labels, and confirm each scan lands where you expect. Character problems, such as wrong symbols or dropped zeros, are the subject of scanner typing wrong characters.
Phones and tablets: the missing keyboard
A scanner in HID mode is a keyboard, so a phone or tablet treats it like a physical keyboard, and the on-screen keyboard may not appear while it is connected. That is fine for scanning but awkward when you need to type a search or a quantity.
Some scanners include a toggle for this. Zebra's DS2278 has an Apple iOS Virtual Keyboard Toggle that opens and closes the iOS keyboard when you double-press the trigger. Zebra warns that with it enabled, the scanner may be incompatible with non-Apple iOS devices, so leave it off elsewhere. If your model has no toggle, disconnect the scanner to type, or enter values in the app's own fields before scanning.
Batch mode: scanning without a connection
Batch mode helps when you scan away from the host, such as in a far aisle. The scanner stores scans in its own memory and sends them when you tell it to or when the link returns.
Zebra's guide describes several versions. The ones a small business is likely to use:
- Out of Range Batch Mode: the scanner starts storing when it loses its connection and sends when the connection comes back.
- Standard Batch Mode: scanning an "Enter Batch Mode" barcode starts storing, and scanning "Send Batch Data" transmits.
- Persistent Batch Storage: keeps stored scans if the scanner powers down, but is off by default, and Zebra notes frequent use shortens the life of the memory.
Capacity depends on label length. Zebra gives the formula 30,720 bytes divided by the number of characters plus 3. For a 12-digit UPC-A that is 30,720 ÷ 15 = 2,048 scans, and for a 20-character Code 128 label it is 30,720 ÷ 23, about 1,335. Zebra's guide also says the scanner sounds an out-of-memory beep when it can't store another code, and batch mode doesn't apply to SPP Peripheral Mode.
Do not stack settings blindly. Zebra says Out of Range Batch Mode should not be combined with its Auto-Reconnect on Bar Code Data setting, because the scan gets batched and the scanner never reconnects.
When it drops out
Bluetooth scanners usually try to reconnect automatically. On the DS2278, auto-reconnect applies to Bluetooth keyboard emulation and SPP Central, and it tries for 30 seconds by default while the green LED blinks. If it fails on timeout, the scanner beeps and goes to low power, and pulling the trigger restarts the attempt. If the host rejects the connection, the scanner deletes the remote address and you must pair again. Scanning during a reconnect attempt gives an error beep, and the scan is not sent.
If pairing keeps failing, remove ("forget") the scanner on the host, then pair again from step 2.
Bottom line
Use HID for anything that just needs scans typed in, set the Enter or Tab suffix once, and test in a plain text box. Move to SPP only when your software requires it, and add batch mode only where the connection genuinely drops. Once the scanner works, the barcode inventory system plan shows where it fits in a stockroom, and you can print test labels with the barcode generator.
Sources
- Zebra Technologies: DS2278 Digital Scanner Product Reference Guide (accessed )
- Microsoft Learn: Configure a barcode scanner (accessed )
- Apple Support: Connect iPhone to Bluetooth accessories (accessed )
- Google Android Help: Connect Bluetooth devices to your Android device (accessed )