Android–Bluetooth Barcode Scanners & The Soft Keyboard

Bluetooth barcode scanners are a great alternative to barcode apps that use the camera. The only downside is that because they work as bluetooth keyboards they can stop the soft keyboard from appearing. This means you have to turn the scanner off if you want to type anything in. Here’s a way to get the scanner and the soft keyboard working together…

1. Pair the scanner and to the device.
2. Go to Settings.
3. Go to Language & Input.
4. Under ‘Keyboard & Input Methods’ click on ‘Default’.
5. Turn ‘Hardware/Physical Keyboard’ Off.

Now the scanner and the soft keyboard will work together. The downside to this method is that you have to do it each item the scanner is paired with the device. I’m investigating solutions to that so watch this space…