How to Scan Barcodes into an Excel Spreadsheet from Your Phone

Want a barcode scan to Excel spreadsheet without a USB gun? Your phone can send each code straight into the selected cell — over local WiFi, no Excel add-in, and no retyping. Here is the full workflow, including auto Enter for the next row.

How phone-to-Excel scanning works

WiScanner turns your iPhone or Android into a wireless barcode scanner for PC. The phone reads the code; the desktop client types it into Excel (or Google Sheets) wherever the cursor is — the same idea as a keyboard-wedge scanner, but with the phone you already own. For the general setup (pair once, scan into any app), see also how to use your phone as a barcode scanner for PC.

What you'll need

• A Windows PC or Mac with Excel (or Google Sheets, or any spreadsheet).
• An iOS or Android phone with the WiScanner app installed.
• Both devices on the same WiFi network.

How to scan barcodes into Excel (step by step)

1. Install the WiScanner app on your phone from the App Store or Google Play, and install the WiScanner client on your PC or Mac.
2. Connect both devices to the same WiFi. WiScanner works on your local network, so the phone and computer simply need to be on the same router.
3. Pair the phone with the PC – typically by scanning a QR code shown by the desktop client. This links the two in seconds.
4. Open your Excel file and click the cell where you want the first scan to land. Whatever cell your cursor is in is where the data goes.
5. Scan a barcode with your phone. The decoded value appears instantly in the selected cell, exactly as if you had typed it.
6. Enable "auto Enter" so the cursor moves down to the next row after each scan. Now you can scan dozens of items in a row without touching the keyboard.

Barcode scanner Excel auto Enter

People searching for “barcode scanner Excel auto Enter” usually want the cursor to jump after every scan. Turn on auto Enter (or Tab) in WiScanner so each barcode lands in a cell and the selection moves to the next row or column. That is how you build a long list in a spreadsheet without clicking between scans.

Adding quantities alongside each code

Pure barcode lists are useful, but stock counts usually need a quantity too. With quantity scanning you can scan a barcode and then enter how many units there are, so each row ends up with both the code and the count – ideal for inventory and order picking.

Combined with prefix/suffix rules, you can even auto-format each entry: add a fixed prefix to every code, append a tab to jump to the next column, or strip characters you don't need.

iPhone or Android barcode scanner to Excel

The steps are the same on iPhone and Android. Install the mobile app, install the Windows or Mac desktop client, join the same WiFi, pair once, open Excel, click a cell, and scan. No separate “Excel barcode scanner software” install beyond the WiScanner client.

Common questions

Do I need the internet?

No. Everything runs over your local WiFi, so it keeps working even when the internet is down.

Can multiple people scan into the same sheet?

Yes – several phones can connect at once, which is perfect for team inventory counts where everyone contributes to the same file.

What if a barcode is damaged?

You can always type or paste a code manually, and the app accepts manual entries just like scans.

For features, settings and plans on one page, see WiScanner as a barcode scanner for Excel.