Kiosk
What does the invalid code scanned alert mean?
Learn what causes the invalid code scanned alert on the kiosk and how to resolve it.
📋 Overview
When a customer or staff member scans an item and the kiosk cannot process it, the screen displays the "Invalid Code Scanned" message. This does not indicate a hardware problem with the scanner — it means the scanned code either isn't recognized as a valid barcode format or isn't linked to an item in the kiosk's menu.
🔍 Common Causes
Cause 1. A QR code was scanned instead of a barcode
The kiosk's barcode scanner is designed to read standard retail barcodes (UPC, EAN, etc.). If a QR code on the product packaging is accidentally scanned, the kiosk will display the invalid code alert.
Resolution: Ask the customer to locate the product's barcode (usually a black-and-white striped code on the bottom or back of the item) and scan that instead.
Cause 2. The item is not in the menu or has no SKU assigned
If the scanned barcode is valid but the item hasn't been added to the kiosk's menu — or the barcode hasn't been linked to an existing menu item — the kiosk won't recognize it.
Resolution: Add the item to the menu with its barcode. For step-by-step instructions, see:
If you're seeing this alert for items that are in the menu, the barcode may have been entered incorrectly during setup. Double-check the SKU/barcode value on the item in Mashgin Cloud or Manage Mode.
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Need help? Contact support at 📧 help@mashgin.com or call (855) 475-0889