Feature Guide
Barcode Scanner
Point your camera at a product barcode and Macrolog looks it up instantly. Results are cached, so foods you scan often appear in a flash.
How scanning works.
Macrolog reads barcodes live through your camera and matches them against a huge open product database — no typing required.
- Uses your camera to detect barcodes in real time.
- Looks the barcode up in the Open Food Facts database.
- Results are cached — no repeated lookups for the same product.
Scanning tips.
A clean, steady read is everything. If a code won’t catch, these adjustments almost always fix it.
- Hold steady — the scanner needs a sharp, well-lit barcode.
- Move closer or further if it doesn’t detect — 15–25cm is usually ideal.
- If the barcode won’t scan, try “Upload Label” or “Paste Text” instead.
Product not found?
Not every product is in the database yet — but a barcode you add once is yours forever, and instant on every future scan.
- If a barcode isn’t in the database, you’ll be prompted to enter details manually.
- Your entry is saved to My Foods — next time you scan it, it appears instantly.
- Alternatively, scan or photograph the nutrition label directly.