# Scanners

Section: Guest Management · Page: https://artsvp.com/docs/guest-management/scanners

(Plans: Pro & Expert)

Scanning checks guests in by the QR code on their ticket, faster and surer than
hunting for names while a queue builds. For most events, the **Scanner** tab
inside [Check-in Mode](https://artsvp.com/docs/guest-management/check-in) is all you need;
dedicated scanners add structure for larger operations with several doors or
hired staff. Either way, turn on the event's **Issue Scannable Tickets** setting
first (see [Booking settings](https://artsvp.com/docs/events/booking-settings)) so every guest
holds a QR code. Codes from a [barcode pool](https://artsvp.com/docs/settings/barcodes) scan
the same way as ARTSVP codes.

## Scanning from Check-in Mode

Open **Check-in** from **All Guests** or an event's **Guestlist**. At the bottom
of the screen, switch from **Guest list** to **Scanner** and point the camera at
tickets. Valid tickets check in instantly, and refused scans tell the operator
why (see [What a scanner lets through](#what-a-scanner-lets-through)). Switch
back to **Guest list** when a QR code is unavailable or damaged, and check in by
name.

## Dedicated scanners

A scanner is a named door: create one per entrance or per steward, and choose
the events it may admit, it recognises tickets only for those events. Each
scanner has its own link to open on the device, needs no team sign-in, and
records which scanner admitted each guest, so you can see afterwards what each
door handled.

Create one from **Scanners** in the sidebar. Click **New Scanner**, give it a
**Scanner Name** (*"Main Entrance"*), and under **What it scans** choose
**Everything in** *this space* (every current and upcoming event) or
**Specific events**, then pick events or collections. **Create Scanner** saves
it. Click the scanner to open its panel: **Launch scanner** opens the camera,
**Copy link** shares it with the door team, and **Check in manually** opens
Check-in Mode scoped to that scanner's events, **Walk In** can only add guests
to those events too.

One thing to be aware of: both choices take a snapshot. Assigning a collection
copies its current events to the scanner, and **Everything in** *this space*
copies the space's current and upcoming events. Events created later must be
added to the scanner separately.

> **Tip:** One scanner per door, named for the door (*"Main entrance"*,
> *"VIP side door"*), makes the attendance record self-explanatory afterwards.

## What a scanner lets through

Every scan, from a dedicated scanner or the **Scanner** tab in Check-in Mode,
is judged on three things: which event the ticket is for, whether its booking
is confirmed, and whether its entry type allows another entry.

| Check | Granted when | Refused as |
|---|---|---|
| **Event** | The ticket is for one of the scanner's events. | **Invalid QR Code**: a scanner does not recognise tickets for events outside its list. |
| **Booking** | The booking is confirmed. | **Booking Cancelled** for a cancelled booking. Pending and waitlisted bookings are refused too. |
| **Entry type** | The ticket is **Single Entry** and has not checked in yet, or it is **Multiple Entry**. | **Already Entered**, when a **Single Entry** ticket has already checked in. |

Entry type is set on each ticket under **Entry Type** (see
[Tickets and pricing](https://artsvp.com/docs/events/tickets-and-pricing)); a booking without a
ticket, such as a simple RSVP, counts as **Single Entry**. A **Multiple Entry**
ticket, a fair pass for instance, scans again on every re-entry. A granted
result names the guest and the event, with a **single entry** or **multi
entry** chip so the door can see what the guest holds.

### Timed tickets and the clock

A scanner never looks at the time. It does not compare a ticket's date or time
slot with the moment it is scanned, so a guest booked for the 3pm slot is
admitted at 11am, and a Tuesday ticket scans on Monday, as long as the scanner
covers that event. Every venue treats early and late arrivals differently
(some wave them through, others hold guests to their slot), so the decision
stays with your door team.

When timing matters, two approaches work:

- **Separate events.** Run each day or session as its own event and give each
  door a scanner for only the events it should admit. A ticket for any other
  event is refused as **Invalid QR Code**. Edit the scanner's events as the
  days move on.
- **Check the ticket.** Within one event, a scanner admits every slot alike.
  The ticket itself shows its **Date & Time**, so the door team can check it
  before scanning.

## Scan settings

Open a scanner and use **Scan settings**. They live on the scanner, so every
device using its link behaves alike.

| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| **After each scan** | **Go to the next scan** resumes on its own; **Pause on denied scans** waits for a tap only when a ticket is refused; **Pause on every scan** waits after every result. |
| **Pause before next scan** | How long the result stays on screen before the next ticket, from 1 to 5 seconds. |
| **Sound effects** | A granted or denied tone with each scan, so the operator can keep their eyes on the queue. |

## Auto-generated scanners

Opening the **Scanner** tab from a check-in door creates a scanner for that
event, or for the whole space, from **All Guests**. These appear under
**Auto-generated scanners**. They follow their door and cannot be edited. If
you delete one, the door creates a fresh scanner the next time someone opens
its **Scanner** tab.

## Deleting a scanner

**Delete scanner** stops its scan link immediately on every device that has it
open, and its history leaves your scan downloads, use **Email me the scan
history** first if you need the record. Check-ins it already recorded stay on
the guest list.

From **Scanners**, **Download scans** emails a CSV of every scan across your
organisation's scanners.

## Dedicated scanning devices (Plans: Expert)

For high-volume doors, organisation admins can **Enable codeREADr** on the
**Scanners** page. The codeREADr mobile app runs on dedicated devices, syncs
your scanners automatically, and keeps scanning offline. You need at least one
scanner set up first, without one, signing in to the app fails. Open
**Setup guide** on that page for the device steps.

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Keep reading: [Check-in](https://artsvp.com/docs/guest-management/check-in) ·
[Tickets and pricing](https://artsvp.com/docs/events/tickets-and-pricing) ·
[ONE Pass](https://artsvp.com/docs/guest-management/onepass)

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