Your MDT may fail to scan IDs even when the red scanning light turns on. This usually happens when the 2D Barcode Emulator is turned off or missing.
Who This Article Is For
Employees using County Mobile Data Terminals (MDTs) who cannot scan ID cards.
Symptoms
- The red scanning light turns on
- The ID does not scan
- No data appears in the application
Cause
The 2D Barcode Emulator is turned off or missing.
How to Fix It
- Open the system tray in the bottom-right corner of the MDT.
- Click the 2D Barcode Emulator icon (two small gray boxes).
- Select Connection to Barcode (Always On) — this is the top option.
- One of the boxes will turn blue, indicating it is active.
- Try scanning the ID again.
If the 2D Barcode Emulator Is Missing
If you do not see the 2D Barcode Emulator icon in the system tray:
- Open this link on the MDT:
https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9NDRMXN3N4J1?hl=en-us&gl=US&ocid=pdpshare
- Click Get. The software will install automatically.
- After installation, look in the system tray and enable Connection to Barcode (Always On) using the steps above.
Need Help?
If the scanner still does not work, contact the IT Service Desk at 770.822.8915.
Tech Note
Some older or partially removed versions of the 2D Barcode Emulator may interfere with the current Microsoft Store version. If issues continue after installation, the Service Desk may need to uninstall the previous version before installing the updated software.