How to Read and Write Barcode on Android in .NET MAUI

Updated:June 22, 2025

.NET MAUI (Multi-platform App UI) is the successor to Xamarin.Forms, enabling developers to build cross-platform applications for Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows using .NET. It streamlines the development process by allowing the creation of native user interfaces that work seamlessly across multiple platforms.

The BarCode.Android package brings barcode support to Android!

How to Read and Write Barcode on Android in .NET MAUI

Download the C# library to read and write barcode on Android
Create a .NET MAUI App project
Edit the XAML file to add an activation button and display output text
Edit the corresponding C# file to handle barcode recognition
Download the sample project for a quick start

IronBarcode Android Package

The BarCode.Android package enables barcode features on Android devices via .NET cross-platform projects. The vanilla BarCode package is not needed.

Install-Package BarCode.Android

Create a .NET MAUI Project

Open Visual Studio and click on "Create a new project". Search for MAUI, select .NET MAUI App and "Next".

Include the BarCode.Android Library

The library can be added in various ways. The easiest is perhaps by using NuGet.

Inside Visual Studio, right-click on "Dependencies" and select "Manage NuGet Packages ...".
Select the "Browse" tab and search for "BarCode.Android".
Select the "BarCode.Android" package and click on "Install".

To prevent issues with other platforms, modify the csproj file to only include the package when targeting the Android platform. In order to do so:

Right-click on the *.csproj file for your project and select "Edit Project File".
Create a new ItemGroup element as such:

<ItemGroup Condition="$(TargetFramework.Contains('android')) == true">
    <PackageReference Include="BarCode.Android" Version="2025.3.4" />
</ItemGroup>

<ItemGroup Condition="$(TargetFramework.Contains('android')) == true">
    <PackageReference Include="BarCode.Android" Version="2025.3.4" />
</ItemGroup>

XML

Move the "BarCode.Android" PackageReference inside the ItemGroup we just created.

The above steps will prevent the "BarCode.Android" package from being used on platforms such as iOS. For that purpose, install BarCode.iOS instead.

Configure the Android Bundle

For Android to work, you need to configure the Android bundle settings. In your ".csproj" file, add the following entry to specify the configuration file for the Android bundle:

<AndroidBundleConfigurationFile>BundleConfig.json</AndroidBundleConfigurationFile>

<AndroidBundleConfigurationFile>BundleConfig.json</AndroidBundleConfigurationFile>

XML

Create a file named "BundleConfig.json" in the root directory of the project. This JSON file contains the required settings for the Android bundle, which are crucial for the library's functionality.

{
    "optimizations": {
        "uncompress_native_libraries": {}
    }
}

This configuration ensures that native libraries are uncompressed, which is a necessary step for the library to function properly in the Android environment.

Design the App Interface

Update the XAML file to allow users to input values for generating barcodes and QR codes. Additionally, add a button to choose a document for barcode reading. Here’s an example:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<ContentPage xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/dotnet/2021/maui"
             xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2009/xaml"
             x:Class="IronBarcodeMauiAndroid.MainPage">

    <VerticalStackLayout Padding="20">
        <HorizontalStackLayout>
            <CheckBox x:Name="generatePdfCheckBox" IsChecked="{Binding IsGeneratePdfChecked}" />
            <Label Text="PDF (unchecked for PNG)" VerticalOptions="Center"/>
        </HorizontalStackLayout>

        <Entry x:Name="barcodeInput" Placeholder="Enter barcode value..." />
        <Button Text="Generate and save barcode" Clicked="WriteBarcode" />

        <Entry x:Name="qrInput" Placeholder="Enter QR code value..." />
        <Button Text="Generate and save QR code" Clicked="WriteQRcode" />

        <Button
            Text="Read Barcode"
            Clicked="ReadBarcode"
            Grid.Row="0"
            HorizontalOptions="Center"
            Margin="20, 20, 20, 10"/>
        <ScrollView
            Grid.Row="1"
            BackgroundColor="LightGray"
            Padding="10"
            Margin="10, 10, 10, 30">
            <Label x:Name="OutputText"/>
        </ScrollView>
    </VerticalStackLayout>

</ContentPage>

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<ContentPage xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/dotnet/2021/maui"
             xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2009/xaml"
             x:Class="IronBarcodeMauiAndroid.MainPage">

    <VerticalStackLayout Padding="20">
        <HorizontalStackLayout>
            <CheckBox x:Name="generatePdfCheckBox" IsChecked="{Binding IsGeneratePdfChecked}" />
            <Label Text="PDF (unchecked for PNG)" VerticalOptions="Center"/>
        </HorizontalStackLayout>

        <Entry x:Name="barcodeInput" Placeholder="Enter barcode value..." />
        <Button Text="Generate and save barcode" Clicked="WriteBarcode" />

        <Entry x:Name="qrInput" Placeholder="Enter QR code value..." />
        <Button Text="Generate and save QR code" Clicked="WriteQRcode" />

        <Button
            Text="Read Barcode"
            Clicked="ReadBarcode"
            Grid.Row="0"
            HorizontalOptions="Center"
            Margin="20, 20, 20, 10"/>
        <ScrollView
            Grid.Row="1"
            BackgroundColor="LightGray"
            Padding="10"
            Margin="10, 10, 10, 30">
            <Label x:Name="OutputText"/>
        </ScrollView>
    </VerticalStackLayout>

</ContentPage>

XML

Read and Write Barcodes

From the MainPage.xaml code above, we can see that the checkbox determines whether the generated barcode and QR code should be in PDF format. Next, we set the license key. Please use either a trial or paid license key for this step.

The code checks and retrieves the value from the barcodeInput variable, then uses the CreateBarcode method to generate the barcode. Finally, it calls the SaveToDownloadsAsync method, which saves the file appropriately for both Android and iOS.

On iOS, a custom file path is required to export the document to the Files application.

using IronBarCode;
using System;
using System.IO;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using Xamarin.Essentials;

namespace IronBarcodeMauiAndroid
{
    public partial class MainPage : ContentPage
    {
        public bool IsGeneratePdfChecked
        {
            get => generatePdfCheckBox.IsChecked;
            set
            {
                generatePdfCheckBox.IsChecked = value;
            }
        }

        public MainPage()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
            // Set the license key for IronBarcode, replace with your actual license key.
            License.LicenseKey = "IRONBARCODE-MYLICENSE-KEY-1EF01";
        }

        private async void WriteBarcode(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            try
            {
                if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(barcodeInput.Text))
                {
                    // Create a barcode from the text input with the EAN13 encoding.
                    var barcode = BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode(barcodeInput.Text, BarcodeEncoding.EAN13);

                    // Determine the file extension and data format based on the checkbox state.
                    string fileExtension = IsGeneratePdfChecked ? "pdf" : "png";
                    string fileName = $"Barcode_{DateTime.Now:yyyyMMddHHmmss}.{fileExtension}";
                    byte[] fileData = IsGeneratePdfChecked ? barcode.ToPdfBinaryData() : barcode.ToPngBinaryData();

                    // Save the generated barcode to the Downloads folder.
                    await SaveToDownloadsAsync(fileData, fileName);

                    await Application.Current.MainPage.DisplayAlert("Saved", "File saved to Downloads folder", "OK");
                }
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                // Handle exceptions and log the error.
                System.Diagnostics.Debug.WriteLine(ex);
            }
        }

        private async void WriteQRcode(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            try
            {
                if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(qrInput.Text))
                {
                    // Create a QR code from the text input.
                    var barcode = QRCodeWriter.CreateQrCode(qrInput.Text);

                    // Determine the file extension and data format based on the checkbox state.
                    string fileExtension = IsGeneratePdfChecked ? "pdf" : "png";
                    string fileName = $"QRcode_{DateTime.Now:yyyyMMddHHmmss}.{fileExtension}";
                    byte[] fileData = IsGeneratePdfChecked ? barcode.ToPdfBinaryData() : barcode.ToPngBinaryData();

                    // Save the generated QR code to the Downloads folder.
                    await SaveToDownloadsAsync(fileData, fileName);

                    await Application.Current.MainPage.DisplayAlert("Saved", "File saved to Downloads folder", "OK");
                }
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                // Handle exceptions and log the error.
                System.Diagnostics.Debug.WriteLine(ex);
            }
        }

        private async void ReadBarcode(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            try
            {
                var options = new PickOptions
                {
                    PickerTitle = "Please select a file"
                };
                var file = await FilePicker.PickAsync(options);

                OutputText.Text = "";

                if (file != null)
                {
                    using var stream = await file.OpenReadAsync();

                    BarcodeResults result;

                    if (file.ContentType.Contains("image"))
                    {
                        // Read barcodes from an image file.
                        result = BarcodeReader.Read(stream);
                    }
                    else
                    {
                        // Read barcodes from a PDF file.
                        result = BarcodeReader.ReadPdf(stream);
                    }

                    string barcodeResult = "";
                    int count = 1;

                    // Retrieve and format the barcode reading results.
                    result.ForEach(x => { barcodeResult += $"Barcode {count}: {x.Value}\n"; count++; });

                    OutputText.Text = barcodeResult;
                }
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                // Handle exceptions and log the error.
                System.Diagnostics.Debug.WriteLine(ex);
            }
        }

        public async Task SaveToDownloadsAsync(byte[] fileData, string fileName)
        {
            var downloadsPath = Android.OS.Environment.GetExternalStoragePublicDirectory(Android.OS.Environment.DirectoryDownloads);
            var filePath = Path.Combine(downloadsPath.AbsolutePath, fileName);

            try
            {
                // Create the directory if it doesn't exist.
                if (!Directory.Exists(downloadsPath.AbsolutePath))
                {
                    Directory.CreateDirectory(downloadsPath.AbsolutePath);
                }

                // Save the file to the Downloads folder.
                await File.WriteAllBytesAsync(filePath, fileData);
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                // Log errors if file saving fails.
                System.Diagnostics.Debug.WriteLine("Error saving file: " + ex.Message);
            }
        }
    }
}

using IronBarCode;
using System;
using System.IO;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using Xamarin.Essentials;

namespace IronBarcodeMauiAndroid
{
    public partial class MainPage : ContentPage
    {
        public bool IsGeneratePdfChecked
        {
            get => generatePdfCheckBox.IsChecked;
            set
            {
                generatePdfCheckBox.IsChecked = value;
            }
        }

        public MainPage()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
            // Set the license key for IronBarcode, replace with your actual license key.
            License.LicenseKey = "IRONBARCODE-MYLICENSE-KEY-1EF01";
        }

        private async void WriteBarcode(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            try
            {
                if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(barcodeInput.Text))
                {
                    // Create a barcode from the text input with the EAN13 encoding.
                    var barcode = BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode(barcodeInput.Text, BarcodeEncoding.EAN13);

                    // Determine the file extension and data format based on the checkbox state.
                    string fileExtension = IsGeneratePdfChecked ? "pdf" : "png";
                    string fileName = $"Barcode_{DateTime.Now:yyyyMMddHHmmss}.{fileExtension}";
                    byte[] fileData = IsGeneratePdfChecked ? barcode.ToPdfBinaryData() : barcode.ToPngBinaryData();

                    // Save the generated barcode to the Downloads folder.
                    await SaveToDownloadsAsync(fileData, fileName);

                    await Application.Current.MainPage.DisplayAlert("Saved", "File saved to Downloads folder", "OK");
                }
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                // Handle exceptions and log the error.
                System.Diagnostics.Debug.WriteLine(ex);
            }
        }

        private async void WriteQRcode(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            try
            {
                if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(qrInput.Text))
                {
                    // Create a QR code from the text input.
                    var barcode = QRCodeWriter.CreateQrCode(qrInput.Text);

                    // Determine the file extension and data format based on the checkbox state.
                    string fileExtension = IsGeneratePdfChecked ? "pdf" : "png";
                    string fileName = $"QRcode_{DateTime.Now:yyyyMMddHHmmss}.{fileExtension}";
                    byte[] fileData = IsGeneratePdfChecked ? barcode.ToPdfBinaryData() : barcode.ToPngBinaryData();

                    // Save the generated QR code to the Downloads folder.
                    await SaveToDownloadsAsync(fileData, fileName);

                    await Application.Current.MainPage.DisplayAlert("Saved", "File saved to Downloads folder", "OK");
                }
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                // Handle exceptions and log the error.
                System.Diagnostics.Debug.WriteLine(ex);
            }
        }

        private async void ReadBarcode(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            try
            {
                var options = new PickOptions
                {
                    PickerTitle = "Please select a file"
                };
                var file = await FilePicker.PickAsync(options);

                OutputText.Text = "";

                if (file != null)
                {
                    using var stream = await file.OpenReadAsync();

                    BarcodeResults result;

                    if (file.ContentType.Contains("image"))
                    {
                        // Read barcodes from an image file.
                        result = BarcodeReader.Read(stream);
                    }
                    else
                    {
                        // Read barcodes from a PDF file.
                        result = BarcodeReader.ReadPdf(stream);
                    }

                    string barcodeResult = "";
                    int count = 1;

                    // Retrieve and format the barcode reading results.
                    result.ForEach(x => { barcodeResult += $"Barcode {count}: {x.Value}\n"; count++; });

                    OutputText.Text = barcodeResult;
                }
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                // Handle exceptions and log the error.
                System.Diagnostics.Debug.WriteLine(ex);
            }
        }

        public async Task SaveToDownloadsAsync(byte[] fileData, string fileName)
        {
            var downloadsPath = Android.OS.Environment.GetExternalStoragePublicDirectory(Android.OS.Environment.DirectoryDownloads);
            var filePath = Path.Combine(downloadsPath.AbsolutePath, fileName);

            try
            {
                // Create the directory if it doesn't exist.
                if (!Directory.Exists(downloadsPath.AbsolutePath))
                {
                    Directory.CreateDirectory(downloadsPath.AbsolutePath);
                }

                // Save the file to the Downloads folder.
                await File.WriteAllBytesAsync(filePath, fileData);
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                // Log errors if file saving fails.
                System.Diagnostics.Debug.WriteLine("Error saving file: " + ex.Message);
            }
        }
    }
}

Imports Microsoft.VisualBasic
Imports IronBarCode
Imports System
Imports System.IO
Imports System.Threading.Tasks
Imports Xamarin.Essentials

Namespace IronBarcodeMauiAndroid
	Partial Public Class MainPage
		Inherits ContentPage

		Public Property IsGeneratePdfChecked() As Boolean
			Get
				Return generatePdfCheckBox.IsChecked
			End Get
			Set(ByVal value As Boolean)
				generatePdfCheckBox.IsChecked = value
			End Set
		End Property

		Public Sub New()
			InitializeComponent()
			' Set the license key for IronBarcode, replace with your actual license key.
			License.LicenseKey = "IRONBARCODE-MYLICENSE-KEY-1EF01"
		End Sub

		Private Async Sub WriteBarcode(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs)
			Try
				If Not String.IsNullOrEmpty(barcodeInput.Text) Then
					' Create a barcode from the text input with the EAN13 encoding.
					Dim barcode = BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode(barcodeInput.Text, BarcodeEncoding.EAN13)

					' Determine the file extension and data format based on the checkbox state.
					Dim fileExtension As String = If(IsGeneratePdfChecked, "pdf", "png")
					Dim fileName As String = $"Barcode_{DateTime.Now:yyyyMMddHHmmss}.{fileExtension}"
					Dim fileData() As Byte = If(IsGeneratePdfChecked, barcode.ToPdfBinaryData(), barcode.ToPngBinaryData())

					' Save the generated barcode to the Downloads folder.
					Await SaveToDownloadsAsync(fileData, fileName)

					Await Application.Current.MainPage.DisplayAlert("Saved", "File saved to Downloads folder", "OK")
				End If
			Catch ex As Exception
				' Handle exceptions and log the error.
				System.Diagnostics.Debug.WriteLine(ex)
			End Try
		End Sub

		Private Async Sub WriteQRcode(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs)
			Try
				If Not String.IsNullOrEmpty(qrInput.Text) Then
					' Create a QR code from the text input.
					Dim barcode = QRCodeWriter.CreateQrCode(qrInput.Text)

					' Determine the file extension and data format based on the checkbox state.
					Dim fileExtension As String = If(IsGeneratePdfChecked, "pdf", "png")
					Dim fileName As String = $"QRcode_{DateTime.Now:yyyyMMddHHmmss}.{fileExtension}"
					Dim fileData() As Byte = If(IsGeneratePdfChecked, barcode.ToPdfBinaryData(), barcode.ToPngBinaryData())

					' Save the generated QR code to the Downloads folder.
					Await SaveToDownloadsAsync(fileData, fileName)

					Await Application.Current.MainPage.DisplayAlert("Saved", "File saved to Downloads folder", "OK")
				End If
			Catch ex As Exception
				' Handle exceptions and log the error.
				System.Diagnostics.Debug.WriteLine(ex)
			End Try
		End Sub

		Private Async Sub ReadBarcode(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs)
			Try
				Dim options = New PickOptions With {.PickerTitle = "Please select a file"}
				Dim file = Await FilePicker.PickAsync(options)

				OutputText.Text = ""

				If file IsNot Nothing Then
					Dim stream = Await file.OpenReadAsync()

					Dim result As BarcodeResults

					If file.ContentType.Contains("image") Then
						' Read barcodes from an image file.
						result = BarcodeReader.Read(stream)
					Else
						' Read barcodes from a PDF file.
						result = BarcodeReader.ReadPdf(stream)
					End If

					Dim barcodeResult As String = ""
					Dim count As Integer = 1

					' Retrieve and format the barcode reading results.
					result.ForEach(Sub(x)
						barcodeResult &= $"Barcode {count}: {x.Value}" & vbLf
						count += 1
					End Sub)

					OutputText.Text = barcodeResult
				End If
			Catch ex As Exception
				' Handle exceptions and log the error.
				System.Diagnostics.Debug.WriteLine(ex)
			End Try
		End Sub

		Public Async Function SaveToDownloadsAsync(ByVal fileData() As Byte, ByVal fileName As String) As Task
			Dim downloadsPath = Android.OS.Environment.GetExternalStoragePublicDirectory(Android.OS.Environment.DirectoryDownloads)
			Dim filePath = Path.Combine(downloadsPath.AbsolutePath, fileName)

			Try
				' Create the directory if it doesn't exist.
				If Not Directory.Exists(downloadsPath.AbsolutePath) Then
					Directory.CreateDirectory(downloadsPath.AbsolutePath)
				End If

				' Save the file to the Downloads folder.
				Await File.WriteAllBytesAsync(filePath, fileData)
			Catch ex As Exception
				' Log errors if file saving fails.
				System.Diagnostics.Debug.WriteLine("Error saving file: " & ex.Message)
			End Try
		End Function
	End Class
End Namespace

$vbLabelText $csharpLabel

Run the Project

This will show you how to run the project and use the barcode feature.

Download .NET MAUI App Project

You can download the complete code for this guide. It comes as a zipped file that you can open in Visual Studio as a .NET MAUI App project.

Click here to download the project.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I create and scan barcodes in a .NET MAUI app for Android?

You can use the BarCode.Android package within a .NET MAUI project to create and scan barcodes on Android devices. This involves setting up the package through NuGet in Visual Studio and implementing barcode functionalities using provided methods such as WriteBarcode and ReadBarcode.

What steps are necessary to set up barcode functionality for Android in a .NET MAUI project?

To set up barcode functionality in a .NET MAUI project, install the BarCode.Android package using NuGet, configure your .csproj file to conditionally include the package for Android, and ensure your Android bundle is configured via a BundleConfig.json file.

How do I configure the .csproj file to include barcode functionality only for Android?

Edit the .csproj file by adding anwith a condition targeting Android. Include the BarCode.Android package within this group to ensure that barcode functionality is only added for Android builds.

What is the purpose of using a BundleConfig.json file in Android projects?

The BundleConfig.json file is used to configure the Android bundle settings, ensuring that native libraries are uncompressed. This is essential for the barcode library to function correctly on Android devices.

How can I design an interface for barcode operations in a .NET MAUI app?

Design the app interface using XAML to allow users to input data for generating barcodes and QR codes. Include buttons for selecting documents to read barcodes from and for generating, saving, and scanning barcodes.

What methods are used in C# to generate and read barcodes in an app?

In a .NET MAUI app, use methods like WriteBarcode, WriteQRcode, and ReadBarcode to generate barcodes, create QR codes, and read barcodes from files, respectively.

How can I test the barcode features in my .NET MAUI app?

After setting up your project with the necessary configurations and barcode code implementations, you can test the features by running the project on an Android device or emulator through Visual Studio.

Where can I find a complete .NET MAUI App project with barcode functionalities?

A complete .NET MAUI App project with barcode functionalities can be downloaded in a zipped format from the IronBarcode website. This project can be opened in Visual Studio for further exploration and customization.

Is a license required to use the barcode library in my Android project?

Yes, using the barcode library in your project requires a trial or paid license key. You need to input this key in the MainPage constructor to activate the library's features.

Chaknith Bin

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Software Engineer

Chaknith works on IronXL and IronBarcode. He has deep expertise in C# and .NET, helping improve the software and support customers. His insights from user interactions contribute to better products, documentation, and overall experience.

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On This Page

How to Read and Write Barcode on Android in .NET MAUI

How to Read and Write Barcode on Android in .NET MAUI

IronBarcode Android Package

Create a .NET MAUI Project

Include the BarCode.Android Library

Configure the Android Bundle

Design the App Interface

Read and Write Barcodes

Run the Project

Download .NET MAUI App Project

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I create and scan barcodes in a .NET MAUI app for Android?

What steps are necessary to set up barcode functionality for Android in a .NET MAUI project?

How do I configure the .csproj file to include barcode functionality only for Android?

What is the purpose of using a BundleConfig.json file in Android projects?

How can I design an interface for barcode operations in a .NET MAUI app?

What methods are used in C# to generate and read barcodes in an app?

How can I test the barcode features in my .NET MAUI app?

Where can I find a complete .NET MAUI App project with barcode functionalities?

Is a license required to use the barcode library in my Android project?

Ready to Get Started?

Start Free 30 Day Trial

On This Page

How to Read and Write Barcode on Android in .NET MAUI

How to Read and Write Barcode on Android in .NET MAUI

IronBarcode Android Package

Install with NuGet

Create a .NET MAUI Project

Include the BarCode.Android Library

Configure the Android Bundle

Design the App Interface

Read and Write Barcodes

Run the Project

Download .NET MAUI App Project

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I create and scan barcodes in a .NET MAUI app for Android?

What steps are necessary to set up barcode functionality for Android in a .NET MAUI project?

How do I configure the .csproj file to include barcode functionality only for Android?

What is the purpose of using a BundleConfig.json file in Android projects?

How can I design an interface for barcode operations in a .NET MAUI app?

What methods are used in C# to generate and read barcodes in an app?

How can I test the barcode features in my .NET MAUI app?

Where can I find a complete .NET MAUI App project with barcode functionalities?

Is a license required to use the barcode library in my Android project?

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