Logging food
How does scanning a food work?
By the Platify team
There are two ways to scan a food, and they turn up in different places. Scan barcode is right there when you add food to a meal, and it looks up a product we already know so you can log it. Scan label appears when a search finds nothing, and it sends us a photo of the nutrition panel so we can add a product we don't have yet. Both are on the free plan.
Scanning a barcode
Add food to a meal and tap Scan barcode in the action row, then hold the product's barcode inside the framing guide. The camera picks it up on its own; there's no shutter button to press.
- If we recognise it, you go straight to choosing how much you had, then log it. It lands in your diary like any other entry.
- If we don't, you'll see a card with two choices: Scan another to try a different product, or Add it to add the product yourself. The barcode you just scanned comes with you, so you don't have to type it in.
Scanning a nutrition label
Search for the food first. If nothing comes back, the no-results screen offers Scan label alongside Enter manually. Tap it, line the nutrition information panel up in the framing guide, and tap the shutter. Check the photo, then tap Use photo to submit it or Retake to try again.
A label scan doesn't log the food by itself. It sends the photo to us so we can read the numbers and add the product. Tap Log it now to search and log the food straight away while the scan is still processing.
What happens after I submit a label scan?
Your scan moves through statuses you can check under My scans: Waiting to upload, Checking your label, Being added, and finally Added, with a Find it link. If the photo couldn't be read, it shows Couldn't read this one so you can retake it or log manually.
What if my camera won't open?
If camera access is off, a card explains it and offers to open Settings, with an option to enter the food manually instead so you're never stuck.
Can I use it while offline?
A label scan is saved on your phone and uploads automatically once you're back online, so nothing is lost. A barcode scan needs a connection to look the product up, so the screen tells you when you're offline rather than leaving you waiting.
Is there a limit?
Yes, there's a daily cap on how many scans one account can send. If you reach it, the screen says so and you can log food manually in the meantime.
Do I need Premium to scan?
No. Both scanning flows are available on the free plan.
Frequently asked
Can I scan a barcode instead of the label?
Yes. Tap Scan barcode in the action row when you add food to a meal. If we recognise the product, you go straight to picking the quantity and logging it. If we don't, you can add it yourself and the barcode comes with you.
What's the difference between scanning a barcode and scanning a label?
A barcode scan looks up a product we already know and logs it right away, and it is in the action row when you add food. A label scan sends us a photo of the nutrition panel so we can add a product we don't have yet; it shows up when a search finds nothing, and it doesn't log the food by itself.
What does 'Couldn't read this one' mean?
The label photo wasn't clear enough for us to read. Retake the photo, or log the food manually instead.