QR codes & barcodes

Keyguard can turn a value into a scannable code so another device can read it off your screen, and — on mobile — read a code back in from the camera or an image. This is what powers conveniences like scanning a TOTP key, sharing WiFi credentials or bringing your discount codes to a shop.

Show a value as a code

Pick Show in barcode on a field or value to render it as an image you can hold up to another device. By default the value is encoded as a QR code.

A format picker on the screen lets you switch the encoding between:

• QR Code (default) — 2D, the most widely scannable;
• Code 128 — 1D;
• Code 93 — 1D;
• Code 39 — 1D;
• PDF417 — stacked 2D, used on IDs and boarding passes.

The format you choose is remembered for next time per value. While the code is on screen, Keyguard keeps the display awake so it doesn’t dim or lock mid-scan.

Anything longer than about 1024 characters can’t be rendered, so the Show in barcode option simply won’t appear for oversized fields.