Scanning on site with Showpass
Get guests through the gate faster from any iOS or Android phone, with presets, search, and live stats built in.
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How scanning works
The Showpass mobile app turns any iOS or Android phone into a ticket scanner. Staff download the app, log in with an organizer account, select the event and ticket types they're scanning, and point the camera at each guest's ticket. The screen confirms each scan with a colour-coded result.
- Green screen: Valid ticket, checked in. Shows the ticket holder name, ticket type, and seat (if assigned).
- Red or pink screen: Already scanned. Shows when and where the ticket was originally checked in.
- Yellow warning: No matching ticket found. Verify the barcode or search manually.
- Manual search: Tap the search icon to look up by name, email, or barcode if the QR code won't scan.
Features you can use
Check-in presets
Save a specific event + ticket-type combination as a named preset (for example "VIP Gate" or "April 5th Admission") so your staff can start scanning faster without re-selecting everything. Presets created on mobile also show up on the Dashboard for desktop check-in.
Live scan statistics
Tap the Stats tab during scanning to see real-time check-in progress: total checked in (as a count and percentage), broken down by event occurrence. Useful for spotting slow gates and rebalancing staff.
Offline scanning
The app supports offline scanning when Wi-Fi or cellular data is unavailable. Download the ticket list before going offline (this happens automatically when you start a scanning session while connected). Use offline mode as a backup, not a primary method, since tickets scanned offline on one device won't reflect on other devices until they sync.
Multi-device scanning
Run multiple devices scanning simultaneously at the same event. Each scan syncs centrally so you don't double-check anyone in. For high-volume events, assign specific ticket types to specific gates to distribute the crowd.
Dashboard check-in
Need to check someone in from a desktop browser? The Showpass Dashboard also supports scanning. Useful as a backup or for staff who aren't on a phone. Presets created on mobile are accessible from the Dashboard too.
Devices and hardware
- Phone (primary): Any iPhone (iOS 12.0 or later) or Android phone (Android 6.0 or later). The phone's camera is the scanner.
- Handheld scanner (optional): A Bluetooth-paired handheld scanner connected to the phone, for fast tactile scanning at high-volume gates.
No special tablet, kiosk install, or dedicated scanning hardware is required. The Showpass mobile app handles it.
The full guide
Mobile App Organizer Guide
Complete walkthrough: downloading the app, logging in, choosing your event and ticket types, scanning, presets, searching for a customer, scan history and statistics, and offline mode. Also covers selling on a phone (Mobile POS) for staff who do both.
Related reading
Selling On-Site with Showpass
If your team needs to both sell and scan on-site, start here for the full Selling On-Site library.
Tips for ingress day
- Make sure every device has the latest version of the Showpass app installed.
- Open a scanning session for the right event and ticket types while connected, so the ticket list downloads for offline backup.
- Pre-create check-in presets for each gate or entry point.
- Charge devices in advance and turn screen brightness up so scans land cleanly.
- Monitor the Stats tab during peak ingress to identify bottlenecks.
Need help?
If you run into trouble with scanning on event day, contact your Showpass representative. They can help with feature flags, account access, and last-minute setup.