How Do I Register a Barcode?

This question often comes in the form of:

  • “How do I get my info to appear when the barcode is scanned?”

  • “Why doesn’t my product show up on Google when I search the barcode?”

Let’s start by clearing up two major misconceptions:

Myth #1:

“The bars in a UPC or EAN code contain my product data — like the name and price.”

❌ False. UPCs and EANs are just simple numbers — they don’t store any product information themselves.
Think of a barcode like a phone number: it’s a unique ID that links your product to information stored elsewhere, such as a store’s inventory system.

Myth #2:

“Barcodes and their product data get uploaded to a global database that all stores access.”

❌ False.
There is no universal or global barcode database that stores pull product info from. Every retailer has their own private Point-of-Sale (POS) system.
When you scan a product and see a name or price, that’s because a store employee manually entered that data into their internal system — not because it came from the barcode itself.

So, How Do You Actually “Register” a Barcode?

✅ Step 1: Assign Your Barcodes Internally

Match each barcode number to a specific product in your own system.
This is your responsibility — keep good records using a spreadsheet or inventory software. We recommend backing up your data.

✅ Step 2: Provide Your Product Info to Each Store

When selling through a retailer or distributor, you must submit your product data (with the matching barcode) to their POS system.
This is how the barcode becomes “recognized” in that specific store.

✅ Step 3: Repeat for Each New Sales Channel

Every time you sell through a new store, venue, website, or distributor, you’ll need to repeat the process.
There’s no shared database between retailers — each one must manually receive your product info.

? Want Your Barcode to Be Publicly Searchable?

BarCodesTalk hosts the largest public database of owned barcodes, which you can view here:
? www.barcodestalk.com/gepir

If you purchased your barcode(s) from us, this listing is automatically created and updated — allowing others to verify the identity and ownership of your GTIN.

If you need help assigning your barcodes or explaining this process to a retailer, feel free to reach out. We're happy to assist!