Barcode Repair Tool

Mark unknown digits with ? or * — we brute-force valid GTIN check digits.

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Barcode Repair Tool

A pallet label gets scuffed in transit, a handheld scanner returns `59012341234?`, or a photo of a barcode has two unreadable digits — you know most of the GTIN but not all of it. This repair tool marks unknown positions with `?` or `*` and finds every GTIN that satisfies the GS1 check digit rule, so you can match the correct product in your catalog.

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How barcode repair with wildcards works

Replace each unknown digit with `?` or `*`. The tool generates every digit combination for those positions (0–9 per wildcard), computes the GS1 check digit for each candidate, and returns only codes where the check digit matches — eliminating most false positives.

For a single unknown digit there are at most 10 candidates; for two unknowns, 100. Keep wildcards focused on smudged positions rather than replacing entire codes, or results may be too broad for manual review.

Real-world scenarios for GTIN repair

Retail receiving: a carton barcode is partially torn — you can read 10 of 13 digits and need the rest before accepting the shipment. Quality control: compare a physical sample against your golden GTIN list when the laser etching is faded. Data cleanup: legacy CSV exports replaced damaged digits with spaces or question marks.

This is not OCR — you must know which positions are unknown. Pair it with Barcode Identifier once you have a complete candidate to confirm the symbology and format.

Examples

One smudged digit on an EAN-13

Scanned code (last digit unreadable)

59012341234?

Valid repair

5901234123457  (check digit 7 confirms this body)
Two unknown digits in the middle

Partial read from damaged label

5901234??345

Candidate matches

List of all GTIN-13 bodies + check digits matching the pattern

About Barcode Repair Tool

Barcode Repair recovers valid GTINs when one or more digits are missing or unreadable. Mark unknown positions with `?` or `*` and the tool brute-forces digit combinations that pass GS1 modulo-10 validation.

Useful for warehouse receiving, label QC, and cleaning damaged scans before importing into inventory systems. All processing is client-side.

How to use Barcode Repair Tool

  1. Paste the partial GTIN, replacing unreadable digits with `?` or `*`.
  2. Click Repair to generate valid check-digit matches.
  3. Review the candidate list — narrow wildcards if too many results appear.
  4. Copy the correct GTIN and validate it in Barcode Calculator if needed.

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Frequently asked questions

What wildcards are supported?
Use `?` or `*` for each unknown digit. Every other character must be a numeric digit.
How many unknown digits can I repair?
Technically many, but each wildcard multiplies candidates by 10. One or two unknown digits is practical; four or more may produce thousands of matches.
Does repair guarantee the correct product?
It guarantees GS1 check-digit validity, not business identity. Cross-check candidates against your product master or use Barcode Identifier for format hints.
Is data sent to a server?
No. Brute-force and validation run entirely in your browser.
Can I repair UPC and EAN codes?
Yes. Provide the expected digit length (12 for UPC-A, 13 for EAN-13, etc.) via the number of digits including wildcards.