Set up a Zebra TC26 handheld scanner — our recommended model — so it opens straight into the Traede scanner app and its barcode trigger works with it. Use this for a brand-new device, or a device that's being handed to a different warehouse or reassigned.

If the scanner is already locked into kiosk mode

Skip this if the device is new out of the box or already sitting at the Android home screen. Otherwise, do this first — you'll need it both to factory reset a previously-used device and to open DataWedge later.

1. Tap rapidly 4 times on the screen.
2. In the password popup, enter 0000 and tap OK.
3. Tap Leave Kiosk Browser.

This drops you back to the normal Android home screen or app drawer.

Resetting the scanner

Only needed if the device isn't brand new. If it's still locked into kiosk mode, exit it first as described above.

These steps reference Zebra's TC21 reset guide — the TC26 uses the same reset flow, so it applies directly.

1. Open Settings (the cogwheel icon).
2. Scroll down and tap System.
3. Select Reset options (or Recovery options).
4. Tap Erase all data (factory reset).
5. Confirm both warning prompts by tapping Erase all data.
6. Enter the screen unlock pattern, password, or PIN if you're asked for one.
7. Wait for the device to restart and finish resetting. This takes a few minutes.

Important: A factory reset erases everything on the device. If the device is signed into a Google account, you'll need that account's password to reactivate it — unlink the account beforehand if you don't have it.

Enrolling into kiosk mode

1. On the Android welcome screen, tap 6 times to start QR code setup.
2. Scan the Traede kiosk QR code below.

This locks the device into kiosk mode, meaning it will always open directly into the Traede scanner app. Before it's ready to use, you still need to connect the physical scan trigger to the app — that's what the next section does.

Configuring the barcode scanner (DataWedge)

DataWedge is the Android app that reads barcode scans and passes them to the Traede scanner app. It comes pre-installed but needs its profile configured once per device.

1. Exit kiosk mode (tap 4 times, enter 0000, tap Leave Kiosk Browser — see above).
2. Open DataWedge.
3. Tap Profile0 (default).
4. Update the settings below.
5. On Android 11 and later: long-press the Launcher profile and delete it, so the scanner still works while the kiosk app is running.
6. Reopen Kiosk Browser Lockdown to return the device to kiosk mode.

The scanner is ready once it boots back into the Traede scanner app and a test scan registers in it.

Related articles

• Using the warehouse scanner app — everyday scanning workflows
• Troubleshooting scanner connectivity issues