# Scan to validate items URL: https://support.starshipit.com/articles/6811966579215-scan-to-validate-items Canonical: https://support.starshipit.com/articles/6811966579215-scan-to-validate-items Markdown: https://support.starshipit.com/articles/6811966579215-scan-to-validate-items.md Updated: 2026-11-03 > For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://support.starshipit.com/llms.txt). > Scan each picked item's barcode or SKU to check the contents of an order before printing its shipping label. Use Packing Validation to check each picked item and quantity before printing the order's shipping label. Scan the item's barcode or SKU to catch packing errors before the order is ready to ship. ## Before you begin Use an account with Packing Validation included in its plan or add-ons, permission to use Packing Validation and permission to modify Orders. Start with an unprinted order. Items need a barcode or SKU for scanning; you can also check them manually and use **Mark as Packed** or adjust the packed quantity. If the shipping label has already been printed, follow [Verify printed orders before dispatch](/articles/1792014664000-verify-printed-orders-before-dispatch) instead. ## Validate an order 1. Go to **Workflows > Packing Validation**. 2. Enter or scan the order number, then click **Search**. The packing validation screen displays the products in the order. ![Packing validation screen](/uploads/articles/getting-started/barcode-scanning/validate-items-using-barcode-scanning/image_6817752030607.png) 3. Scan the barcode or enter the SKU of each picked item. A matching scan increases the packed quantity. If an item does not match, check the error and scan the correct item. 4. Repeat step 3 until every item and quantity for this shipment has been checked. 5. Click **Complete Packing**. 6. If the order details page opens, confirm the package and courier/service selection, then click **Print**. If your completion setting is **Print the label**, the label prints automatically. 1. Open **[Workflows](https://next.starshipit.com/workflows)** and select **Packing Validation**. If **Packing Validation** appears directly in the left navigation, select it there. 2. Select **Include orders from child accounts** if you are working from the parent account and need to search linked accounts. This option requires access to every searchable linked child account; otherwise, switch to the account that holds the order. 3. Enter or scan the order number, then press **Enter** or select **Search**. With child-account search selected, typing does not show suggestions. 4. Open the unprinted order you want to pack. If several results appear, check the order number and **Account** before selecting it. A child-account order opens in its owning account. 5. Scan the barcode or enter the SKU of each picked item. A matching scan increases the packed quantity. If an item does not match, check the error and scan the correct item. 6. For an item without a scannable label, follow [Mark an item as packed with an action barcode](#mark-an-item-as-packed-with-an-action-barcode). Repeat until every item and quantity for this shipment has been checked. 7. Select **Complete Packing**. If your completion setting is **Print the label**, the label prints after packing is saved. 8. If order details opens, confirm the package and courier/service selection, then select **Print**. For a child-account order opened from the parent Packing Validation workflow, completion or **Back** returns to the parent workflow. If your completion setting opens order details before printing, return to the order in its owning account to review and print it. ## Mark an item as packed with an action barcode In UI 2.0, use `act_markaspacked` when you have physically checked an item that has no scannable product label. This action marks **all remaining units on the current line** as packed without matching a product barcode. 1. Check the selected item line and its remaining quantity. The first unpacked line is selected when you open the order. Select an item's name to choose a different line, or scan that product to make it current. 2. Check and pack every remaining unit on that line. 3. Scan a barcode containing `act_markaspacked`, or type `act_markaspacked` into the scan field and press **Enter**. 4. Check that the line is fully packed. The selection moves to the next unpacked line and the scan field is ready for your next scan. If you only packed some of the remaining units, adjust the packed quantity instead of using this action. Completing the last line follows your existing **Auto-complete Packing Validation** setting and can print the label automatically. ## Check the validation result Open the order's **History** to check for the **Packing Validation** entry and the items packed. After you complete packing, items marked with `act_markaspacked` also record the item IDs and quantities validated by skip, so they can be distinguished from barcode matches. After printing, check that the shipping label was created for the intended order. ## Configure Packing Validation In UI 2.0, go to **Settings > [Packing Validation](https://next.starshipit.com/settings/packing-validation)** to choose how orders open and what happens when packing is complete. You need permission to modify Settings to save changes. Configure the account that holds the orders. Searching from a parent account does not replace a child account's packing settings with the parent's. ### Open orders with Packing Validation Control how unshipped orders should open in the orders grid: | Option | Description | |--------|-------------| | **Open the order details page** | Opens the order details page. | | **Open the order in packing validation** | Opens eligible orders in Packing Validation. | ### Complete packing Decide what happens when you select **Complete Packing**: | Option | Description | |--------|-------------| | **Open the order details before printing the label** | Allows you to make any changes to your packaging or carrier selection before printing | | **Print the label** | Prints the label directly once packing has been completed | ### Additional options Enable **Auto-complete packing validation after the last item is scanned** to complete the check when the last required item is packed. The selected completion action still applies. Opening an order with saved packed quantities does not automatically complete packing or print a label. Enable **Block already validated orders** to stop completed orders from entering Packing Validation again. This option is **off by default**. When enabled, it blocks completed printed orders and fully packed unprinted orders, including when opened from order details. Normal order details remain available, and partially packed unprinted orders can continue. An unprinted order that is fully packed and already has tracking cannot be validated again, even with blocking off. Review it from order details instead. Select **Save**, then reopen the settings page to confirm your choices. If you enabled repeat blocking, open an order that has already completed validation: it should show **Order already validated**, with **Open order details** available. ## Recover from a packing or printing error In UI 2.0, a packing or printing error stays on the page with the items, current packed quantities and an **Open order details** button. 1. Read the error, then select **Open order details** to review the affected order in its owning account. 2. Check its status, History, tracking number and saved label before deciding what to repeat. 3. Correct the reported order or printing problem. If a label and tracking number already exist, [reprint the existing label](/articles/360000931116-choose-how-to-print-shipping-labels) after fixing the printer or output route. If packing saved successfully before printing failed, the order remains packed and **Complete Packing** is disabled on the retained validation page. Continue recovery from order details. If the packing save itself failed, correct that error and retry packing. ## Troubleshooting ### The order is not found Check the order number and confirm that you are searching in the account that owns the order. Check its status in **Orders**: this procedure starts with an unprinted order. ### The label does not print after packing Check your **Complete packing** setting. If it is **Open the order details before printing the label**, review and print from order details. Child-account validation started from the parent returns to the parent workflow, so reopen the order in its owning account when the label still needs printing. If an error is shown, follow the recovery steps above. Check whether a shipment already exists before creating another label. ### The order is already validated or unavailable Select **Open order details** to review the order. If **Block already validated orders** is enabled in its owning account, opening it from order details does not bypass that restriction. Shipped, archived and manifested orders are also outside this workflow. ## FAQs Can I use Packing Validation if my products do not have barcodes? Yes. You can adjust the packed quantity manually or use **Mark as Packed**. You can also add barcodes to the Starshipit product catalogue for easier scanning. See [Add and manage products in the Product Catalogue](/articles/1781620000001-add-and-manage-products-in-the-product-catalogue). How do I know when the wrong item has been scanned? Starshipit shows an error and plays an audio notification when the scanned barcode does not match an item in the order. Check the product and scan the correct item before continuing. Can I access Packing Validation from the Orders Grid? Yes. Right-click an unshipped order in the **Orders Grid** and select **Open with Packing Validation**. To use this as the default for unshipped orders, go to **Settings > [Packing Validation](https://next.starshipit.com/settings/packing-validation)**. Select **Open the order in packing validation**, then select **Save**. ## Related articles - [Choose a web-app picking and packing workflow](/articles/90200000000516-choose-a-web-app-picking-and-packing-workflow) - [Verify printed orders before dispatch](/articles/1792014664000-verify-printed-orders-before-dispatch) - [Set up warehouse packing stations](/articles/8439609255183-set-up-warehouse-packing-stations)