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How to insert a barcode easily in Word?

Author Amanda Li Last modified

Barcodes are a convenient way to encode information for scanning and tracking, commonly used in tasks like inventory management or product labeling. This tutorial explores methods to insert barcodes into a Word document or generate standalone barcodes, offering flexibility for various needs.

Insert a barcode with a Developer tool
Quickly insert a barcode with Kutools for Word
Convert data into barcode with an online service

Insert a barcode using the Developer tool

With the Eastern language package installed for Office (such as Chinese, Japanese, or Korean), you can use the Microsoft Barcode Control on the Developer tab to insert a barcode. While this method is somewhat complex, it allows you to create barcodes in Word. Below is a step-by-step guide to insert a barcode and update it with your own data.

Step 1: Add the Developer tab to your Word Ribbon (skip if already added)
  1. Click File > Options to open the Word Options window.
  2. In the Word Options window:
    1. Click Customize Ribbon in the left pane.
    2. Check the Developer box in the Customize the Ribbon section.
    3. Click the OK button.
      Word Options window with Customize Ribbon selected, Developer box checked, and OK button highlighted
Step 2: Insert a barcode using the Microsoft Barcode Control
  1. Go to the Developer tab, then click Legacy Tools > More Controls.
    Developer tab with Legacy Tools selected and More Controls option highlighted
  2. In the pop-up More Controls dialog:
    1. Select Microsoft Barcode Control 16.0 (this version may vary depending on your system).
    2. Click the OK button.
      More Controls dialog with the Microsoft Barcode Control 16.0 option highlighted

A sample barcode will be inserted into your Word document.

A sample barcode is inserted
Step 3: Update the sample barcode with your own data
  1. Right-click on the inserted barcode and select Properties from the context menu.
    Properties option on barcode context menu
  2. In the Properties dialog:
    1. Click the Property Pages button button in the (Custom) box.
    2. In the Property Pages dialog that appears, choose a desired style for your barcode, and click OK.
    3. In the Value field, input your desired information (e.g., a product code or custom text), and press Enter. The barcode will update immediately to display your data.
      Tip: Ensure that the text you input follows the barcode format of the selected style to ensure proper encoding.
    4. Adjust other settings, such as width, as needed.
    5. Close the window.
      Properties dialog
Result

The barcode now displays your own data.

Created barcode in Word

Insert a barcode with Kutools for Word

Need a simple way to insert barcodes in your Word document? Kutools for Word makes it easy to generate barcodes, whether they use specific numbers, text, or URLs (when using supported types like Code 128).

Kutools for Word, equipped with AI 🤖, offers over 100 handy features to simplify your tasks.
  1. Place the cursor where you want to insert the barcode, then go to Kutools > Barcode > Barcode. See screenshot:
    Barcode option on the Kutools tab on the ribbon
  2. In the Insert Barcode dialog box, configure the following settings:
    1. Select a barcode type from the Barcode type drop-down menu (e.g., Code 128 for text and URLs).
    2. Set the Width and Height of the barcode.
    3. Enter the content for the barcode (e.g., numbers, text, or a URL) in the Barcode Number box.
    4. Click the Insert button to generate the barcode and insert it into your document.
      Insert Barcode dialog box

    Notes:

    • You can choose the Show barcode number option to display the content below the barcode.
    • You can select the Save barcode as image option to save the barcode to your computer. Use the path selection button Path selection button to specify the save location.
Demo: Insert a barcode with Kutools for Word

Discover the Kutools / Kutools Plus tab in this video from Kutools for Word. Enjoy 100+ features and permanently free AI utilities. Download now!

Convert data into barcode with an online service

Using an online service to convert data into a barcode is a quick and convenient method, especially if you don't have specialized software installed. Here's how you can do it:

  1. Open your web browser and navigate to a free online barcode generator, such as TEC-IT Barcode Generator.
  2. Choose the type of barcode you want to create (e.g., Code 128, Code 39, etc.) from the available options.
  3. Enter the data you wish to convert into the designated input field. For example, this could be a URL, product code, or text. Tip: Click the Refresh link text to preview the result.
  4. Customize the barcode settings if needed (e.g., size, resolution, color) by clicking the gear icon.
  5. Click the Download button to generate and download the barcode.
    A barcode is inserted

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