How do I set up my Zebra TC21 mobile computer to scan barcodes with the ThunderTix App? - Wed - Feb 5, 2025 - 11:01am

Stacy Chapman
Wed - Feb 5, 2025 - 11:01am ⚬ 0 Comments Barcodes & Scanning
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The Zebra TC-21 mobile computer is now compatible with the ThunderTix App as a barcode scanner.  The TC21 has a built-in laser scanner that can scan paper tickets, barcodes or QR codes displayed from a smartphone screen or tickets from Apple Wallet/Google Wallet. 






Setting up the TC-21

Connect to WIFI

First, make sure that the device is connected to the Internet via WIFI.


1. Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi. 
2. Select your desired Wi-Fi network from the list and enter the password, if required. 



Setting up the Zebra TC21 for barcode scanning with the ThunderTix App


1. On the TC21, log into Google with your Gmail account. A Gmail account is necessary to be able to download Apps from the Google Play store.
2. Go to the Google Play Store and search for “ThunderTix”
   
   

   

3. Install the ThunderTix App on the TC21
4. Once ThunderTix has been installed, open the ThunderTix App
5. Login on the ThunderTix App using your ThunderTix login credentials
6. In the ThunderTix App, tap Profile on the bottom right menu [figure 1]
   
   

   

   
   
   
7. Scroll down to Scanner Settings and turn on Use External Scanner [figure 1 above]
8. Exit the ThunderTix app and on your device, launch the DataWedge app from the Apps drawer. [figure 2]
   
   

   

   
   
   
9. From DataWedge Profiles, select the profile you want to edit (in this example, Profile0 is the default profile).
   
   

   

10. Scroll down to the Keystroke Output option. Ensure it is enabled.
    
    

    

    
    
    
11. Select Basic data formatting.
    
    

    

    
    
    
12. Go to Send ENTER key and Enable it
    NOTE: do not enable the TAB key
    
    

    

    
    
    
13. Exit the DataWedge Profile settings
    
    


Turn off auto-rotate

Second, we need to ensure that the device has "Auto-rotate" set to "Off".  


1. Swipe down from the top of the TC-21 screen: to access the Quick Settings panel. 
2. Locate and tap the "Auto-rotate" or "Rotate Lock" icon. This will toggle the feature off, and the screen will lock into its current orientation (portrait or landscape). 
3. Alternatively, you can access the settings directly:
   • Go to Settings > Display > Advanced and find the Auto-rotate screen option. 
   • Disable or toggle off: the Auto-rotate screen setting. 

Don't let the browser go to sleep

Finally, you'll want to change the timeout period of time, to ensure the device doesn't instantly go to sleep between scans.  Follow the instructions in the link below to change your timeout time to 30 minutes.

https://docs.zebra.com/us/en/mobile-computers/handheld/tc2-series/tc21-tc26-tc21-hc-tc26-hc-product-reference-guide/settings/display-settings/setting-screen-timeout.html



Scan barcodes/QR Codes using the ThunderTix App (recommended)


1. Open the ThunderTix app
2. On the bottom navigation bar go to "Scan" 
3. Choose your event
4. Choose a date
5. On the TC-21, you'll point the top of the scanner (where the laser is) towards the barcode or QR code and click either of the yellow buttons on each side of the device. The yellow button is what triggers the laser to read and transmit the barcode to ThunderTix.
6. As soon as the barcode is scanned, you'll see either the green success screen or the red invalid screen.
 
Scan barcodes/QR Codes using the Chrome browser (not recommended)


1. Open Chrome on the TC-21
2. Log into ThunderTix
3. In the left menu, navigate to Barcode Scanning > Scan In
4. Choose your desired event
5. Choose a date
6. You should see the event and date chosen at the top of the screen with an empty input field on the page and the cursor blinking in the field.
7. Point the scanner towards a ticket with either a barcode or a QR Code. Press the yellow button on the side of the device to scan.
8. View the results of the scanned ticket immediately on the screen to learn whether the ticket is valid for that event or if it's already been previously scanned.  
9. The cursor will be blinking again in the input field waiting for the next scan. Repeat steps 8 and 9 for each ticket.

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