Set up barcode check-in
Let clients check in at the front desk by scanning a barcode from their phone
Barcode check-in lets clients show a barcode on their phone (or a printed card) at the front desk. Your staff scans it with a USB barcode scanner, and the client is checked in instantly — no searching by name required.
This is ideal for gyms and studios with a front desk where you want fast, hands-free check-ins during busy hours. Need to share instructions with your clients? Send them Check in with your barcode →.
Barcode check-in is available on the Business plan and above. If you don't see the barcode option in your settings, contact Arketa support to enable it for your account.
Enable barcode check-in
Turn on client check-in
Go to Settings → Business → General and scroll to Check-in Settings. Toggle on Enable Client Check-In.
Turn on gym check-in
A nested toggle appears below. Turn on Enable Gym Check-In. This activates location-based check-ins at your physical locations.
[IMAGE TODO] Take a screenshot of the Check-in Settings section under Settings > Business > General, showing both the Enable Client Check-In and Enable Gym Check-In toggles turned on.
Choose a confirmation mode
Under Gym Check-In, you'll see Require confirmation for location check-in:
- On — each scan creates a pending check-in that staff must manually confirm
- Off — scans are auto-confirmed immediately (recommended for most studios)
Enable check-in per location
Go to Settings → Locations and open the location you want to enable. Toggle on Enable gym check-in.
Optionally set a Gym check-in capacity to limit how many people can be checked in at once.
[IMAGE TODO] Take a screenshot of a location edit form showing the "Enable gym check-in" toggle and the optional capacity field.
If you use a Kisi smart lock, it pairs with barcode check-in — the door unlocks automatically when a client checks in through the mobile app.
Assign barcodes to clients
Clients who use your branded mobile app get a barcode automatically the first time they open the Account page — no action needed from you. You can also assign or manage barcodes manually from the dashboard.
Open the client profile
Go to Customers → Clients and click on a client's name.
Find the barcode section
In the right sidebar of the client profile, scroll down to the Barcode section (below tags and segments).
Assign or generate a barcode
Click Assign Barcode to open the assignment modal. From here you can:
- Type or scan a custom barcode — type any barcode string into the field, or scan a physical barcode card with your USB scanner. Press Enter or click Assign to save. This is how you can use your own physical barcode cards or key fobs.
- Auto-generate — click Auto-Generate to create an Arketa barcode (format:
ARK-XXXXXXXX). No physical card needed — the client views this barcode in their mobile app.
To change or remove an existing barcode, use the Change or Remove links next to it.
[IMAGE TODO] Take a screenshot of the Barcode section on a client profile showing the assign barcode modal with the text input field, Assign button, and Auto-Generate button.
You can also download an Apple Wallet pass for any client from their barcode section. Click Download Apple Wallet Pass to generate a .pkpass file you can send to the client.
What's next
Once barcode check-in is set up, your front desk staff can start scanning clients in.
Scan clients in at the front desk →