---
title: How to Display Product Barcodes
description: Show scannable 1D barcodes from your WooCommerce product EANs on product pages and more. A Pro feature.
url: "https://wpfactory.com/docs/woocommerce-barcode-options/"
updated: "2026-09-27"
category: How to
tags:
  - EAN and Barcodes for WooCommerce
---

# How to Display Product Barcodes

To display scannable barcode images from your product EANs, use [EAN for WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/item/ean-barcodes-woocommerce/) Pro. Go to **WPFactory > EAN > Barcodes**, tick **Enable section**, then enable each place you want a barcode: product edit page, products list, single product page, shop, cart, orders or emails. Save changes.

The **Barcodes** section turns each product's EAN into a 1D barcode you can show across the store. Displaying barcode images is a Pro feature.

[![Barcode options in EAN for WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/wp-content/uploads/pasted-image-0-63-1024x465.png)](https://wpfactory.com/wp-content/uploads/pasted-image-0-63.png)

## Before you start

- [EAN for WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/item/ean-barcodes-woocommerce/) Pro (barcodes are a Pro feature). In the free version, the **Enable section** checkbox is disabled.
- Products need an EAN. For variable products, the parent product's EAN must be set.
- The EAN must be valid for the **Type** set in the **General** section (default EAN-13). See [managing product EANs and choosing a type](https://wpfactory.com/docs/woocommerce-ean-management/).

## Enable the section

1. Go to **WPFactory > EAN** (also reachable at **WooCommerce > Settings > EAN**) and open the **Barcodes** section.
2. Tick **Enable section** (option `alg_wc_ean_barcode`, default **No**).
3. Tick **Enable** next to each placement you need (see the table below). All are off by default.
4. Click **Save changes**, then open a product with an EAN to check the result.

## Where barcodes can appear

| Placement | Option ID | Default |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Admin product edit page | `alg_wc_ean_backend_barcode` | No |
| Admin products list column | `alg_wc_ean_backend_column_barcode` | No |
| Single product page | `alg_wc_ean_frontend_barcode` | No |
| Shop pages | `alg_wc_ean_frontend_loop_barcode` | No |
| Cart | `alg_wc_ean_frontend_cart_barcode` | No |
| Admin order edit page (Orders) | `alg_wc_ean_order_barcode` | No |
| Order items table: Pages | `alg_wc_ean_order_items_table_barcode` | No |
| Order items table: Emails | `alg_wc_ean_order_items_table_emails_barcode` | No |

**Note:** barcode images in emails do not render on a `localhost` environment. The **Emails list** option limits which WooCommerce emails include the barcode; leave it empty to include all of them.

### What customers see

- **Single product page:** the barcode appears in the product meta area (with SKU and categories). For variations, **Variable products: Position in variation** places it in the product meta (default) or in the variation description.
- **Shop pages:** under the product title in category and shop listings.
- **Cart:** under each item name.
- **Order items table:** under each item on the "order received" and "view order" pages (Pages) and in order emails (Emails).

Several placements have a **Template** box that uses the `[alg_wc_ean_barcode]` shortcode, so you can change the bar size there. The product edit page default is `[alg_wc_ean_barcode content="ean" w="2" h="30"]`.

## Barcode type

Under **Advanced Barcodes Options**, the **Barcode type** (option `alg_wc_ean_barcode_barcode_type`, default **Automatic**) picks the symbology. Automatic uses EAN-8, UPC-A, or EAN-13 based on your EAN type and falls back to CODE 128 for others. **Suppress errors** (default **Yes**) is recommended.

## Output a barcode with a shortcode

You can place a barcode anywhere with `[alg_wc_ean_barcode]`. Useful attributes include `product_id`, `w` (bar width, default 2), `h` (height, default 30), `color` (default `#000000`), `add_text="yes"` to print the number under the bars, and `children="yes"` to include variations. For every attribute, see the [EAN placeholders and shortcodes reference](https://wpfactory.com/docs/ean-placeholders-shortcodes-reference/). For QR codes and other 2D symbologies, see [how to display 2D barcodes and QR codes](https://wpfactory.com/docs/2d-barcode-exploration/).

## If the barcode does not appear

- **The EAN is not valid for your Type.** 1D barcodes are only drawn for a valid code: digits only, the right length for the Type, and a correct check digit. Otherwise nothing is shown. Fix the code, or set **Type** to **Custom** for codes that are not EAN or UPC.
- **The section is off.** Placement checkboxes do nothing until **Enable section** is ticked.
- **Your theme or page builder skips product meta.** The single product placement hooks into the product meta area. If your template does not output it, place `[alg_wc_ean_barcode]` in the layout instead.
- **Variable product on shop pages.** Set the parent product's EAN.
- **Missing in emails.** Email barcodes load as an image from your site URL, so they fail on `localhost` and stay hidden in email clients that block remote images until the reader allows them.
- **A fixed Barcode type is ignored.** In version 5.5.9, the 1D generator reads a different option key than the one **Barcode type** saves, so 1D barcodes use automatic detection. To force CODE 128, set the General **Type** to **Custom**, or contact support.

## FAQ

### Can I show barcodes without the Pro version?

No. Saving, searching and displaying the EAN number is free, but barcode images are Pro. See [EAN Barcode Generator: Free vs Pro](https://wpfactory.com/docs/pro-vs-free-versions-ean/).

### Can I print barcode labels?

Yes, with Pro. See [how to use Print Barcodes (PDF)](https://wpfactory.com/docs/woocommerce-barcode-printing/).

### Can barcodes appear in PDF invoices and packing slips?

Yes. The **Barcodes > Compatibility** section adds them to supported PDF and export plugins. See [show barcodes in invoices and exports](https://wpfactory.com/docs/ean-compatibility-issues/).

### Ready to set this up?

Barcodes are part of [EAN for WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/item/ean-barcodes-woocommerce/) Pro. If you are on the free version, upgrading unlocks 1D and 2D barcodes plus PDF label printing. [Get EAN for WooCommerce Pro](https://wpfactory.com/item/ean-barcodes-woocommerce/).

Need a hand? Our team answers every ticket on the [EAN for WooCommerce support forum](https://wpfactory.com/support/item/ean-barcodes-woocommerce/).

Related articles

- [Import and Export Product EANs with the WooCommerce CSV Tools](https://wpfactory.com/docs/import-export-product-eans/)
- [Add EAN to Product Structured Data (GTIN for Google)](https://wpfactory.com/docs/ean-structured-data-gtin/)
- [How to Add Extra Product Code Fields (MPN and More) in WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/docs/product-details-optimization/)
- [Streamline Inventory with Print Products Tool](https://wpfactory.com/docs/inventory-streamlining-tool/)
- [How to Generate EANs for All Products](https://wpfactory.com/docs/ean-generate-tool/)

 

[![EAN, UPC, ISBN Generator: Product Barcode Inventory for WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/wp-content/uploads/EAN-for-WooCommerce.webp)](https://wpfactory.com/item/ean-barcodes-woocommerce/)