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Overview

Scanner Bridge is a small app that runs on your computer and connects Decoda to any physical scanner (USB flatbed, document feeder, etc.). Once installed, a Scan button appears anywhere you can upload documents — patient charts, notes, and more.
Scanner Bridge runs quietly in your system tray. You only need to install it once — it starts automatically when you turn on your computer.

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Step 1: Download Scanner Bridge

Download the version for your computer:
  • Mac (Apple Silicon) — Most Macs from 2021 and later
  • Mac (Intel) — Older Macs from 2020 and earlier
  • Windows
Go to the Scanner Bridge download page and download the file for your system:
  • Mac: the .dmg file
  • Windows: the .msi file

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Step 2: Install

  1. Open the downloaded .dmg file.
  2. Drag Scanner Bridge into your Applications folder.
  3. Open Scanner Bridge from Applications.
  4. If you see a message saying the app “can’t be opened because Apple cannot check it for malicious software”:
    • Open System Settings → Privacy & Security.
    • Scroll down and click Open Anyway next to the Scanner Bridge message.
    • Alternatively, right-click the app in Applications, choose Open, then click Open again in the prompt.
  5. You should see a small scanner icon appear in your menu bar (top-right of your screen). That means it’s running.

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Step 3: Connect Your Scanner

  1. Plug your scanner into your computer via USB (or make sure it’s on the same network if it’s a wireless scanner).
  2. Scanner Bridge automatically detects connected scanners — no extra setup needed.

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Step 4: Scan a Document in Decoda

  1. Open a patient’s chart and go to the Documents tab.
  2. Click Upload Document.
  3. You should see a Scan Document button in the upload form.
  4. Click Scan Document — your scanner will start scanning.
  5. When the scan finishes, the image appears in the upload form. Add a title and document type, then click Upload.
For notes, you’ll see a Scan button next to the Upload Document button in the note’s documents section.
If your scanner has a document feeder (the tray on top where you can stack multiple pages), Scanner Bridge will automatically scan all pages and combine them into a single PDF.

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Troubleshooting

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I don’t see the Scan button in Decoda

  • Make sure Scanner Bridge is running — look for the scanner icon in your menu bar (Mac) or system tray (Windows).
  • Try refreshing the page. The button appears within a few seconds of detecting the app.

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The Scan button says “No scanners found”

  • Check that your scanner is plugged in and turned on.
  • Try unplugging and reconnecting the USB cable.
  • On Mac, you may need to allow Scanner Bridge access to USB devices in System Settings → Privacy & Security.

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Scan is slow or the image quality is poor

  • Scanner Bridge scans at 300 DPI by default, which works well for most documents. Scanning speed depends on your scanner hardware.

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I want to uninstall Scanner Bridge

  1. Click the scanner icon in the menu bar and choose Quit.
  2. Drag Scanner Bridge from Applications to the Trash.