Support

Quick help

• Camera won’t scan: improve lighting, wipe the lens, hold steady and try slightly further away. Glare or curved plastic can make a barcode harder to read.
• Camera permission is off: open your phone’s Settings, find Stamp Decoder and allow Camera access, then reopen the app. Reinstalling should not be your first fix.
• The scanner still will not start: paste the barcode text into Decode if you have it, then send us your phone model and operating-system version.
• Decode looks incomplete: some fields vary by issue or may be “not yet known”. Not every field is meaningful on every stamp.

How to use the app

1. Scan the barcode.
Use the camera to read the DataMatrix barcode, or paste the barcode text if you already have it.

2. Read Decode.
Decode puts the key collector facts first: issue type, value, colour where applicable, dates, origin, and collector note.

3. Add to collection.
Use Add to collection after a successful decode to mark the exact checklist entry as owned. You can save the item as Mint or Used without creating duplicate checklist rows.

4. Create a label.
When the decode looks right, create a collector label to turn the result into a clearer reference for photography, printing, or your own records.

References and premium fields

What is an MGB reference?
MGB is the app’s own built-in collector reference. A stamp reference is intended to stay stable across your collection.

Why don’t I always see MBPC or SG?
MBPC and SG catalogue numbers are premium catalogue layers. They only appear when the relevant access is enabled.

Why do some stamps show different notes?
Some issue families need more collector context. Prestige panes, FDC coils, matrix-removed sheet items, and pack-dated issues can show different note or origin detail because that context matters.

Currently in TestFlight

The next catalogue update adds separate, permanent QO and KO references for physical products such as booklets, business sheets, prestige panes and collector sheets. It also shows the stamps contained in each object and guides collectors through physical checks such as crown, lettering, contact panel and backing paper.

If your copy differs from the catalogue, your observation is saved to your collection first. Sending it to us for review is a separate, optional step. These features are still being tested and are not yet in the public store release.

FAQ

Is this an official Royal Mail app?
No. Modern GB Stamp Decoder is an independent collector tool and is not affiliated with Royal Mail.

Do you track users?
The app does not use advertising or cross-app tracking. It sends privacy-light product-usage events to PostHog so we can monitor reliability and feature use; barcode strings, images, stamp or object record IDs, notes and collection contents are not included. See the privacy policy for the full detail.

Does the app keep a collection?
Yes. The app now includes a checklist-led My Collection flow so you can mark what you own, see what is missing, and track progress clearly.

Can the app create a label?
Yes. The label view is designed to turn a decoded stamp into a clearer collector label for photography, printing, or reference.

What should I send if something looks wrong?
Send the barcode string if you can copy it, plus a short note about what looks wrong and your device model / iOS or Android version.