Zebra TC22 and TC27 setup guide: from box to first scan

This guide takes a new Zebra TC22 or TC27 from the box to a working scanner: battery and cards in, first charge, setup wizard, Wi-Fi, a scan test and updates. Both models share one user guide, so the steps are the same unless a step says TC27 only.

Before you start

Check the box

The box holds the touch computer, a PowerPrecision lithium-ion battery and a regulatory guide. Check everything for transport damage and keep the packaging. Contact us if anything is missing or damaged.

Before first use, peel the protective shipping film off the display, the scanner exit window and the camera window. A film left on the scan window makes scanning unreliable.

Choose how you will charge

The device charges through its USB-C connector or through its cradle charging contacts when it sits in a cradle. Zebra lists these charging accessories for the TC22 and TC27:

Each cradle needs its own power: the 1-Slot Charge Only Cradle runs from the USB-C cable and a Zebra USB power supply (PWR-WUA5V12W0EU for the EU), the other cradles and the battery charger from a Zebra power supply with a DC line cord and a mains cord. Ask us which kit matches the cradle you order.

Insert the cards and the battery

The card holder for the microSD card and the SIM card sits under the battery, so fit the cards first. Both cards are optional, and the TC22 has no mobile network, so it needs no SIM.

microSD card (optional)

1. Pull the card holder out of the battery compartment.
2. Place the microSD card in the holder, contacts first and facing up.
3. Rotate the card down and press until it sits firmly, then push the holder back in.

Nano SIM card (TC27 only)

The TC27 takes one nano SIM card. You need a SIM, or an eSIM, for calls and mobile data.

1. Pull the card holder out and turn it over.
2. Place the nano SIM with the contacts facing up, rotate it down and press until it seats.
3. Turn the holder back over and push it back in.

Battery

1. Insert the battery bottom edge first into the battery compartment on the back.
2. Press the battery down until both battery release latches snap into place.

To change the battery later, switch the device off first: press and hold Power until the menu appears, then touch Power Off. Then press the two latches down and inwards until the battery releases. Don't add or remove a microSD card while you swap the battery.

Charge the battery fully

Charge the battery before first use, until the Charging/Notification LED on the front stays solid green. Charge at room temperature, ideally with the device in sleep mode. Zebra gives a charging range of 5–40 °C. From empty, the standard 3,800 mAh battery reaches 80 % in under 1 hour 20 minutes and the extended 5,200 mAh battery in under 1 hour 50 minutes.

A red LED means the battery needs replacing soon. If the LED stays off in a cradle, see TC22/TC27 troubleshooting.

Switch on and run the setup wizard

Press Power to switch the device on. A new device starts the Android setup wizard, which asks for basic settings such as language and network. Follow the on-screen steps. The screens depend on the Android version and on how the device was ordered.

When the Home screen appears, check the software. Open Settings › About phone to see the Android version and build number. The serial number is under Settings › About phone › Model.

Connect to Wi-Fi

1. Open Settings › Network & internet › Internet and switch Wi-Fi on.
2. Touch your network in the list and enter the password.
3. If the network is hidden, scroll down, touch Add network, enter the Network name, choose the Security type and enter the password, then touch Save.

For company networks with WPA/WPA2/WPA3-Enterprise, you also choose the EAP method and a CA certificate, so install the certificates first or ask your IT team for the settings. By default the device uses DHCP and no proxy.

The TC22 and TC27 support Wi-Fi 6E on the 6 GHz band, but Zebra's spec sheet notes that Wi-Fi 6E needs the Mobility DNA Enterprise License. Without it, use your 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz network.

Activate an eSIM (TC27 only)

The TC27 has one nano SIM slot and one eSIM. Get the activation code from your mobile operator first, then connect to Wi-Fi.

1. Open Settings › Network & internet › Mobile Networks.
2. Touch + next to SIMs if a nano SIM is already fitted, or touch SIMs if there is none.
3. Touch SCAN to scan the operator's QR code, or MANUAL CODE ENTRY to type the activation code, and confirm with OK.
4. Touch NEXT, then ACTIVATE, then Done.

An erased eSIM cannot be reused, so only erase it if your operator tells you to.

Test the scanner

Zebra's DataWedge service controls the scanner and types the scanned data into the app that is open. It is preinstalled, and by default it types the scanned data into the text field of the app you have open.

1. Open an app with a text field, for example a notes app, and touch the field.
2. Point the scanner exit window at a barcode.
3. Press and hold one of the two Scan buttons. The aiming pattern appears.
4. Keep the barcode inside the aiming pattern. The SE55 engine shows a green aimer, the SE4710 a red dot.
5. On a good read the Data Capture LED lights and the device beeps. Release the button and the data appears in the field.

You can also test with the DWDemo app in the app drawer. To add Enter after each scan, choose barcode types or set up your own app, see the DataWedge setup guide.

Keep the device updated

Zebra delivers Android updates and security patches as LifeGuard updates, generally every month. The TC22 and TC27 launched with Android 13. Zebra currently offers Android 13, 14 and 15 for both models and lists Android 16 as the final supported version.

• Check the security patch level under Settings › System › System update.
• On Android 11 and later, Zebra documents an Automatic System Update switch behind the gear icon on that screen. Turning it on enrols the device in Zebra-managed updates and removes an earlier enterprise update enrolment, so leave it to your IT team on managed devices. Zebra's TC22/TC27 user guide lists Firmware Over the Air (FOTA) among the features that need a Mobility DNA Enterprise License.
• On a TC22 or TC27 still on Android 13, Zebra requires the March 2025 Android 13 LifeGuard update (13-39-18) or newer before you move to Android 14.

Companies with many devices usually update and configure them centrally. Zebra StageNow, a Windows tool, creates staging barcodes or files that you scan or load on the device. An EMM system can install LifeGuard updates over the air and apply settings through Zebra OEMConfig. Downloads are on the Zebra TC22 and TC27 support pages.

Still choosing between the two models? Read TC22 vs TC27, or see all TC22 guides.