How to Reset a Honeywell Orbit MS7120 Scanner to Factory Defaults

QUICK ANSWER

To restore a Honeywell Orbit MS7120 scanner to its factory configuration, keep the scanner powered on and scan two programming barcodes from the appropriate MetroSelect Configuration Guide in this order: Enable Factory Defaults, followed by Recall Defaults. The scanner should acknowledge the programming sequence with beeps and store the restored settings in nonvolatile memory.

A factory reset removes customized settings, including interface, barcode-type, prefix, suffix, formatting, and communication changes. Record the current configuration before resetting a production scanner and be prepared to reconfigure it for the connected POS system or computer.

 

What a Factory Reset Does

The Honeywell Orbit MS7120 stores its operating configuration in nonvolatile memory. This allows settings to remain in place when the scanner is disconnected from power.

Restoring factory defaults erases previous configuration changes and loads the scanner’s default settings. Depending on the interface and applicable default profile, this may affect:

• Host-interface and communication settings
• Enabled barcode symbologies
• Prefixes and suffixes
• Carriage-return or Enter behavior
• Data formatting
• Beeper and scanner-operation settings
• RS-232 parameters such as baud rate, parity, and data bits

A reset does not repair damaged hardware, replace firmware, or guarantee compatibility with every POS application.

When to Reset the MS7120

A factory reset can provide a known configuration baseline when:

• The scanner reads barcodes but sends incorrect characters
• Scanned data contains unwanted prefixes or suffixes
• The scanner no longer sends an Enter or carriage-return character
• Barcode types have been accidentally disabled
• Communication settings are unknown
• The scanner is being transferred to another workstation
• Previous configuration changes are causing unpredictable behavior
• Standard troubleshooting has not identified the setting responsible

Resetting can save time when the current configuration is unknown. However, changing only the affected setting is preferable when the scanner otherwise works correctly.

Before You Begin

You need:

• A Honeywell/Metrologic Orbit MS7120 scanner
• A working power and host connection
• The MetroSelect Configuration Guide or Honeywell’s reset-barcode attachment
• A screen or printed page on which the programming barcodes are clear and undistorted

Before resetting:

1. Record the scanner model and cable/interface type.
2. Document any required custom settings.
3. Confirm the host application’s interface and data-format requirements.
4. If possible, test outside business hours.
5. Close any application in which accidental scan input could trigger a transaction or command.

Warning: A factory reset removes customized scanner settings. A production POS system may stop receiving data correctly until its required interface, suffix, symbology, or serial settings are restored.

How to Reset the Honeywell MS7120

Step 1: Obtain the Correct Configuration Barcodes

Open the MetroSelect Configuration Guide associated with the MS7120 or use the file attached to Honeywell’s support article.

Locate these two barcodes:

1. Enable Factory Defaults
2. Recall Defaults

Bar Code official link : https://sps-support.honeywell.com/s/article/MS7120-How-to-send-the-scanner-back-to-factory-default

Use the actual configuration barcodes. Typing their displayed numeric values into an application is not equivalent to scanning them.

Step 2: Check Barcode Quality

If viewing the guide electronically:

• Display the page at normal size or enlarge it without stretching the image
• Avoid scaling that crops the barcode
• Use a bright, glare-free display
• Keep only the intended programming barcode within the scan pattern

If the scanner has difficulty reading from a screen, print the relevant page at full size with high contrast.

Step 3: Scan “Enable Factory Defaults”

With the scanner powered on, scan the barcode labeled Enable Factory Defaults.

This selects the standard factory-default profile to be loaded by the next command. Wait for the scanner’s acknowledgement before continuing.

Step 4: Scan “Recall Defaults”

Scan the barcode labeled Recall Defaults.

The scanner should acknowledge the command, load the selected defaults, and store the configuration in nonvolatile memory. Honeywell documentation describes configuration acknowledgements as audible beeps; the precise beep pattern can vary with the programming operation and scanner state.

Step 5: Reconnect or Restart if Necessary

If the host does not recognize the scanner after the reset:

1. Disconnect the scanner from power or the host.
2. Wait several seconds.
3. Reconnect it securely.
4. Allow the operating system or POS terminal to detect the scanner.
5. Restart the host application if it was open during the reset.

Do not repeatedly disconnect the scanner while it is acknowledging or saving a configuration command.

How the Reset Process Works

The MS7120 supports configuration through specially encoded programming barcodes. These barcodes are commands rather than ordinary product data.

The two-barcode sequence performs two separate actions:

The settings are written to nonvolatile memory, so they remain active after power is removed.

The MetroSelect documentation also describes serial programming for supported serial configurations. For most users, scanning the documented barcodes is safer and simpler because serial programming requires correctly framed control characters, a functioning serial connection, and suitable terminal or integration software.

What to Expect After the Reset

After resetting, the MS7120 should operate using its applicable default profile. The loaded communication defaults can depend on the scanner’s interface.

Honeywell’s MetroSelect documentation states that keyboard-wedge interface scanners load keyboard-wedge defaults, while other applicable scanners load RS-232 defaults. Custom OEM units can use manufacturer-specific defaults instead of Honeywell’s standard retail defaults.

You may need to reapply:

• USB or keyboard-interface configuration
• Country-specific keyboard layout
• Required RS-232 communication parameters
• Carriage return, line feed, or Tab suffix
• Application-specific prefixes
• Disabled or enabled barcode symbologies
• Minimum or maximum barcode lengths
• Specialized POS or OEM defaults

Do not assume that factory defaults are the correct production settings for every installation.

How to Verify the Reset

For USB or Keyboard-Wedge Connections

1. Open a plain-text editor.
2. Scan a known-good product barcode.
3. Confirm that the correct characters appear.
4. Check whether the cursor moves to the next line if an Enter suffix is required.
5. Test the scanner in the actual POS or business application.

For RS-232 Connections

Verify that the host and scanner use matching communication parameters, including:

• Baud rate
• Data bits
• Parity
• Stop bits
• Handshaking, where applicable

If these settings do not match, the scanner may read a barcode and beep successfully while the host receives nothing or displays corrupted data.

Troubleshooting

The Scanner Does Not Read the Programming Barcode

Try the following:

• Print the page instead of scanning from a screen
• Increase screen brightness and remove glare
• Verify that the complete barcode is visible
• Move the barcode closer to or farther from the scanner
• Cover nearby barcodes so only one command is visible
• Use the guide intended for the MS7120/MetroSelect scanner family
• Confirm that the scanner can still read an ordinary supported barcode

A scanner that cannot read any barcode may have a power, cable, window, or hardware problem rather than a configuration problem.

The Scanner Beeps but Sends No Data

The reset may have changed the host-interface or communication configuration. Check:

1. The cable type and physical connection
2. Whether the scanner appears in the operating system
3. The expected USB, keyboard-wedge, or RS-232 mode
4. Serial-port parameters, if applicable
5. Whether the destination application accepts keyboard or serial input

Reconfigure the correct interface using the appropriate MetroSelect programming barcode.

The Scanner Sends Data but Does Not Press Enter

The required carriage-return suffix may not be enabled for the active interface profile. Configure the appropriate carriage-return or Enter suffix from the MetroSelect guide after completing the reset.

A carriage return, line feed, and keyboard Enter are related but not identical in every host application. Use the suffix required by the software.

The Scanned Characters Are Incorrect

Check the keyboard-country setting when using keyboard-wedge or keyboard-emulation mode. A layout mismatch can change punctuation and other characters even when the barcode itself is read correctly.

For serial connections, verify all communication parameters.

The Reset Does Not Produce the Expected Defaults

The scanner may be an OEM or specially configured unit. Honeywell notes that OEM products can contain custom default profiles that differ from standard factory defaults.

Record the full model and part number, then consult the equipment supplier or Honeywell support before applying unrelated configuration barcodes.

The Scanner Still Fails After Resetting

A factory reset will not correct:

• A damaged interface cable
• Insufficient or incorrect power
• A scratched or contaminated scan window
• A failed laser or internal component
• An unsupported barcode type
• A host driver or application problem
• Incorrect POS configuration

Test the scanner with a known-good cable, host port, barcode, and basic text-input application where appropriate. If the scanner cannot read ordinary barcodes or complete its startup sequence, contact Honeywell support or an authorized service provider.

Benefits and Limitations

Benefits

Restoring factory defaults can:

• Remove conflicting or unknown configuration changes
• Establish a predictable troubleshooting baseline
• Simplify deployment to a new workstation
• Correct problems caused by accidentally scanned programming barcodes
• Reduce the need to identify every previously changed option

Limitations

A factory reset:

• Erases useful custom settings
• May change communication behavior
• Does not preserve application-specific prefixes or suffixes
• Does not repair hardware
• May load OEM-specific defaults on customized units
• May require additional configuration before the scanner works with a POS system

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Honeywell MS7120 have a physical reset button?

Honeywell’s documented factory-default procedure uses configuration barcodes. The MS7120 should be reset by scanning the appropriate MetroSelect programming barcodes rather than searching for a conventional reset button.

Which barcodes must I scan?

Scan Enable Factory Defaults first and Recall Defaults second. Use the actual barcodes from Honeywell’s documentation or the attachment supplied with its support article.

Will resetting the MS7120 delete its firmware?

No. The procedure restores configuration settings; it does not remove or reinstall the scanner’s firmware.

Will the scanner work immediately after a reset?

It may work immediately if its default interface and formatting match the host. A POS system using custom interface, serial, prefix, suffix, or symbology settings will require reconfiguration.

Why does the scanner read barcodes but send nothing to the computer?

The scanner and host may be using different interfaces or communication settings. Check the cable, selected interface, operating-system detection, and RS-232 parameters where applicable.

Can I scan the reset barcodes from a monitor?

Usually, provided the image is sharp, complete, sufficiently large, and free from glare. Printing the page at full size is a useful alternative when screen scanning fails.

Does the reset restore the Enter key after every scan?

Not necessarily for every interface or application. If an Enter action is required, verify the result and configure the correct carriage-return or keyboard suffix from the MetroSelect guide.

Can a factory reset damage the scanner?

The documented barcode procedure should not damage the scanner. Its main risk is loss of required configuration, which can interrupt communication with the host until the correct settings are restored.

Why are my scanner’s defaults different from another MS7120?

Cable/interface variants and OEM-customized units can load different defaults. Compare the complete part numbers and obtain the configuration documentation supplied for each unit.

FINAL RECOMMENDATION / CONCLUSION

Reset the Honeywell Orbit MS7120 only after recording any settings required by the host system. Scan Enable Factory Defaults and then Recall Defaults from the correct MetroSelect documentation, wait for the scanner’s acknowledgements, and test the result in both a plain-text editor and the production application.

If the scanner reads barcodes but does not communicate after the reset, verify its interface and host settings before assuming a hardware failure. For OEM units or systems requiring specialized POS configuration, use documentation from the equipment supplier or contact Honeywell support.

 

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SOURCES

• Honeywell Support — How to Send the MS7120 Scanner Back to Factory Default
• Honeywell MetroSelect Configuration Guide