diff --git a/src/js/controllers/tab-scan.js b/src/js/controllers/tab-scan.js
index 3f444ac3c..0f16ea580 100644
--- a/src/js/controllers/tab-scan.js
+++ b/src/js/controllers/tab-scan.js
@@ -1,29 +1,89 @@
 'use strict';
 
-angular.module('copayApp.controllers').controller('tabScanController', function($scope, $log, $timeout, scannerService, incomingData) {
+angular.module('copayApp.controllers').controller('tabScanController', function($scope, $log, $timeout, scannerService, incomingData, $state, $ionicHistory, $rootScope) {
 
-  $scope.$on("$ionicView.beforeEnter", function() {
-    $log.debug('Preparing to display available controls.');
+  var scannerStates = {
+    unauthorized: 'unauthorized',
+    denied: 'denied',
+    unavailable: 'unavailable',
+    loading: 'loading',
+    visible: 'visible'
+  };
+  $scope.scannerStates = scannerStates;
+
+  function _updateCapabilities(){
     var capabilities = scannerService.getCapabilities();
+    $scope.scannerIsAvailable = capabilities.isAvailable;
+    $scope.scannerHasPermission = capabilities.hasPermission;
+    $scope.scannerIsDenied = capabilities.isDenied;
+    $scope.scannerIsRestricted = capabilities.isRestricted;
     $scope.canEnableLight = capabilities.canEnableLight;
     $scope.canChangeCamera = capabilities.canChangeCamera;
+    $scope.canOpenSettings = capabilities.canOpenSettings;
+  }
+
+  function _handleCapabilities(){
+    if(!$scope.scannerIsAvailable){
+      $scope.currentState = scannerStates.unavailable;
+    } else if($scope.scannerIsDenied){
+      $scope.currentState = scannerStates.denied;
+    } else if($scope.scannerIsRestricted){
+      $scope.currentState = scannerStates.denied;
+    } else if(!$scope.scannerHasPermission){
+      $scope.currentState = scannerStates.unauthorized;
+    } else if($scope.scannerHasPermission){
+      activate();
+    }
+  }
+
+  function _initScanView(){
+    _updateCapabilities();
+    _handleCapabilities();
+  }
+
+  $scope.$on("$ionicView.beforeEnter", function() {
+    $scope.currentState = scannerStates.loading;
+  });
+
+  // This could be much cleaner with a Promise API
+  // (needs a polyfill for some platforms)
+  $rootScope.$on('scannerServiceInitialized', function(){
+    $log.debug('Scanner initialization finished, reinitializing scan view...');
+    _initScanView();
   });
 
   $scope.$on("$ionicView.afterEnter", function() {
+    if(scannerService.isInitialized()){
+      _initScanView();
+    }
+  });
+
+  function activate(){
     scannerService.activate(function(){
+      $log.debug('Scanner activated, setting to visible...');
+      $scope.currentState = scannerStates.visible;
       scannerService.scan(function(err, contents){
         if(err){
           $log.debug('Scan canceled.');
+        } else if ($state.params.passthroughMode) {
+          $rootScope.scanResult = contents;
+          goBack();
         } else {
-          incomingData.redir(contents);
+          handleSuccessfulScan(contents);
         }
       });
     });
-  });
+  }
+
   $scope.$on("$ionicView.afterLeave", function() {
     scannerService.deactivate();
   });
 
+  function handleSuccessfulScan(contents){
+    $log.debug('Scan returned: "' + contents + '"');
+    incomingData.redir(contents);
+  }
+
   $scope.toggleLight = function(){
     scannerService.toggleLight(function(lightEnabled){
       $scope.lightActive = lightEnabled;
@@ -38,8 +98,15 @@ angular.module('copayApp.controllers').controller('tabScanController', function(
       $timeout(function(){
         $scope.cameraToggleActive = false;
         $log.debug('Camera toggle control deactivated.');
-      }, 200);
+      }, 600);
     });
   };
 
+  $scope.canGoBack = function(){
+    return $state.params.passthroughMode;
+  }
+  function goBack(){
+    $ionicHistory.backView().go();
+  }
+  $scope.goBack = goBack;
 });
diff --git a/src/js/routes.js b/src/js/routes.js
index a69f00072..e75079d2b 100644
--- a/src/js/routes.js
+++ b/src/js/routes.js
@@ -217,6 +217,14 @@ angular.module('copayApp').config(function(historicLogProvider, $provide, $logPr
           }
         }
       })
+      .state('scanner', {
+        url: '/scanner',
+        params: {
+          passthroughMode: null,
+        },
+        controller: 'tabScanController',
+        templateUrl: 'views/tab-scan.html'
+      })
       .state('tabs.send', {
         url: '/send',
         views: {
diff --git a/src/js/services/scannerService.js b/src/js/services/scannerService.js
index b46e5e604..09df4dfee 100644
--- a/src/js/services/scannerService.js
+++ b/src/js/services/scannerService.js
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 'use strict';
 
-angular.module('copayApp.services').service('scannerService', function($log, $timeout, platformInfo) {
+angular.module('copayApp.services').service('scannerService', function($log, $timeout, platformInfo, $rootScope) {
 
   var isDesktop = !platformInfo.isCordova;
   var QRScanner = window.QRScanner;
@@ -8,21 +8,40 @@ angular.module('copayApp.services').service('scannerService', function($log, $ti
   var backCamera = true; // the plugin defaults to the back camera
 
   // Initalize known capabilities
+  var isAvailable = false;
   var hasPermission = isDesktop? true: false;
+  var isAuthorized = false;
+  var isDenied = false;
+  var isRestricted = false;
   var canEnableLight = false;
   var canChangeCamera = false;
+  var canOpenSettings = false;
 
   function _checkCapabilities(status){
     $log.debug('scannerService is reviewing platform capabilities...');
     // Permission can be assumed on the desktop builds
     hasPermission = (isDesktop || status.authorized)? true: false;
+    isDenied = status.denied? true : false;
+    isRestricted = status.restricted? true : false;
     canEnableLight = status.canEnableLight? true : false;
     canChangeCamera = status.canChangeCamera? true : false;
-    function orIsNot(bool){
+    canOpenSettings = status.canOpenSettings? true : false;
+    _logCapabilities();
+  }
+
+  function _logCapabilities(){
+    function _orIsNot(bool){
       return bool? '' : 'not ';
     }
-    $log.debug('A light is ' + orIsNot(canEnableLight) + 'available on this platform.');
-    $log.debug('A second camera is ' + orIsNot(canChangeCamera) + 'available on this platform.');
+    $log.debug('A camera is ' + _orIsNot(isAvailable) + 'available to this app.');
+    var access = 'not authorized';
+    if(hasPermission) access = 'authorized';
+    if(isDenied) access = 'denied';
+    if(isRestricted) access = 'restricted';
+    $log.debug('Camera access is ' + access + '.');
+    $log.debug('Support for opening device settings is ' + _orIsNot(canOpenSettings) + 'available on this platform.');
+    $log.debug('A light is ' + _orIsNot(canEnableLight) + 'available on this platform.');
+    $log.debug('A second camera is ' + _orIsNot(canChangeCamera) + 'available on this platform.');
   }
 
   /**
@@ -30,9 +49,13 @@ angular.module('copayApp.services').service('scannerService', function($log, $ti
    */
   this.getCapabilities = function(){
     return {
+      isAvailable: isAvailable,
       hasPermission: hasPermission,
+      isDenied: isDenied,
+      isRestricted: isRestricted,
       canEnableLight: canEnableLight,
-      canChangeCamera: canChangeCamera
+      canChangeCamera: canChangeCamera,
+      canOpenSettings: canOpenSettings
     }
   }
 
@@ -50,7 +73,7 @@ angular.module('copayApp.services').service('scannerService', function($log, $ti
         _checkCapabilities(status);
         if(status.authorized){
           $log.debug('Camera permission already granted.');
-          _initalize();
+          _initalize(callback);
         } else {
           $log.debug('QRScanner not authorized, waiting to initalize.');
           if(typeof callback === "function"){
@@ -60,23 +83,43 @@ angular.module('copayApp.services').service('scannerService', function($log, $ti
       });
     } else {
       $log.debug('Camera permission assumed on desktop.');
-      _initalize();
-    }
-    function _initalize(){
-      $log.debug('Preparing scanner...');
-      QRScanner.prepare(function(err, status){
-        if(err){
-          $log.error(err);
-        }
-        _checkCapabilities(status);
-        callback && callback(status);
-      });
+      _initalize(callback);
     }
   };
 
+  function _initalize(callback){
+    $log.debug('Initializing scanner...');
+    QRScanner.prepare(function(err, status){
+      if(err){
+        $log.error(err);
+        // does not return `status` if there is an error
+        QRScanner.getStatus(function(status){
+          _completeInitialization(status, callback);
+
+        });
+      } else {
+        isAvailable = true;
+        _completeInitialization(status, callback);
+      }
+    });
+  }
+
+  // This could be much cleaner with a Promise API
+  // (needs a polyfill for some platforms)
+  var initializeCompleted = false;
+  function _completeInitialization(status, callback){
+    _checkCapabilities(status);
+    $rootScope.$emit('scannerServiceInitialized');
+    initializeCompleted = true;
+    callback && callback(status);
+  }
+  this.isInitialized = function(){
+    return initializeCompleted;
+  }
+
   var nextHide = null;
   var nextDestroy = null;
-  var hideAfterSeconds = 15;
+  var hideAfterSeconds = 10;
   var destroyAfterSeconds = 5 * 60;
 
   /**
@@ -121,7 +164,7 @@ angular.module('copayApp.services').service('scannerService', function($log, $ti
    */
   this.deactivate = function(callback) {
     $log.debug('Deactivating scanner...');
-    QRScanner.cancelScan();
+    // QRScanner.cancelScan();
     nextHide = $timeout(_hide, hideAfterSeconds * 1000);
     nextDestroy = $timeout(_destroy, destroyAfterSeconds * 1000);
   };