Scan guide in Starfield. Learn how to scan resources, how to use scanner to fast travel, scan planets or moons, increase survey, increase scanning skills and more tips on scanning.
Table of Contents
What Is The Scanner?
Process To Gather Data For Credits
Use the Scanner to scan creatures, minerals, and plants on each planet to gather survey data. Once you have completed the survey data, then you can sell them for credits. Each item needs to be scanned several times to increase the data to be completed.
Amount Of Scanning Differentiates
Each item will have a specific amount of times that it needs to be scanned to be completed. This will be shown in the white box on the left like it shows in the picture above.
How To Use The Scanner
Press The 'F' Key While Exploring
Once you are out of danger from Pirates and creatures, you will want to press the F key to open up your scanner. The screen will change into an exploration mode where you can now press the E key to scan your times.
Scan Resources And Other Lifeforms That Are Highlighted
| Blue Outlines | Green Outlines |
|---|---|
 |  |
When you have activated your scanner, you will be able to see nearby resources and other lifeform creatures highlighted. The resources that have yet to be scanned and registered have Blue outlines. Meanwhile, those that are highlighted in green have been completely scanned and have been registered in the system.
You Can Also Tell If A Lifeform Or Creature Is Hostile
| Red (Hostile) | Green (Docile) |
|---|---|
 |  |
Creatures that are shown in red in the scanner are likely to attack you when you get close enough. High level creatures that will put up a fight will have a red icon next to its name while harmless and easier to defeat ones have green icons.
Scan Objectives To Increase Survey
The scanner is useful in completing planet surveys. Each planet has a certain number of Fauna, Flora and Resources that you will need to scan in order to . Successfully completing a survey will earn you a Slate which you can sell later to earn Credits.
Fast Travel With Scanner
This can be pretty useful during your survey explorations as you can teleport back to your ship after scanning quite a distance far ahead. Press LB to open the Scanner then look for the map icon of your ship and press A over the icon to fast travel to its location. You can also do this other locations that you have found in the planet you are currently in.
How To Increase Scanning
Unlock Science Skills
You may also unlock skill abilities in the Science Skill Tree to help you scan objectives for the planet and moon surveys.
| Skill | Overview Of Skill |
|---|---|
| Surveying | Adds an optional zoom to the hand scanner, and scan distance is increased to 20 meters. Can be increased up to 50 meters. |
| Scanning | You can detect uncommon inorganic resources on planet and moon surfaces, and more information about ships in space. When upgraded, you can even detect rare, exotic and unique inorganic resources. |
| Astrophysics | You can scan the moons of your current planet. At Rank 4, you will be able to scan any planet or moon within 30 Light Years. |
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