How to Unlock the Bioscanner in Subnautica 2

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Published May 25, 2026, 9:29 PM EDT

Laurence Wall is a Staff Writer at DualShockers who has been writing professionally since 2022 and covering games since 2023. He primarily writes guides and lists, with a focus on indie games, RPGs, ARPGs, Soulslikes, MMOs, card games, boss fights, and detailed tutorials.

Before joining DualShockers, Laurence worked as a game reviewer for Movies, Games and Tech. He also co-founded and served as a contributor liaison for a university creative writing magazine, where he was one of the publication’s principal contributors. Laurence holds a B.A. in English Literature and Creative Writing from Royal Holloway, University of London.

One of the first things you’ll do in your Subnautica 2 adventure is build a tool using resources scavenged from the sea below. These tools will stay by your side, assisting and supporting you throughout your entire experience.

Of course, there comes a time when these tools might start to slip in their usage and need a little tuning up. The Scanner is one such tool.

The Scanner is one of the first things you create and is crucial for understanding the world around you, as it scans minerals and organisms for information. In the latter half of Early Access, you can upgrade the Scanner to the Bioscanner, which not only allows you to scan new things but also gives you fascinating recipes and blueprints that will assist you moving forward.

Let’s take a look at this new tool and how to get our hands on it.

Bioscanner Location

Before we see what the Bioscanner is used for, you first need to swim down and scan one beneath the waves so you can replicate it back at base.

You should really have the High-Capacity Air Tank at this point. This upcoming wreck isn’t particularly confusing, but the more oxygen you have, the better, in case you get lost.

Firstly, you’ll need to head Southeast from the Alien Ruins hub. You’re looking for a large Cicada wreck that seems to be falling off a cliff. This particular wreck is directly south of the main Axum Turbine and east of the tall Methane Gas tower.

On the northern side of the wreck, you’ll spot an entrance with a bright yellow material beneath the door. Enter the wreck and take a right through the first door you see. Head straight on through to the next room and take a left.

At the far end of this next room, there will be a hole in the floor that you can enter, illuminated by a bright light. Swim through the glowing red tunnel until you emerge into a large open space. If you’re low on air, you can find a leaking oxygen tank on the floor.

Cross this space, swim to the next opening, then swim down. At the bottom of this shaft, you’ll find the final room of the wreck, and the Bioscanner lying on the floor. Scan this, then exit through the nearby door. You’ll exit at the very bottom of the wreck.

How to Use the Bioscanner

To craft the Bioscanner, you’ll need to use the following materials on a Modification Station:

1x Scanner
2x Enamelled Glass
3x Conduit Crystal

Now you’ll have your upgraded Scanner. You can use this to scan various lifeforms around the ocean to unlock Biomods at the Biolab. This will unlock many useful Active and Passive effects to give you an edge when exploring.

In addition, you’ll also need the Bioscanner in order to scan the broken Axum turbine. This will give you information on how to fix it and proceed into the final stage of Subnautica 2’s Early Access.