Nnamdi Ofoborh's first league goal for Swindon helped lift the strugglers eight points clear of the League Two relegation zone.
The former Bournemouth midfielder worked some space 25 yards out and picked his spot with a vicious dipping drive after just eight minutes, and Harry Smith then sealed the win with a late second.
The Robins had most goal chances, with left-back George Cox cutting inside and unleashing an inswinger well wide of the far post before captain Ollie Clarke flashed a header wide from a corner.
After the break, Gavin Kilkenny bulldozed his way into the box but slammed his shot into the side netting, and Will Wright's inswinging corner had Barrow goalkeeper Paul Farman scrambling to tip over.
Tyler Smith nearly levelled with a near-post diving header, but keeper Jack Bycroft reacted well.
With Barrow keeping up the pressure, but struggling to create any danger, Smith doubled the lead in the 87th minute as he won a 50-50 with the keeper, picked himself up off the deck and slotted in from an acute angle.
Fellow striker Aaron Drinan then hit the post after a rare flowing Swindon move.
Match report supplied by PA Media.
Swindon Town 2 Barrow 0
