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Key takeaways
- On iPhone and most Android phones, just open the camera, point it at the code and tap the link that appears.
- If your camera doesn’t react, use Google Lens or the QR scanner in your phone’s quick settings.
- Most scanning problems come from distance, glare, poor light or a damaged or low-contrast code.
- Check the link preview before you open it — the code is safe, the destination might not be.
Scan a QR code on iPhone
With the Camera app (iOS 11 and later)
- 1Open the Camera app and use the rear camera.
- 2Point it at the QR code so the whole code is on screen. Hold steady for a moment.
- 3Tap the yellow banner or link that appears to open the website, contact, Wi-Fi network or action.
If nothing appears, go to Settings → Camera and make sure Scan QR Codes is turned on.
With the Code Scanner in Control Center
Add the Code Scanner control to Control Center (in Control Center settings, or by editing Control Center on newer iOS versions). Swipe down to open it and tap the scanner. It works even when the Camera app’s scanning is switched off, and it’s handy in low light because it has a flashlight button.
Scan a QR code on Android
Android phones are made by many manufacturers, so the exact steps vary — but one of these methods works on practically every phone.
| Method | How | Works on |
|---|---|---|
| Camera app | Open the camera, point it at the code, tap the link or “Open” bubble. | Most phones from recent years, including Pixel and Samsung Galaxy |
| Quick settings tile | Swipe down from the top, tap “Scan QR code”. Add the tile with the pencil icon if it’s missing. | Android 13 and later on many phones |
| Google Lens | Open the Google app and tap the camera icon, or use the Lens button in your camera. | Almost every Android phone |
Samsung Galaxy phones
Open the Camera app and point it at the code. If no link appears, open the camera’s settings (the gear icon) and turn on Scan QR codes.
Google Pixel phones
Open the Camera, point it at the code and tap the link that appears, or use the Scan QR code tile in quick settings.
Payment codes
Scan a QR code from a photo or screenshot
- Android: open the image in Google Photos and tap Lens, or share the screenshot to Google Lens.
- iPhone: on recent iOS versions, open the image in Photos and long-press the code (or tap the Live Text button). On any iPhone, you can use Google Lens in the Google app.
- Computer: in Chrome, right-click the image and choose Search image with Google; Lens shows the link inside the code.
Why won’t my QR code scan?
Work through this list — it solves almost every problem:
- Distance. Too close and the camera can’t focus; too far and the code is too small. Start about 15–30 cm away and move slowly.
- Light and glare. Turn on the flashlight in dim places; tilt the phone if a shiny surface reflects light.
- The whole code must be visible, including a little white margin around it.
- Clean the lens. A smudged camera blurs fine detail.
- Damaged or poorly designed codes. Low contrast, light-on-dark colors, a cropped border or a logo covering too much can make a code unreadable.
- The link itself is broken. If the code scans but the page doesn’t load, the destination may be gone — some providers deactivate codes when a trial ends. Dynamic codes on QR-10 never expire.
Making your own codes? Our guides on QR code size and best practices help you avoid all of these.
How to scan QR codes safely
Scanning a QR code is safe in itself — the camera only reads text. What matters is what that text opens. “Quishing” (QR-code phishing) uses fake codes to send people to look-alike login or payment pages.
- Read the preview. Your phone shows the web address before opening it. Make sure it’s the site you expect.
- Look for stickers. On parking meters, posters and shop counters, check that nobody has stuck their own code over the real one.
- Don’t log in or pay from an unexpected code. Type the website yourself instead, especially for banking.
UPI scam warning