To scan a QR code on an iPhone or an Android phone, open the Camera app, point it at the code and tap the link that appears on the screen. That works on every iPhone since iOS 11 and on most Android phones from the last few years, so for everyday codes you do not need a scanner app.
Below are the exact steps for iPhone, Samsung and other Android phones, how to scan a code that is already on your own screen, what to check when nothing pops up, and the few cases where an app or a browser tool is worth it.
How to scan a QR code on iPhone
- Open the Camera app. You can start it from the Home Screen, the Lock Screen or Control Center.
- Stay in Photo mode and point the camera at the code so the whole code fits on the screen. Hold still for a second.
- Tap the link that appears. Depending on the code, it opens a website, adds a contact or joins a WiFi network.
iPhone also has a separate scanner in Control Center called Scan Code (Code Scanner on older versions). If you do not see it, open Control Center, touch and hold an empty spot, tap Add a Control and choose Scan Code.
If the camera sees the code but nothing appears, go to Settings, then Camera, and make sure Scan QR Codes is turned on. It is on by default, but it is the first thing to check.
How to scan a QR code with an Android phone
Menus differ by brand, but one of these three works on nearly every Android phone:
- Camera app. Open it, point it at the code and tap the link that pops up. This works on Pixel, Samsung Galaxy and most other recent phones.
- Quick Settings. Swipe down from the top of the screen and tap Scan QR code. If the button is not there, swipe left for more buttons or tap the pencil icon to add it.
- Google Lens. Open the Google app, tap the camera icon in the search bar and point it at the code.
If the camera ignores codes, the scan setting is probably off. On a Samsung Galaxy, open the Camera, tap the settings gear and turn on Scan QR codes. On a Pixel, open the Camera, go to Settings, then More settings, and turn on Camera scan suggestions.
How to scan a QR code from a photo in your gallery or a screenshot
This is the one case the camera cannot handle: the code is in an email, a text, a PDF or an app on the same phone you want to scan it with, or you took a picture of a QR code earlier and want to open it now. You do not need a second phone.
On an iPhone: from a screenshot or a photo in your camera roll
- Take a screenshot of the code, or find the photo of it in your camera roll.
- Open it in the Photos app.
- Touch and hold the code until a menu appears, then tap Open in Safari. You can also tap the Live Text button in the corner of the photo and then tap the code.
This uses Live Text, which works on iPhone XS and newer.
On an Android phone: from a screenshot or a picture in your gallery
- Circle to Search: with the code on the screen, touch and hold the home button or the navigation bar. A link button appears on its own; if it does not, circle the code with your finger. This works on most recent Pixel and Samsung Galaxy phones.
- Google Photos: take a screenshot, or find the picture you took of the code, open it in Google Photos and tap Lens.
- Samsung: open Scan QR code from Quick Settings and tap the Gallery icon to pick the screenshot or photo.
Any phone can also use our free QR code decoder in the browser: pick the screenshot and it shows what the code says, without installing anything. If the code is on a computer screen instead, see our guide on how to scan a QR code on a laptop or PC.
Nothing happens when you scan? Check these in order
- The scan setting is off. iPhone: Settings, Camera, Scan QR Codes. Samsung: Camera settings, Scan QR codes. Pixel: Camera settings, More settings, Camera scan suggestions.
- Wrong camera mode. Switch to Photo mode. Video, Portrait and other modes may not look for codes.
- Too close or too far. Move back until the whole code, including the white border around it, fits on the screen. Then hold still for a second so the camera can focus.
- Glare or dim light. Tilt the phone to get rid of reflections on glossy paper or glass. In the dark, turn on the flashlight.
- Dirty lens. A fingerprint on the lens blurs everything. Wipe it with a soft cloth.
- Try a second scanner. Use Scan Code in Control Center on an iPhone, or Google Lens on Android. If neither reads it, the problem is the code itself: too small, blurry, low contrast or damaged. Our QR code not scanning guide covers those fixes. If the code is blurry, faded or worn, upload a photo of it to the blurry QR code reader.
WiFi codes are a special case: the scan works but the phone will not connect. Our WiFi QR code not working guide walks through the usual causes.
Do you need a QR code scanner app?
For everyday scanning, no. The camera, Photos and Google Lens already cover codes in front of you and codes on your screen. A separate app only earns its place in a few cases:
- Your phone is too old. iPhones that cannot update past iOS 10, and older Android phones whose camera has no QR option. On Android, try the free Google Lens app before any scanner app.
- You want a list of past scans. The built-in camera keeps no history.
- You scan a lot for work, like stock, tickets or event check-in, and need batch scanning or an export to a spreadsheet.
| Option | Code in front of you | Code in a screenshot or photo | Keeps a scan history | Install needed | Access it asks for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in camera, Photos and Google Lens | Yes | Yes, through Photos on iPhone or Lens and Circle to Search on Android | No | No | Nothing new |
| Scanner app from the app store | Yes | Usually | Usually | Yes | Camera, often photos, sometimes contacts or location |
| Browser decoder, no install | Some tools | Yes | Depends on the tool | No | Only the image you pick, in that tab |
The privacy side matters too. Reading a QR code needs nothing but the camera, yet many free scanner apps also ask for your photos, contacts or location, and they are usually paid for with ads that track what you do. If you only scan now and then, the built-in camera or a no-install browser tool avoids all of that.
Check where a code goes before you open it
Your phone shows the web address before it opens anything, so take a second to read it. Be careful when:
- The address is a short link, like bit.ly, that hides the real site.
- The code is a sticker on a parking meter, a charger or a poster. Scammers paste fake codes over real ones.
- The page asks you to log in or pay before anything else.
When in doubt, run it through our safe QR code scanner first. It decodes the code, follows the redirects to the real destination and checks 17 warning signs before you visit anything.
Worried a code could harm the phone itself? Our answer to can a QR code give you a virus explains what a scan can and cannot do.
Which method to use
- Code in front of you: the Camera app.
- Code on your own phone screen: Photos on iPhone, Circle to Search or Google Photos on Android.
- Code on a computer screen: point your phone at the monitor, or follow our laptop and PC guide.
- Not sure the code is safe: our safe QR code scanner.
- Dozens of scans a day with a saved history: a dedicated scanner app.
Making one rather than reading one? Our QR code generator covers links, WiFi, phone, SMS and email. For more free tools to make and read QR codes, browse our QR tools or the full guide library.