How to Scan a QR Code on Different Devices? (Answered)

| Updated on January 17, 2025

From small business owners to popular franchise outlets, almost every digital payment is backed up by a QR code scan system, which enables customers to pay for goods or services in no time. By knowing how to scan a QR code, you can make easy payments and make transactions a lot more quicker. 

A “Quick Response” code holds various types of information, including links, phone numbers, and images, and plays a crucial role in enhancing personalized consumer experiences within contemporary marketing and advertising. 

Furthermore, before scanning any code through your device, it’s important to verify their origins to prevent accessing harmful websites. To learn the complete process of scanning a QR code, keep reading! 

Did You Know?

During the pandemic, QR codes were used to make no-contact and faster payments. Ever since, its use has expanded rapidly over almost all e-commerce applications. As per the research of Statista, QR code scans will likely increase by up to 33 million in the US between 2020 and 2025.

How to Scan a QR Code on an iPhone and Android Phone?

How to scan a QR code

To scan the QR code, simply grab your Android phone or tablet and open the camera app that comes with it. Next, you just have to aim the camera at the QR code for your device to read the code, after which it would be directed towards the required uniform resource locators. 

Although the procedure of scanning a QR code on both Android and iPhone is similar, iOS has a bit more complicated structure for scanning a digital matrix. On the other hand, Android has a much more user-friendly interface. Let’s take a look at the steps you need to follow for both:

For iPhone Users

To read a QR code using your iPhone, simply launch the Camera app and aim your phone at the QR graphic. Ensure that the QR code appears within the box displayed on your screen, then tap the pop-up banner or the yellow QR code icon located in the bottom-right corner. 

  1. Swipe left from the lock screen to open the Camera application on your iPhone. Another method is to swipe down from the center of your home screen and type “camera” into the search bar located at the top of your display. 
  1. Aim your iPhone at the QR code to initiate the scanning process. The QR code doesn’t need to occupy the entire screen; however, ensure that all four corners of the QR code are visible within the application. Upon successful scanning of the QR code, a pop-up banner will emerge above it, and a yellow QR code icon will be displayed in the bottom right corner.
    Scanning a QR code from iPhone camera
  1. To conclude, select the pop-up banner or the QR icon located in the bottom-right corner of the application. This action will promptly redirect you to the website, launch the app, or execute an alternative function. Therefore, it is essential to understand the purpose of the banner before engaging with it.
NOTES

If the banner or QR icon is not visible, please verify that the Scan QR Code feature is activated. This can be accomplished by navigating to Settings >> Camera and toggling the slider adjacent to Scan QR Codes. The feature will be confirmed as enabled when the slider appears green.

In case the pop-up banner or code icon does not show up, try taking a picture of the QR code and opening it in your Photos app. Next, look for the Live Text icon, which resembles three lines in a box in the bottom-right corner. Just tap on the scanned code, and you’ll see the pop-up banner.

For Android Users

For Android 8 or a newer version, you can easily scan a QR code by launching your camera app, aiming your phone at the code, and tapping on the pop-up banner that appears. If the banner doesn’t show up, you can also use the Google Lens app to scan the QR code.

You can also simply launch the Camera app on your Android device. This can be done by swiping up from the bottom of the screen or just tapping the search bar on your Home screen and typing “Camera.” 

Scanning QR From Android Phone

Once the camera scans the code and your phone reads it, a pop-up will appear right on top of the scanned code, as shown in the picture above. The moment you tap on the pop-up, you will be redirected to the virtual address that the scanned QR contains. 

How to Scan a QR Code on Windows and Mac?

If you’re wondering how to scan a QR code through PCs, laptops, and tablets, there is a solution for that as well, for both Windows operating systems and Mac-operated devices. The former has an inbuilt QR scanner on the Camera application, whereas the latter does not. 

For Windows Operating System:

You can directly scan the QR code using the Camera application if your device operates on Windows OS. The steps to scan a QR code on Windows are given below.

Camera application on Windows
  1. Go to the search bar present at the bottom of the home screen and open the Camera application
    The Camera App on Windows
  1. Once the camera opens, below the capture button, you will find a downward arrow. Click on that.
    QR code icon on Windows Camera App
  1. As soon as you execute the 2nd step, the downward arrow changes into the icon of a QR code. Click on the QR code icon and now place the QR code in front of the camera. 
  1. The Camera application will then automatically redirect you to the required web address. 

For MacBook Users

Since the Mac Operating System does not have an inbuilt feature to scan QR codes like Windows, the steps to scan codes on macOS are different. 

QR Journal app on Mac Store
  1. Install the QR Journal, available on the Mac App Store. 
    QR Journal app home screen
  1. Once the app is installed, you will see a window get opened.
  1. Click on the Scan button that is present in the top left corner of the app. 
  1. Then you would have to place the QR code in front of the camera to scan the code. After this, as shown in the photo, the web address would appear in the horizontal box.
  1. Click on the Open Link button, and you’re done! 

You can scan a QR code through a photo saved in the media files section of your phone as well. To know more about scanning a QR code via photo, keep reading. 

How to Scan QR Code From a Picture?

Sometimes people share photos of the QR code on social media and messaging apps. If you are having difficulty scanning a code from a photo stored in your gallery, you’re in the right place!

Whether it’s Android or iOS, you can now easily read QR codes from images in your gallery on both iOS and Android. If you’re using Android version 8 or higher and iOS version 11 or higher, your built-in camera can scan QR codes directly. 

However, if your Android is below version 8 and iOS is below version 11, and you don’t know how to scan a QR code, you’ll need to download a third-party QR code scanner app. 

What to Do When Android Phone Does Not Scan QR Codes?

In case you get stuck in a situation where you are unable to scan a QR code and the payment is pending mid-way, leveling up your anxiety, here are some quick hacks to try:

  1. Verify your Android version: If your device is operating on Android 9 or later, you can scan QR codes directly without needing an additional application. For devices with an earlier version of Android, consider downloading a QR code scanning application.  
  1. Ensure proper lighting: Confirm that the screen displaying the QR code is sufficiently illuminated for the camera to detect it. 
  1. Clean the camera lens: A lens that is dirty or smudged may hinder the phone’s ability to scan QR codes effectively, so make sure the camera lens is clean.
  1. Position your device correctly: Hold your phone vertically and ensure that the QR code is properly centered on the display.  
  1. Adjust your distance: Experiment with moving your phone closer to or further away from the QR code for optimal scanning.  
  1. Activate QR code scanning: Access your phone’s Settings and verify that QR code scanning is turned on.  
  1. Utilize Google Lens: Launch the Google app and select the Lens icon (camera icon) located in the search bar. You can also enable Google Lens suggestions within the Camera app.  
  1. Consider a third-party application: Download a QR code reader from a third-party source if needed.

Are QR Codes the Future?

The growing interest in customized marketing strategies is expected to elevate the utilization of QR codes further. Recent statistics indicate a notable surge in the global adoption of QR-based scanners, highlighting their increasing presence in daily life. As businesses and marketers delve deeper into the capabilities of these codes, they are likely to uncover additional methods to optimize their use, intending to deliver timely and pertinent information to consumers. 

These codes provide undeniably extensive potential and insights, paving the way for new opportunities for marketers and consumers. Thus, this phenomenon transcends mere trend status; it represents a pathway toward a more interconnected and promising future for all.

Frequently Asked Questions
How to scan QR code in Google?

Tap QR and aim your camera at a QR code to scan using Google’s camera’s QR mode.

Does your phone have a built-in QR scanner?

The native camera, “Photos,” and Google app for Pixel users all come pre-installed with the Google Lens feature.

Do I have to install a QR scanner on my phone?

Not necessarily because any QR code can be scanned by iOS or Android devices using the Camera app itself.

Can I scan a QR code on my phone screen?

Yes, the QR code is readable through your phone screen as well.

How do I scan a QR code with my phone?

Use the Camera app of your phone to scan the QR code.

Sources
Matt Rooke

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