How to scan a QR code on iPhone and Android

If you have ever stood in front of a QR code wondering which app to open, here is the reassuring news: on most modern phones, you do not need an app at all. The camera you already use for photos recognises QR codes on its own. Point, hold steady, tap the little banner that appears — and you are there. This post walks through the steps for iPhone and Android, covers the special case of Wi-Fi codes, and explains what to try when a code refuses to scan.

On iPhone

1. Open the Camera app, just as you would to take a photo. Do not press the shutter button.
2. Point the camera at the QR code so the whole square — including the blank margin around it — fits comfortably in the frame.
3. Hold still for a second or two. A yellow outline usually appears around the code, followed by a notification banner at the top or bottom of the screen showing where the code leads.
4. Tap the banner. If it is a web link, it opens in your browser; if it is a Wi-Fi code, the phone offers to join the network; if it is plain text, it displays the message.

If nothing happens, check one setting: go to Settings > Camera and make sure Scan QR Codes is switched on. On older iPhones that lack this setting, a free scanner app from the App Store will do the job instead — but try the camera first, because that is all most people ever need.

On Android

1. Open the Camera app. Again, there is no need to take a photo.
2. Frame the whole code, margin included, and hold the phone steady.
3. A link preview or pop-up should appear near the code or at the bottom of the screen. Tap it to follow it.

Android phones vary a little by manufacturer. On some models, QR scanning lives inside the camera app itself; on others, you may need to switch the camera to a dedicated scan mode, or use the scanner built into Google Lens. If your camera shows no response at all, open Google Lens (often available from the camera app, the Google app, or as a standalone app), point it at the code, and tap the result. Either route ends in the same place: a preview of the destination, which you confirm with a tap.

Scanning a Wi-Fi code

Wi-Fi codes deserve a special mention because they behave slightly differently. When you scan one, the phone does not open a web page — it shows a prompt asking whether you want to join the named network. Tap Join and you are connected, with no password to type. That is the whole point of the format, which our Wi-Fi QR code guide explains from the creator's side. One tip: if the phone says the network cannot be found, you may be out of range of that network, or its name may have changed since the code was printed.

When a code won't scan

Before assuming your phone is at fault, run through the usual suspects. First, distance: too close and the camera cannot focus on the whole pattern; too far and the squares blur together. Move slowly back until the entire code fits in the frame with room to spare. Second, light: glare on glossy paper or a screen, and dim rooms, both make recognition harder — tilt the phone slightly to kill reflections, or move into better light. Third, damage: a code that is torn, badly faded, or printed too small for its viewing distance may simply be unreadable, however good the camera is. And fourth, the code itself: a code printed from a low-quality, blurry image — for example, a photo of a photo, or a heavily compressed image — can defeat even a good camera.

One more habit is worth building: always read the destination preview before you tap. Your phone shows you the link or action first for a reason. If a code on a restaurant table promises a menu but the preview points somewhere unrelated, stop — that is exactly the kind of mismatch our QR code safety post warns about. A two-second glance is the cheapest security check you will ever make.

Frequently asked questions

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