To scan a QR code, open your phone’s camera, point it at the code and tap the link or banner that appears. iPhones and most Android phones do this without any app. For a code in a screenshot or a photo, use Google Lens or an online scanner that reads images.
On an iPhone or iPad
- Open the Camera app and use the rear camera.
- Point it at the code so the whole code is in view. You don’t need to press the shutter.
- Tap the banner that appears with the link or action.
iPhones also have a Code Scanner you can add to Control Centre, for scanning without opening the camera.
On an Android phone
- Open the Camera app and point it at the code. Most recent Android phones show a link straight away.
- If nothing appears, look for a Lens or scan button in the camera, or open the Google Lens app and point it at the code.
- Tap the link to open it.
On some phones, QR scanning is a setting in the camera app that you may need to turn on.
From a screenshot or photo
- Google Lens: open the image in Google Photos or the Lens app and tap the code.
- Our scanner: upload or paste the image into the QR code scanner. It reads the code in your browser and shows what it holds, without opening anything.
What a QR code can do when you scan it
- Open a website in your browser.
- Join a Wi-Fi network after you confirm.
- Save a contact to your phone.
- Start an email, text or call, with the details filled in; you still press send or call.
- Add an event to your calendar, or open a map.
If a code won’t scan
- Move closer or further away until the whole code fits in the frame.
- Add light, or tilt the phone to avoid glare.
- Clean the camera lens.
- Try Google Lens or another phone.
If a code still won’t read, the problem is usually the code itself: too small, too pale or too busy. If it’s yours, see why a QR code isn’t scanning.
Scan safely
Before opening a link, read the address your phone shows. Be wary of codes on stickers placed over other signs, especially on parking meters and payment points, and of any page that asks for card details, a login or an app download. More in protecting QR codes from tampering.