How do I scan a QR code on an iPhone?

Open the Camera app, point it at the code so the whole thing is in frame, and tap the yellow notification banner that appears at the top of the screen to open the link or action.

How do I scan a QR code from a screenshot or saved photo?

On iPhone, open the image in Photos and tap and hold the code (Live Text). On Android, open it in Google Photos and tap the Google Lens icon to read the code from the saved picture.

Why won’t my camera scan a QR code?

Common causes are QR scanning being switched off in settings, poor lighting, holding the phone too close, glare on the surface, or the code being too small or partly covered. Enable scanning, add light, and move back until the whole code fits in frame.

Can I scan a QR code without internet?

You can read the code itself without internet — your phone decodes it locally. But if the code contains a website link, you’ll need a connection to open that page. Wi-Fi and plain-text codes work fully offline.

Is it safe to scan QR codes?

Scanning is safe; the risk is in what you do next. A QR code is just a link, so check the preview URL before tapping and be wary of codes stuck in public places that point to unexpected or shortened addresses.

Basics

How to scan a QR code on any phone

On almost every modern phone you scan a QR code by simply opening the camera and pointing it at the code — no app required. This guide covers iPhone, Android, scanning from saved images, older handsets, and what to do when nothing happens.

7 min read · Updated 24 June 2026

Most people overcomplicate this. If your phone is from roughly the last seven or eight years, the built-in camera already reads QR codes — you don’t need to download a separate ‘QR scanner’ app, and you almost certainly shouldn’t, as many of those apps are stuffed with ads or tracking. Below is exactly how to do it on each platform.

How to scan a QR code on iPhone

Apple built QR scanning into the iPhone Camera app from iOS 11 onwards, so any iPhone running a reasonably recent version of iOS can do this natively.

To scan with the iPhone Camera:

1
Open the Camera app
Use the standard Camera app — no special mode needed. Make sure you’re on the rear ‘Photo’ camera.
2
Point at the QR code
Hold the phone steady so the whole code is in frame. You don’t need to take a photo — just frame it.
3
Tap the notification
A yellow link banner or notification appears at the top of the screen. Tap it to open the link, join the Wi-Fi network, or perform whatever action the code contains.

No banner appearing?

Go to Settings → Camera and make sure ‘Scan QR Codes’ is switched on. It’s on by default, but it can get disabled. You can also add a dedicated Code Scanner button to your Control Centre for one-tap access.

How to scan a QR code on Android

Android handles QR codes in one of two ways depending on your phone and version. On most recent devices the camera reads codes directly; on others you’ll use Google Lens, which is built into the camera, the Google app, and Google Photos.

Method 1 — using the Camera app (Android 9 and later, most phones):

1
Open your Camera app
Point it at the QR code and hold steady. On Samsung, Pixel and most modern Androids the code is recognised automatically.
2
Tap the pop-up
A link or suggestion chip appears over the code. Tap it to follow the action.

Method 2 — using Google Lens (works on virtually any Android):

1
Open Google Lens
Open it from the Camera’s Lens/Modes menu, the Google app’s search bar, or the Google Assistant.
2
Point and search
Aim at the QR code and tap the shutter or the on-screen search button.
3
Open the result
Lens reads the code and shows the link or content to tap.

How to scan a QR code from a screenshot or saved photo

What if the QR code is on your phone — in an email, a PDF, or a screenshot someone sent you? You can’t point your camera at your own screen, but you can still read it.

iPhone: open the image in the Photos app, then either use Live Text (tap and hold the code) or tap the small data-detector icon Photos shows on a recognised code. You can also long-press a QR image in Safari and choose to open it.
Android: open the image in Google Photos, tap the Lens icon at the bottom, and Lens will read the code from the saved picture.
Any device: if you have a second phone or a friend nearby, the simplest fallback is to display the code on one screen and scan it with another phone’s camera.

Test your own codes this way

If you create a QR code, scan it from the saved file before you print anything. It’s the quickest way to confirm the data is correct and the code is readable at the size you’re using.

Scanning on older phones without native support

If your camera genuinely doesn’t recognise QR codes — typically a phone more than about eight years old — you’ll need a scanner app. Choose carefully: pick a well-reviewed, ad-light option and grant it camera permission only. Avoid anything that demands contacts, location, or excessive permissions for what is a very simple task. Google Lens, installable from the Play Store, is a safe and free choice on older Androids.

“My camera won’t scan the QR code” — troubleshooting

When a scan fails it’s almost always one of a handful of fixable issues. Work through these in order:

Symptom	Likely cause	Fix
Nothing happens at all	QR scanning disabled in settings	Enable ‘Scan QR Codes’ (iPhone) or use Google Lens (Android)
Code won’t focus	Too close, or low light	Move back so the whole code fits in frame; add light or turn on the torch
Reads slowly or not at all	Code too small for the distance	Get closer, or print larger — roughly a 10:1 distance-to-size ratio
Blurry / glare on screen	Reflection off a glossy surface or display	Tilt to kill the glare, or lower screen brightness if scanning a screen
Partial / cropped scan	Quiet zone covered, or code clipped	Make sure the blank margin and all four corners are visible

If a specific code refuses to scan no matter what — for instance one you printed yourself — the problem is usually the code, not your phone: too small, too dense, low contrast, or a logo covering too much of it. Our dedicated guide on QR codes with logos and our print-size guide cover the most common culprits.

Check before you tap

QR codes are just links, so the same caution applies as with any link. Before tapping, glance at the preview URL your phone shows. If it looks unrelated to where you scanned it — say a random shortened link on a parking sign — don’t open it.

Scanning a Wi-Fi QR code

Wi-Fi codes work a little differently: instead of opening a link, scanning prompts your phone to join the network automatically, no password typing required. If you’re making one for guests, see how to make a Wi-Fi QR code — it’s one of the most genuinely useful codes you can put on a wall.

Make your own QR code freeCreate a code, scan it to test, and print it — no watermark, no sign-up.

No. On almost all iPhones and most Android phones from the last several years, the built-in Camera app scans QR codes automatically. You only need an app on much older phones, where Google Lens is a good free option.