You see a QR code on a poster, a menu, a business card, or your screen. How do you scan it? The answer depends on your device, but in most cases you don't need to download anything — your phone's built-in camera handles it.
Here's how to scan QR codes on every device.
On iPhone
iPhones have had built-in QR scanning since iOS 11 (2017). No app needed.
Method 1: Camera app. Open the Camera app. Point it at the QR code. Hold steady for 1-2 seconds. A notification banner appears at the top with the link — tap it to open.
Method 2: Control Center. Swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center. Tap the QR code scanner icon (if you've added it). Point at the code — it opens the link automatically.
Method 3: From a screenshot or photo. Open the image in Photos. Long-press on the QR code in the image. A menu appears with the option to open the link. This works on iOS 16 and later using Live Text. Alternatively, open the photo and look for a small QR icon in the bottom-right corner.
If none of these work, check Settings → Camera → make sure "Scan QR Codes" is toggled on.
On Android
Most Android phones from 2018 onwards scan QR codes through the camera, but the method varies by manufacturer.
Google Pixel and stock Android. Open the Camera app. Point at the QR code. A link chip appears on screen — tap to open. On newer Pixel phones, there's also a dedicated QR mode in the camera.
Samsung. Open the Camera app. Point at the QR code — Samsung cameras auto-detect QR codes. If it doesn't work, swipe to the "More" mode and look for "Scan QR code." You can also use Bixby Vision from the Gallery to scan QR codes in saved photos.
Other manufacturers (Xiaomi, OnePlus, Huawei, etc.). Most have QR scanning in the camera app. If your camera doesn't detect QR codes, try opening Google Lens — it's pre-installed on most Android phones. Open Google Lens, point at the QR code, and it reads it instantly.
From a photo or screenshot. Open the image in Google Photos. Tap the Google Lens icon at the bottom. It detects and decodes the QR code, showing you the link to tap.
On Laptop (Windows)
Windows doesn't have a built-in QR scanner for the camera, but there are several easy methods.
Method 1: Browser-based. If the QR code is on your screen (in an email, a website, a document), right-click the image in Chrome and select "Search image with Google Lens." Google Lens decodes the QR and shows the link.
Method 2: Windows Camera app. The Camera app in Windows 11 can scan QR codes if your laptop has a webcam. Open Camera, switch to the barcode scanning mode (if available), and hold the QR code in front of your webcam.
Method 3: Online QR decoder. Take a screenshot of the QR code. Go to an online QR reader website. Upload the screenshot — the tool decodes it and shows the link. This works for any QR code in any image.
Method 4: Phone shortcut. If the QR code is on your laptop screen, the fastest method is often to just point your phone at the screen and scan with your phone camera. The QR code on your laptop screen works the same as a printed QR code.
On Mac
Method 1: Phone your screen. The quickest way — point your iPhone at the QR code displayed on your Mac screen. The phone camera reads it through the screen.
Method 2: Screenshot + Preview. Take a screenshot of the QR code (Cmd + Shift + 4). Open the screenshot in Preview. Preview on macOS Ventura and later can detect QR codes — look for a link overlay or right-click context menu option.
Method 3: Google Lens in Chrome. Right-click the QR code image in Chrome → "Search image with Google Lens." Works the same as on Windows.
Method 4: Online decoder. Same as Windows — upload a screenshot to an online QR reader.
Scanning a QR Code on Your Screen
This is one of the most common questions: "I received a QR code on my phone — how do I scan it if I can't point my camera at my own screen?"
On iPhone (iOS 16+): Open the image in Photos. Long-press on the QR code → "Open Link" appears. Or use Live Text — iOS detects QR codes in photos automatically.
On Android: Open the image in Google Photos → tap the Google Lens icon. It reads the QR code from the image.
Cross-device: If the QR code is on your computer screen, scan it with your phone pointed at the monitor. If the QR is on your phone, screenshot it, then use the gallery scanning methods above.
See our detailed guide on scanning QR codes from screenshots for more methods.
Troubleshooting
Camera doesn't recognize the QR code. Make sure the QR code fills about half of the camera frame. Not too close (blurry), not too far (too small). Ensure good lighting — dim environments make scanning harder.
Banner doesn't appear after scanning. On iPhone, check Settings → Camera → Scan QR Codes is enabled. On Android, try using Google Lens instead of the default camera.
QR code is too small or blurry. If the QR code is printed very small or the print quality is poor, your camera may struggle. Try getting closer, or if it's a digital image, zoom in and crop to just the QR area.
Link opens but the page doesn't load. The QR scanned successfully — the problem is the destination website, not the QR code. The site might be down, the link expired, or you might need an internet connection.
Old phone without built-in scanning. Phones from before 2017 may not have native QR scanning. Download a free QR scanner app from the App Store or Google Play — search "QR code scanner" and pick one with high ratings.
Do You Need a QR Scanner App?
For most people, no. Every iPhone since 2017 and most Android phones since 2018 scan QR codes with the default camera. Third-party QR scanner apps are only needed for very old phones or if you want extra features like scan history or batch scanning.
Be cautious with third-party QR apps — some are ad-heavy or request unnecessary permissions. Stick to well-reviewed options if you do need one.
Create Your Own QR Codes
Now that you know how to scan, why not create? At qree.app you can generate QR codes for URLs, contacts, WiFi, and more — free, with scan tracking included.