PlayInfoBox

Home /Utilities /How to Scan a QR Code with Your Android Camera

How to Scan a QR Code with Your Android Camera

Most Android phones can scan a QR code straight from the camera app -- no separate scanner app needed.

  1. Open your default camera app

    Open your phone's camera app -- on most recent Android phones, no separate app is needed to recognize a QR code.

  2. Point the camera at the QR code

    Bring the camera close enough that the whole QR code fits inside the frame.

  3. Tap the notification or link that appears

    Once the code is recognized, a link or piece of information pops up near the top or bottom of the screen -- tap it to open it right away.

  4. Use the "QR scanner" quick setting if the camera does not pick it up

    Pull down the notification shade and, if you see a "QR scanner" tile, tap it to open a dedicated scanning screen instead.

  5. Why it is worth using

    From restaurant menus to payments and Wi-Fi logins, you can scan whatever a QR code is offering with just your camera -- no extra app required.

Built into the camera on nearly every recent phone

QR recognition used to require a separate scanner app, but it is now built directly into the default camera on almost all recent Android phones, so scanning is often as simple as just pointing and tapping.

A quick safety habit worth building

Scanning an unfamiliar QR code is functionally the same as clicking an unfamiliar link -- most phones show a preview of the destination before opening it, and it is worth actually reading that preview instead of tapping through automatically.

Frequently Asked Questions

My camera will not recognize the QR code.

Some older models or camera apps have QR recognition turned off by default -- check your camera app's settings for a "Scan QR codes" option and make sure it is enabled.

How can I tell if a link from a QR code is safe?

Check the preview address shown on screen before tapping it, and be cautious with QR codes from an unclear source -- look closely at the address before opening it.