How to scan a QR code on Android
Most Android phones scan QR codes right from the camera, and Google Lens reads them from anywhere on screen. Here are the reliable ways to do it.
With the built-in camera
- Open the Camera app and point it at the QR code.
- Hold steady until a link or button appears on screen.
- Tap it to open the content. On some phones you may need to turn on a 'Scan QR codes' or 'Google Lens suggestions' option in the camera settings first.
With Google Lens
Google Lens (built into many phones and the Google app) can scan a code in front of you or one that's already in a photo. Open Lens, point it at the code or select an image, and tap the result.
On iPhone and iPad
On Apple devices the built-in Camera reads QR codes, and Scan QR Code Master adds history, barcode formats, and QR creation. See our iPhone scanning guide for the details.
FAQ
- Do all Android phones scan QR codes from the camera?
- Most modern ones do, but the feature is sometimes off by default or lives in the camera settings. If your camera doesn't react to a code, enable QR/Lens scanning in its settings or use the Google Lens app.
Scan and create QR codes in a tap
Scan QR Code Master is a free, ad-free QR and barcode scanner and generator for iPhone, iPad, and Mac — with history and one-tap sharing.
Download on the App Store