How to Scan a QR Code

Co-authored by Luigi Oppido and Jack Lloyd

Last Updated: August 2, 2022 Tested

This wikiHow teaches you how to use a phone, tablet, or computer camera to scan a QR code. QR codes are black-and-white squares similar to bar codes that store information such as links, phone numbers, images, and so on.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

On iPhone

1
Open your iPhone's Camera.^{[1]
X
Expert Source

Luigi Oppido
Computer & Tech Specialist
Expert Interview. 10 June 2020.} Tap the Camera app icon, which resembles a black camera on a grey background.
2
Point the camera at the QR code. Your phone should focus in on the QR code after a brief moment.^{[2]
X
Expert Source

Luigi Oppido
Computer & Tech Specialist
Expert Interview. 10 June 2020.}
- If your front-facing camera is on, first tap the camera-shaped icon in the bottom-right corner of the screen to flip the camera to the main camera.
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3
Make sure the QR code is centered on your iPhone's screen. All four edges of the QR code should be on your iPhone's screen.
4
Wait for the code to scan. Once the QR code is centered on your iPhone's screen, it should scan almost immediately.
5
Open the QR code's content. Tap the Safari notification that appears at the top of the screen to open the QR code's webpage or other information.^{[3]
X
Expert Source

Luigi Oppido
Computer & Tech Specialist
Expert Interview. 10 June 2020.}

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

On Android

1
Open your Android's
Google Play Store. Tap the Google Play Store app icon, which resembles a multicolored triangle.
2
Tap the search bar. It's at the top of the screen.
3
Type in qr code reader no ads. This will prompt a drop-down menu with search results.
4
Tap QR Code Reader - No Ads. It should be at the top of the drop-down menu. Doing so opens the app's page.
5
Tap INSTALL. This button is on the right side of the screen.
6
Tap ACCEPT. It's in the middle of the pop-up. The QR Code Reader app will begin downloading.
7
Tap OPEN. This button will appear in place of the INSTALL button as soon as the app finishes installing. Tapping it will open QR Code Reader.
8
Point your Android's camera at the QR code.^{[4]
X
Expert Source

Luigi Oppido
Computer & Tech Specialist
Expert Interview. 10 June 2020.} It will focus on the code after a moment.
9
Make sure that the QR code is centered in the screen. Your QR code should fit between the four brackets in the middle of your Android's screen.
10
Wait for the code to scan. Once the code scans, you'll see an image of the QR code on the screen, along with whatever the QR code's content is (e.g., a link) listed below the image.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

On Windows

1
Open Start
. Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
2
Type store into Start. This will search for the Windows Store app that's built into all Windows 10 computers.
3
Click
Store. It's at the top of the Start window. The Store window will open.
4
Click the search bar. It's in the top-right side of the Store window.
5
Type in qr code bar scanner. Doing so prompts a list of QR code scanners to appear in a drop-down menu below the search bar.
6
Click Qr Code Bar Scanner. It should be the top option in the drop-down menu. The app's page will open.
7
Click Get. This blue button is on the left side of the window. Clicking it will prompt the QR scanner to begin downloading onto your computer.
8
Open Qr Code Bar Scanner. Click Start
, type in qr code, click Qr Code Bar Scanner, and click Close dialog when prompted.
9
Point your computer's webcam at a QR code. The QR code should be positioned in the middle of the screen.
10
Wait for the QR code to scan. Once the QR code scans into the app, you'll see a pop-up window appear with the QR code's content listed in the middle of it.
- For example, if the QR code contains a link to a website, you'll see that link displayed in the pop-up window.
- You can click Other in the pop-up window and then click the globe-shaped icon in the bottom-right side of the subsequent window to open the QR code's content in a web browser.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

On Mac

1
Open a web browser. There isn't a built-in way to scan a QR code on your Mac, nor is there an app available to do so. If you want to scan a QR code, you'll have to use an online QR code scanner.
2
Open the Web QR website. Go to https://webqr.com/. This website scans QR codes using your Mac's built-in webcam.
- On some browsers (e.g., Google Chrome), you will have to click Allow when prompted to grant the website access to your camera.
3
Hold your QR code up to the camera. Your QR code should be facing the Mac's camera. You'll see the code appear in the scan window that's in the middle of the page.
- You can also upload a QR code from your computer by clicking the camera icon above the top-right corner of the scan window, clicking Choose File, clicking the QR code image, and clicking Open.
4
Center the QR code in the scan window. Make sure that all four edges and corners of the QR code are inside of the scan window.
5
Wait for the code to scan. Once your Mac's camera focuses on the code, you'll see the code's content appear in the box at the bottom of the page. You can then click the content to open it if you want.

Expert Q&A

Question

How do I scan a QR code without an app?

Luigi Oppido
Computer & Tech Specialist
Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years.

Luigi Oppido

Computer & Tech Specialist

Expert Answer

Most current smartphone operating systems have QR code scanners built into the camera app, so you just would have to point the camera at the QR code and let the phone scan it. If your camera doesn't do this automatically, you may need to either update your phone or download an app.
Question

How do I remove QR codes from phone and contact numbers?

Reece Orton

Community Answer

The QR code is not stored on your device.
Question

How do I find a QR code scanner on the Google Play store?

Sneh Ratna Choudhary

Community Answer

Just search for "QR code scanner" or "QR code reader" in the search bar on Google Play. If you have Android 8 and above, you can just point your camera at the QR code and scan it without downloading an external app.

Warnings

QR codes can lead to malicious websites or suggestive content. Avoid scanning a QR code if you don't trust its source.

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