It's super easy to scan QR codes on your iPhone or iPad, but not everyone is aware of how to do it. If you're not familiar with QR codes and have never had the opportunity to scan one on your device before, rest assured, you've come to the right place. Show QR codes have become more popular in the last two years with the pandemic increasing the need for contactless interactions. These two-dimensional barcodes are read by the camera on your device and are often used by shops, websites and locations as a way of communicating or storing information. They're becoming more common in some restaurants and cafes as rather than printing out paper menus and having to dispose of them each time new customers come in, these eateries can simply get you to scan a QR code and bring the menu up on your device - pretty cool, huh? If you have one of the best iPhones or best iPads, you'll find it easy to scan QR codes on these because Apple have build a QR code reader into the camera. But, as with all tech software it can take a few minutes to get to grips with this handy tool, which is why we've put together this simple guide on how to scan QR codes on your iPhone or iPad. But, before we dive into that, we recommend you don't overlook the security risk posed by QR codes. Yes, they can be super handy and there are definitely benefits to using them, but cyber criminals have cottoned on to how powerful they can be and it's worth being aware of how they're seeking to target them. For those of you who are happy to proceed, let's take a look at how you can scan QR codes on your iPhone or iPad. Oh, and if you're using a device other than one produced by Apple, check out our guide to how to scan QR codes on your Android - we've got you covered there too!
If you want to scan QR codes on your iPhone or iPad, the first step is to open up the camera app on your iPhone or iPad. This can usually be found on the home page, in the bottom right corner of the device, although on iPads it's on the first page and if you've moved it around it'll be somewhere else. Now, hold the device's camera up to the QR code. No need to hit the shutter button, your iOS device will automatically recognize the QR code and provide you with an on-screen notification. (Make sure you have mobile signal or you're connected to Wi-Fi, otherwise this won't work.) Tap the notification to be taken to the destination of the QR code. This could be a website, app, or feature of your phone. Remember, you can now change the default browser on your iPhone or iPad, thanks to a relaxation in recent versions of iOS, meaning you'll see a notification to go to Chrome or Safari when scanning. There – in those few steps, you've learned how to scan QR codes on your iPhone or iPad - well done! The secret code scanner in your iPhoneThere's also a secret code scanner in your iPhone - did you know that? It's not an app, as such (well, it is, but you can't see it in your app library) but can be found using Spotlight. It does the same thing as in the camera app, but just offers a larger viewfinder to play with. All you need to do is swipe down from the home screen to open up the search bar at the top of your iPhone and type in 'Code Scanner' - or you can head to 'Settings', then to 'Control Center' and add 'Code Scanner' to your mix. Now you can access it by just swiping down from the top right-hand side of your screen, and can get all scan-like whenever you fancy. Wallet app can scan QR codes on iPhone and iPadThere's also a built-in QR reader in the Wallet app on iPhone and iPod. To access the scanner, open the app, click on the plus button at the top of the "Passes" section, then tap on Scan Code to Add a Pass. From here, you can scan QR codes for coupons, boarding passes, tickets, and loyalty cards, but only for the specific things that Wallet considers "passes." If you try to scan any other QR code, you'll get an error message. If you don't fancy either of the above two methods, you can also head to the App Store where you'll find a wide selection of free QR code reading applications.
It's easy to scan QR Codes with iPhone because the process is relatively consistent across different versions of iOS. iOS is the only operating system in use by the smartphone manufacturer Apple. To give you a bit of help, we've created a comprehensive guide to make scanning QR Codes with iOS easier.
The concept behind QR Codes originated from Japan as an answer to the demand for better technology than Barcodes. Barcodes required complicated technology to be scanned, couldn't resist damage and held little information. The development of QR Codes was a massive improvement on product inventory systems because they had better error tolerance, could contain 100 times more data, could be read both horizontally and vertically, which is why QR Codes are square. With the invention of smartphones, this brought QR Code use to the public. Nowadays, everyone can scan QR Codes via mobile, so many companies also use them with their marketing strategies to conveniently connect users to links and other content. iOS is an operating system that is used solely for Apple products. This includes iPhones, iPads, iPods, Mac computers, and any other Apple devices. If you're unsure about which version of iOS your phone uses or you want to try to scan QR Codes without an app and would like to try your camera, use the following steps:
Alternatively, you can follow this guide for how to check your version of iOS.
By default, this new feature is enabled in all iOS 11 devices. But if for some reason your camera doesn't read QR Codes after the update or you have an older version of iOS, follow these steps:
1. Open the Settings app from your home screen.
2. Scroll down and tap on camera.
3. Find “Scan QR Codes” and enable it by making sure the switch is green.
That’s it! Now you’re ready to scan QR Codes. Of course, you can also disable this feature at any time.
1. Open the Camera app by either swiping to the left from the lock screen or tapping on its icon from your home screen.
2. Hold your device steady for 2-3 seconds towards the QR Code you want to scan.
3. Click on the notification to open the content of the QR Code.
Depending on the type of QR Code scanned, you will be prompted with a different action. For example, any URL QR Code will give the option to open the link with Safari. If it's a vCard QR Code, it will provide you with the option to add the details to your address book.
The above instructions should work for any version of iOS. However, in the case that you run into issues, there are two alternative methods to scan QR Codes with iPhone as described below. Wallet AppThe wallet app can scan and save particular QR Codes, such as those needed for boarding flights or entering an event. It's useful if you'd like to access these QR Codes later on. To scan QR Codes with the Wallet app, use the following steps:
1. Start the Wallet app.
2. Select “Scan Code” located at the bottom of the page in blue.
3. Focus your camera on the QR Code so it fits within the square.
4. If the QR Code can’t be saved, you’ll get a notification saying “No Pass Available for This Code.”
5. If it can be saved, click on the “+” button at the top right of the screen and select “Scan Code to Add a Pass.”
Instead of using your camera directly, you can open a QR Code reader from the “Control Center.” Use the following steps to do so:
Shazam Shazam Known as music recognizing app, Shazam can also scan QR Codes for interactive content, special offers, and the ability to purchase items or share them with others.
This social media platform added QR Code scanning in its Lens visual discovery feature to make it “more useful and actionable for brands” that are using the platform to promote their products.
Whatsapp uses QR Codes to pair the desktop program with your smartphone. You just need to download Whatsapp for desktop, then select options, Whatsapp Web, and scan the QR Code.
LinkedIn functions similarly to Snapchat as it conveniently adds profiles instead of having to search for the correct name. To access your profile QR Code, select the QR Code symbol in the right-hand side of the search bar and enable camera access to add someone, or select “My Code” to share yours.
With Twitter, you can scan QR Codes to share and add profiles, as well as read QR Codes in general. To view your QR Code, select your profile icon and then the QR Code icon at the bottom right. You can then share this with a photo or tweet or directly save the image. To scan any QR Code with Twitter, access the QR Code icon and then automatically scan the external QR Code.
Yes, the easiest way to do so is with your iPhone camera. Locate the instructions above.
It is possible if you open this website with Safari. However, this method is not recommended because it has been known to have bugs, and you still need an image of the QR Code. The simplest way to scan QR Codes is with your iPhone camera and as long as your default browser is Safari, the content on the QR Code will open there.
No, because you can scan QR Codes automatically with your camera. Nonetheless, you can instead choose to use a third-party QR Code scanning app. We’ve got a list of recommendations above.
Checking your version of iOS on the iPhone is very simple. You can view this guide for help. Nonetheless, your version of iOS doesn't affect how you scan QR Codes, because, for all versions, you can use the camera. |