How to access qr code on android

The Quick Response code (or QR code) was introduced way back in 1994, but never really took off until decades later when the COVID-19 pandemic created a need for a quick, easy, and (most importantly) touch-free way of distributing information.

QUICK ANSWER

To scan QR codes on an Android device, point your camera directly at the QR code (not at an angle). A notification will pop up that will indicate what the QR code is for (to take you to a website, for example, or download a menu PDF). Tap the notification box to activate the QR code.

How to scan QR codes on an Android device

Open your Android camera app. Some third-party camera apps have built-in QR scanners, but not all, so you might as well use the native app. Point the camera at the QR code as head-on as you can. When the camera focuses on the code, it will highlight it and a notification will pop up telling you what the QR code signifies.

Kevin Convery / Android Authority

Tap on the notification to travel to the website or download the document indicated. If you don’t know what the QR code is offering, don’t tap on the notification. That’s all there is to scanning a QR code on an Android device.

Read more: How to add a Covid vaccination certificate to your phone

Does Android 11 have a QR code scanner?

Yes, it has one built into the camera app.

Why is my Android camera not scanning the QR code?

Most likely, you don’t have QR codes enabled. Go into your camera’s Settings menu and enable Scan QR codes.

It's more important than ever to know how to scan a QR code on Android, with the coronavirus pandemic having given these pixelated squares a new lease of life.

QR codes provide a speedy means of sharing and receiving information, and post-Covid many businesses are now asking customers to scan QR codes to check into their venues, download their apps and place their orders.

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There are hundreds of QR code scanners for Android devices in the Google Play store, but many are stuffed with ads or have dubious privacy policies. Besides, your phone should be able to scan QR codes without you needing to install an app. (But beware scam QR codes, which do exist and are easily to stick anywhere.)

Here are the best methods to use to scan a QR code on your Android device.

How to scan a QR code on Android: Use your Android camera app

Most Android phones now let you scan QR codes using the built-in camera app, to save you installing a third-party QR code reader. If your phone is running Android 9 (Pie) or later, its camera will offer this feature through integration with Google Lens.

Simply open the camera app and point it at a QR code for a few seconds, until it comes into focus — there’s no need to take a photo. Google Lens will automatically detect and decipher the code and display a link, usually to a web page. Tap this link to open and view the code’s contents.

If nothing happens when you scan a QR code with your camera, you may need to activate Google Lens manually. Go into your camera app’s settings and switch on Google Lens there. 

On Samsung phones, which use their own technology for scanning QR codes, ensure that "Scan QR codes" is turned on in the Camera app’s settings. You can also access the "Scan QR code" option by swiping down from the top of your screen to open the Quick Settings tray.

How to scan a QR code on older Android phones

If your phone is running Android 8 (Oreo), you can scan QR codes with Google Lens via Google Assistant. Either long-press the Home button or say “Hey Google” to open Assistant, then tap the Google Lens icon. Alternatively, install the Google Lens app (opens in new tab) to add a shortcut to your home screen.

On older phones that run Android 7 (Nougat) or earlier, you’ll need to install a third-party app to scan QR codes. We recommend QR Code & Barcode Scanner (opens in new tab), which works quickly even when you’re some distance from a code and doesn’t require an internet connection. Also, unlike many free QR code scanners, it’s completely free of ads.

How to scan a QR code with your Android browser

Rather than scan a QR code with your camera app and then open its link separately in your browser, some Android browsers let you scan and open codes directly.

On Samsung phones, you can activate this option in the Samsung Internet browser. Tap the three-line button in the bottom-right corner of the screen, choose Settings and select "Useful features." Switch on "QR code scanner," then tap your address bar and select "QR code icon" to add a scanning shortcut to the browser.

In Firefox for Android, you can scan a QR code simply by tapping the address bar and pressing Scan. Similarly, in the Edge app for Android, just tap the camera icon in the search box and choose Barcode. 

Oddly, Google offers a QR-code scanning feature in the iOS version of Chrome, but not in its Android browser, although Chrome for Android does let you generate your own QR codes.

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