QR codes are theoretically an easy way to send or receive information – they can contain links to websites or apps, contact information, ticket information, or many other things. You can simply scan the QR code with your Android phone to get this data.
However, you also won’t come across QR codes on a regular basis, so you may not be sure how to scan them, which tends to take away the convenience factor. Worse, the process may be different on different Android phones, but in the end, scanning a QR code is very quick and easy.
No matter the type of Android phone you have – whether it’s a current Samsung or an older OnePlus, the article will explain how to read QR codes on your phone.
Usually, Android phones will allow you to scan QR codes directly from the camera app. For the most part, it will be if your phone is running Android 9 or above. This software was released in 2018, so most of the latest phones will be this version or higher.
To scan a QR code this way, you’ll need to open the camera and hover over the QR code for a few seconds – you don’t actually need to take a picture. If your phone can scan the QR code from the camera app, you will see the link which will display on the screen. Click to open the content of the code (e.g. a website or page in the Google Play Store). Note that you will need a data connection.
Some Samsung phones also require that you have Bixby Vision enabled on the camera before the QR code scan works. To do this, tap on the Bixby Vision icon in the top-left corner of the camera app. Some phones also require you to enable QR code scanning on the main settings screen so you may have to do a bit of searching.
If you’re still out of luck, chances are your phone’s native camera app won’t be able to scan the QR code, but don’t worry, there are other ways to scan it.
How to Scan QR Codes with Google Lens on Android
Google Assistant can also scan QR codes with a tool called Google Lens, as long as your phone is running Android 8 or later. To enable it, simply launch Google Assistant (usually by saying “Hey, Google” or long press the home button), then tap the Google Lens icon. It looks a bit like a camera lensApp
Point Google Lens at the QR code for a second or two to highlight the code and display a link to its content. Tap to navigate to a website or other location hidden in the code. As with any QR code scanning method, you usually need an internet connection to work.
How to Scan a QR Code with an App
If your phone is running on an older version of Android or you’re just having trouble using the methods above, then you’re out of luck because there are third-party apps you can use to scan QR codes.
There are several options available, such as the QR & Barcode Scanner, and QR Code Reader and Scanner, and which of course are free to download. Searching for a “QR Code Scanner” in the Play Store will give you almost limitless options to choose from. Any of the above-mentioned will help, but when considering alternatives, it’s best to choose one that has a lot of reviews and a high GPA.
The exact process varies from application to application, but is usually the same as the methods discussed above. When you open the app and the QR code scanning screen is displayed, just point the camera at the QR code and it will automatically scan and usually be there. I would prefer paid QR code scanning apps, because free apps tend to have a lot of ads and you can easily click on ads by accident instead of linking to the QR code to re-enter it correctly.
How to scan the QR code that appears on your screen
Just press and hold the QR code in your Chrome browser and choose Search Google Lens from the pop-up menu. This will show you the URLs found in the code so you can follow it.
