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How to scan

You already have a QR scanner. It’s in your camera.

Every iPhone since 2017 and every Android since 2019 scans QR codes natively, with no app to install. Here’s how — and what to try if the camera isn’t cooperating.

Make a QR code insteadDesign rules for scans

iPhone (iOS 11+)

  1. 1Open the Camera app (the default one, no extra app needed).
  2. 2Point the camera at the QR code — no need to tap, just hold steady.
  3. 3A yellow notification banner appears at the top. Tap it to open the link or action.

Android (9+)

  1. 1Open the Camera app (or pull down the Quick Settings and tap Google Lens).
  2. 2Point the camera at the QR code.
  3. 3A pill button appears with the link or action. Tap it.
  4. 4On Pixel + Samsung phones the Camera detects QR codes automatically. On older Android (≤ 8), use Google Lens or any free scanner app.

Troubleshooting

The camera shows the QR but no banner appears.
Make sure QR scanning is enabled. On iOS: Settings → Camera → Scan QR Codes. On Android: Settings → Apps → Camera → Permissions, and check Google Lens is enabled.
The QR is too small or blurry to scan.
Hold the phone 15-30 cm away — closer than that and the camera can't focus. If the QR is below ~2 cm wide, ask whoever printed it for a bigger version. Anything under 2 cm × 2 cm is below most cameras' practical resolving power.
The QR is on my computer screen — can I scan it with my phone?
Yes. Hold your phone in front of the screen. Glare can throw off the autofocus — angle the screen slightly to kill reflections.
I don't trust the link the QR shows.
Good instinct. The camera previews the URL before opening — read it. Avoid scanning QR codes in untrusted places (sticker over a parking meter, dropped flyer) and never enter passwords on a page you reached via QR you didn't make yourself.

qr-cow used to host an in-browser webcam scanner here. We removed it because every phone already does the job better — but if you’re scanning from a laptop without a phone nearby, a free Chrome extension like QR Code Reader works in a pinch. We’re focused on making codes, not reading them.

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How to scan a QR code — every phone, no app needed · qr-cow