How to Scan a QR Code with the Camera on Your iPhone or iPad

By Conner Carey Updated 06/30/2022

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If you've been wondering, "how do I scan a QR code on my iPhone?", you're in luck. Before iOS 11, you needed a third-party app to be able to scan QR codes on an iPhone or iPad. No longer! You can finally use the stock Camera app on your phone or tablet to scan QR codes, and it’s pretty easy to do so. QR codes usually appear as encoded black and white squares that, when scanned, present more information on a topic in the form on a web-page, contact information, video, or just about anything. Once you've learned how to scan a QR code with your Camera app on an iPhone or iPad, you might like to find out how to add a QR scanner to your iPhone's Control Center.

How to Scan a QR Code with the Camera App

Open the Settings app, and tap Camera.
Make sure Scan QR Codes is toggled on.
Open the Camera app.
Hold your phone over the QR code so that it’s centered in the frame.
A banner notification will appear and tell you what the QR code opens and in what app.
Tap on the notification if you want to open the QR code’s link.

That’s all there is to it! For more quick and easy tips about how to use your Apple devices, subscribe to our free Tip of the Day.

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Author Details

Conner Carey

Conner Carey's writing can be found at conpoet.com. She is currently writing a book, creating lots of content, and writing poetry via @conpoet on Instagram. She lives in an RV full-time with her mom, Jan and dog, Jodi as they slow-travel around the country.

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