As smartphones are more and more common, QR codes have become more and more common. These maze-like squares are a type of matrix barcode that contains data – usually QR codes point to a website or open a specific app.
Although they may look confusing, QR codes are really easy to use. Follow the steps below to turn your iPhone or Android phone into an instant QR code scanner using only the default camera app.
Joe Maring/Digital Trends
How to scan a QR code on an iPhone
Apple’s iPhones have QR code scanning capabilities built right into the camera app itself, so there’s no need to download a separate scanning app unless you really want to. Since iOS 12, there’s even a direct QR code reader in Control Center, so you can launch it even faster. In other words, if you have one of the best iPhones, this should work.
Step 1: Open it Camera app or open the dedicated QR code reader from your Control Center by swiping up from the home page and selecting QR code button.
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Step 2: Point the camera at the QR code. If you are using a QR code scanner, make sure the QR code is inside the box on the screen. It will open immediately (on the scanner) or a link will appear at the top of your screen (on the camera); just select it to go to the link in your browser.
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How to add a QR code shortcut to your iPhone
A dedicated QR code scanner is a handy way to quickly open a QR code, mainly because it has a built-in button to help you scan the code, unlike the Camera app. As such, it is often more useful to scan a QR code on a physical sheet. If you don’t see this QR code shortcut on your iPhone, here’s how to add it.
Step 1: If you don’t see the QR code icon in your Control center on iOS, you can start adding it by going to settings application
Step 2: Touch Control center.
Step 3: Find Code reader under More controls section.
Step 4: Tap green Plus icon to add it.
How to scan a QR code on an Android phone
QR codes are not just the domain of the iPhone. The best Android phones can scan through the camera app or, failing that, Google Assistant.
If you have an older Android phone and the following steps don’t work for you, we recommend QR Code Reader, which is a simple and very effective alternative (although it comes with ads).
Step 1: Open it Camera app on your phone.
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Step 2: Point your camera’s viewfinder at the QR code. There will often be a small pause while the code is being worked on.
Step 3: If successful, the link should appear in a small pop-up window. Select it to go to the address.
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Be careful with QR codes
Just because you can do something, doesn’t mean you can you should. QR codes, although extremely useful, can also be used maliciously. Although the QR codes themselves are not to blame, the content they provide can harm your device.
Although rare, this type of QR code-based malware is possible, so we recommend that you always be careful about which QR codes you scan. Make sure you trust the person or organization you’re scanning the code from, and be sure to cancel any downloads you don’t expect. As with anything online, approach QR codes with a little common sense.
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