Instagram Launches QR Codes Worldwide

Instagram is launching in-app QR codes worldwide via an update, according to The Verge.

QR Code Launch Image New

Users will now be able to generate QR codes that are scannable from any third-party QR camera app. The feature will allow businesses to print and display a QR code that will direct customers to their Instagram account more easily, for example. QR codes in Instagram first launched last year in Japan, but the feature is now rolling out to all territories.

To use the new QR codes in Instagram, make sure you have the latest version of the app. Then, to generate your profile's QR code, go to the settings menu and simply tap "QR code." You can then save or share the image.

QR codes are replacing a similar system called Nametags, which were a kind of QR-like code that could only be scanned in the Instagram app. It is yet to be seen if Instagram's adoption of the open QR code standard will encourage other social media giants such as Facebook and Snapchat to follow suit.

Popular Stories

iphone 17 models

No iPhone 18 Launch This Year, Reports Suggest

Thursday January 1, 2026 8:43 am PST by
Apple is not expected to release a standard iPhone 18 model this year, according to a growing number of reports that suggest the company is planning a significant change to its long-standing annual iPhone launch cycle. Despite the immense success of the iPhone 17 in 2025, the iPhone 18 is not expected to arrive until the spring of 2027, leaving the iPhone 17 in the lineup as the latest...
duolingo ad live activity

Duolingo Used iPhone's Dynamic Island to Display Ads, Violating Apple Design Guidelines

Friday January 2, 2026 1:36 pm PST by
Language learning app Duolingo has apparently been using the iPhone's Live Activity feature to display ads on the Lock Screen and the Dynamic Island, which violates Apple's design guidelines. According to multiple reports on Reddit, the Duolingo app has been displaying an ad for a "Super offer," which is Duolingo's paid subscription option. Apple's guidelines for Live Activity state that...
Clicks Communicator Feature

'Clicks Communicator' Unveiled — Will You Carry This With Your iPhone?

Friday January 2, 2026 6:35 am PST by
The company behind the BlackBerry-like Clicks Keyboard accessory for the iPhone today unveiled a new Android 16 smartphone called the Clicks Communicator. The purpose-built device is designed to be used as a second phone alongside your iPhone, with the intended focus being communication over content consumption. It runs a custom Android launcher that offers a curated selection of messaging...
Low Cost MacBook Feature A18 Pro

Low-Price 12.9-Inch MacBook With A18 Pro Chip Reportedly Launching Early This Year

Friday January 2, 2026 9:08 am PST by
Apple plans to introduce a 12.9-inch MacBook in spring 2026, according to TrendForce. In a press release this week, the Taiwanese research firm said this MacBook will be aimed at the entry-level to mid-range market, with "competitive pricing." TrendForce did not share any further details about this MacBook, but the information that it shared lines up with several rumors about a more...
Apple Fitness Plus hero

Apple Announces New Fitness+ Workout Programs, Strava Challenge, and More

Friday January 2, 2026 6:43 am PST by
Apple today announced a number of updates to Apple Fitness+ and activity with the Apple Watch. The key announcements include: New Year limited-edition award: Users can win the award by closing all three Activity Rings for seven days in a row in January. "Quit Quitting" Strava challenge: Available in Strava throughout January, users who log 12 workouts anytime in the month will win an ...
Low Cost A18 Pro MacBook Feature Pink

Apple's 2026 Low-Cost A18 Pro MacBook: What We Know So Far

Friday January 2, 2026 4:33 pm PST by
Apple is planning to release a low-cost MacBook in 2026, which will apparently compete with more affordable Chromebooks and Windows PCs. Apple's most affordable Mac right now is the $999 MacBook Air, and the upcoming low-cost MacBook is expected to be cheaper. Here's what we know about the low-cost MacBook so far. Size Rumors suggest the low-cost MacBook will have a display that's around 13 ...
Mac Pro Feature Blue

What's Happening With the Mac Pro?

Wednesday December 31, 2025 9:59 am PST by
Apple hasn't updated the Mac Pro since 2023, and according to recent rumors, there's no update coming in the near future. In fact, Apple might be finished with the Mac Pro. Bloomberg recently said that the Mac Pro is "on the back burner" and has been "largely written off" by Apple. Apple apparently views the more compact Mac Studio as the ideal high-end pro-level desktop, and it has almost...

Top Rated Comments

mollyc Avatar
70 months ago

Maybe I'm just old, but I've never had/wanted to scan QR codes. When given the option, I always decided against it bc I didnt want to download some random app just to scan a code so I can "enter to win!" or see a drink menu
The camera app reads QR codes.

I use IG a lot and see how this could be beneficial. It saves the hassle of trying to remember an account name.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
twinlight Avatar
70 months ago
I have found some QR codes helping sometimes at restaurants or bars to get the meny instead of typing a long link. Other than that, no use.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Apple Macintosh 128K Avatar
70 months ago
QR codes have just never caught on in the US. Additionally, so many brands use them stupidly that they don't create the desired result. For instance, do you expect people to pull out their phone and take a photo of the QR code on your billboard while they're driving? And when you display the QR code on your website, how do you expect them to scan it with their phone while browsing your website on their phone?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Apple Macintosh 128K Avatar
70 months ago

good to know. I guess its been a long time since i've tried and I dont see them anywhere I go where I need to use one
Tons of restaurants around here are using them now. Rather than give you a paper menu they have to throw away or a plastic one they have to wipe down every time, they just have a code on the table. Scan it and you've got your menu. This is by far the most I've used QR codes ever, but it's a good use for them.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
WannaGoMac Avatar
70 months ago

Maybe I'm just old, but I've never had/wanted to scan QR codes. When given the option, I always decided against it bc I didnt want to download some random app just to scan a code so I can "enter to win!" or see a drink menu
iphone camera has built in QR code reading. No 3rd party app necessary.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Bustycat Avatar
70 months ago

Maybe I'm just old, but I've never had/wanted to scan QR codes. When given the option, I always decided against it bc I didnt want to download some random app just to scan a code so I can "enter to win!" or see a drink menu
Here QR codes are becoming more useful and more important, as they benefit small businesses a lot. Today I went to a restaurant that just recently posted its QR code that I could simply scan it and redirect to Apple Pay. I am a person who doesn’t like to touch cash, and in 2020 this behaviour could help avoid SARS-CoV-2.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)