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

Saturday December 16, 2017 10:35 AM PST by Juli Clover
In iOS 11, the native camera app includes functionality that allows you to scan QR codes and access QR code content like URLs without having to download a third-party app.


Here's how to scan a QR code when you run into one:

  1. Open the Camera app on the iPhone or iPad.

  2. Make sure you have adequate lighting so the camera can pick up the QR code.

  3. Align the camera with the QR code.

That's all there is to it. From there, the camera will read the QR code and provide you with a notification to access whatever it contains.

QR codes can include contact information, calendar events, website links, phone numbers, email addresses, Wi-Fi information, and more, so they can be pretty handy, and it's nice to have the built-in scanning feature available when you need it.
59 comments


Top Rated Comments

(View all)
Avatar
Michael Scrip
9 months ago
This should have happened a LONG time ago.

I remember having to download "Red Laser" or something on my iPhone 4S

Of course I knew what to do... but the average person? Nope.
Rating: 20 Votes
Avatar
IHelpId10t5
9 months ago
I hope the notification includes displaying the actual URL before navigating to it. The singificant problem with QR codes (and shortened URLs) is that they are handy for masking a malicious destination from unsuspecting click-happy smartphone users that have no care for their own security.
Rating: 18 Votes
Avatar
dannyyankou
9 months ago
This is useful for joining WiFi networks.
Rating: 9 Votes
Avatar
rlarsen_eu
9 months ago

Yes can auto QR recognition be disabled?


1: Go to the Settings app on iPhone, iPad

2: Scroll down and tap on Camera

3: Find [B]Scan QR codes[/B] and disabled it.
Rating: 9 Votes
Avatar
neliason
9 months ago
I’m glad they implemented this but I don’t really bother with QR codes anymore. The ideal of them being handy didn’t work for me when you had to pull out your phone, type in a passcode, and find an app. Now with face and fingerprint unlock and the camera app more easily accessible it is finally useful. But I don’t notice as many codes (the rage seems to have died down) and I have it in my mind to ignore them.
Rating: 6 Votes
Avatar
guidocruz
9 months ago
For years I have been saying Apple ought to do this some day. Glad they did.
Rating: 4 Votes
Avatar
sracer
9 months ago

Or more's the point, QR codes have been out for years. Why has it taken Apple this long to provide this functionality?

"Here at Apple we pride ourselves in the painstaking attention to detail. To ensure the highest quality of QR code capturing and processing, we deployed our digital imagery artisans to expertly craft each code to attain the high quality we require. Only when we were satisfied with the results did we deploy QR code scanning technology in our camera."
Rating: 4 Votes
Avatar
69Mustang
9 months ago

Android has automatically recognized qr codes with the camera app for several years. I do think Apple was hindering adoption by not doing the same thing, but are QR codes really that convenient? Is a website that hard to type in?

Android has had automatic recognition for years for the exact same reason Apple is now adding it to their camera app. China. QR codes are almost an essential part of life in China. Chinese phones primarily run Android so Android has QR codes. Apple wants to cater to Chinese customers, they need QR codes. A lot of what Apple has done recently regarding iOS features is all about China.

Surprised [USER=771561]@jclo[/USER] didn't give a mention to it in her 'how to'.
Rating: 4 Votes
Avatar
imac george
9 months ago
Slow news this weekend?
Rating: 3 Votes
Avatar
neliason
9 months ago

This is useful for joining WiFi networks.


That would be useful for me. I have a guest network so I don’t want to share my credentials via the new iOS 11 feature. And my password for the guest network is long and somewhat complex.

Do you know of any programs for generating one? I see there are online programs but I don’t like sharing credentials with a website.
Rating: 3 Votes
[ Read All Comments ]