This article shows you how to use the camera of a smartphone, tablet or computer to scan a QR code. QR codes are two-dimensional barcodes characterized by a series of black and white squares, whose purpose is to encode useful information such as links, telephone numbers, access information to Wi-Fi networks, images, etc.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: iPhone
Step 1. Launch the iPhone Camera application
Tap its icon featuring a small stylized black camera on a gray background.
Step 2. Point your device's camera at the QR code to be scanned, so that it appears centered on the screen
After a few moments, the application should detect the framed subject and focus on it automatically.
If the front camera of your device is active, you will first need to tap the camera button, located in the lower right corner of the screen, to activate the main camera
Step 3. Make sure that the QR code to be scanned is clearly visible in the center of the iPhone screen
Make sure all four corners of the code are displayed on the screen.
Step 4. Wait for the device to scan the QR code
When the latter is centered within the iPhone screen, the scan should take place automatically.
Step 5. Access the content encoded within the QR code
Tap the Safari notification message that appeared at the top of the screen to be able to access the webpage or other information encoded in the QR code.
Method 2 of 4: Android devices
Step 1. Access the Google Play Store by clicking on the relevant icon
The latter is characterized by a multicolored triangle facing right.
Step 2. Tap the search bar at the top of the screen
Step 3. Type in the keywords qr code reader no ads
A list of all applications matching the search criteria will be displayed.
Step 4. Select the QR Code Reader - No Ads application
It should have appeared in the first position of the search results list. In this way you will have access to the Play Store page containing the detailed information of the app in question.
Step 5. Press the Install button
It is located on the right side of the screen.
Step 6. Press the Accept button
It is located in the lower right part of the pop-up window that appeared. The QR Code Reader application will be downloaded and installed on your device.
Step 7. Press the Open button
The latter will be displayed in place of the button Install as soon as the installation procedure is finished. Press the "Open" button to launch the QR Code Reader app.
Step 8. Point the main camera of the device at the QR code to be scanned
After a few moments, the application should detect the framed subject and focus on it automatically.
Step 9. Make sure that the QR code to be scanned is clearly visible in the center of the screen
Make sure the entire QR code is enclosed within the four corners displayed in the center of the device screen.
Step 10. Wait for the device to scan the QR code
At the end of the scan you will see the image of the QR code appear on the screen, together with the content encoded within it (for example an HTML link).
Method 3 of 4: Windows systems
Step 1. Access the "Start" menu by clicking on the icon
It features the Windows logo and is located in the lower left corner of the desktop.
Step 2. Type the keyword store into the "Start" menu
This will perform a full search within your computer for the built-in Windows Store app on all systems running Windows 10.
Step 3. Access the Windows Store by clicking on the icon
The latter will be displayed at the top of the "Start" menu. This will give you access to the Windows Store and its contents.
Step 4. Click on the search bar
It is located in the upper right of the Store window.
Step 5. Enter the keywords qr code bar scanner
At the bottom of the window you will see a list of all applications that match the search criteria.
Step 6. Select the Qr Code Bar Scanner app
This should be the first option in the results list that appears. This way you will have access to the application page where detailed information is shown.
Step 7. Press the Get button
It is blue in color and is located on the left side of the Store window. This way the QR Code Bar Sanner app will be downloaded and installed on your computer.
Step 8. Launch the Qr Code Bar Scanner app
Access the menu Start by clicking on the icon
type the qr code keywords, click on the icon Qr Code Bar Scanner and finally press the button Close dialog when required.
Step 9. Point your computer's webcam at the QR code to be scanned
The latter should be centered on the device screen.
Step 10. Wait for the application to scan the QR code
At the end of the scan, you will see a pop-up window appear on the screen showing the content encoded in the QR code in question.
- For example, if the QR code contains an HTML link, you will see it displayed in the dialog box that appears after the scan is complete.
- At this point you can press the button Other, displayed in the dialog box that appeared, in order to then select the globe-shaped icon located in the lower right part of the new window. In this way the content encoded in the QR code will be shown in the internet browser of the computer.
Method 4 of 4: Mac
Step 1. Open an internet browser
On Macs, there is no native tool that can scan a QR code and sadly there is no app that can do this either. It is therefore necessary to use an online service that can read QR codes.
Step 2. Access the QR website using the following URL:
webqr.com/. This website will scan the QR code using the Mac's built-in webcam.
Using some internet browsers (such as Google Chrome) you need to press the button Allow, when prompted, to authorize the website to have access to the Mac's camera.
Step 3. Place the QR code in front of the Mac webcam
Try to keep it as still as possible. The code should appear inside the box located in the center of the website's main page.
If you have a digital image of a QR code on your computer, you can use it for scanning by uploading it directly to the site. In this case, click on the camera icon located above the upper right corner of the box, press the button Choose File, select the QR code image to scan and press the button You open.
Step 4. Make sure that the QR code is centered inside the box in the center of the page
Make sure that the four squares in the corners of the QR code are all clearly visible within the scan box.
Step 5. Wait for the code to be scanned
When the Mac webcam focuses on the framed code, you will see its contents appear in the box shown at the bottom of the page. At that point, if you wish, you can select it to open it in a new browser tab.
