How do I scan a QR code on my Android phone?
Open the Camera app and point it at the QR code so the whole code fits on the screen. You do not need to take a photo. After a moment a link or message appears. Tap it to open it. If nothing happens, use the Scan QR code button in Quick Settings instead.
Steps to check
Open the Camera app and point it at the code
Open the Camera app you normally use for photos. Hold the phone so the whole square code is inside the screen. Hold still for a second or two. You do not need to press the shutter button.
- Samsung Make sure the camera is on PHOTO mode, then point it at the code.
- Pixel Pixel Camera shows a suggestion when it sees a code, as long as Camera scan suggestions is turned on (see the last step if nothing appears).
Tap the link that appears
When the phone reads the code, a small box or link appears on the screen. Tap it to open the website or see the information. Read the web address first if you can (see the safety tip below).
- Motorola Motorola's scanner gives you choices to open, copy, or share what the code contains.
Or use the Scan QR code button in Quick Settings
Swipe down from the top of the screen to open Quick Settings and look for a button called Scan QR code. Tap it and point the phone at the code. If you do not see the button, swipe sideways through the tiles, or tap Edit (the pencil icon) and add it.
- Samsung Swipe down with two fingers to open the Quick panel and tap the Scan QR code icon. The scanner window also has a flashlight button for dark places.
- Pixel The Scan QR code tile is in Quick Settings. Swipe left to find it, or tap the pencil icon to add it.
- Motorola Tap the QR code icon on the lock screen or in quick settings, then frame the code in the window. Move closer or farther away if it does not read.
Scan a code from a photo or screenshot
If the code is in a picture you already have, like a screenshot or a photo someone sent you, open it in Google Photos. At the top, tap More, then Google Lens. Lens reads the code and shows the link.
If the camera never reacts, turn scanning on
Some phones let you switch code scanning off in the camera settings. If it is off, the camera ignores codes.
- Samsung Open Camera, tap Settings (the gear icon), and turn on the Scan QR codes switch.
- Pixel Open Pixel Camera, tap Settings, then More settings, and turn on Camera scan suggestions.
Still not working?
- Hold the phone steady and make sure the whole code is on the screen, including its corners.
- Move a little closer or a little farther away. Very small or very large codes can take a moment to focus.
- Find better light, or turn on the flashlight button in the scanner if your phone has one. See how to turn on the flashlight.
- Wipe the camera lens on the back with a soft cloth. Smudges make codes blurry.
- If the camera itself will not open or shows a black screen, see why your camera is not working.
Why this happens
A QR code is a square pattern that stores a short piece of information, usually a web address. Your camera reads the pattern and turns it back into the link. That is why it needs to see the whole square clearly, and why it does not need to take a photo.
Samsung, Pixel, and Motorola all build a scanner into the Camera app or Quick Settings, so you do not need a separate scanner app. If scanning is switched off in the camera settings, the camera ignores codes.
Check the link before you open it
A QR code is just a hidden web address, and anyone can print one. The US Federal Trade Commission warns that scammers stick fake codes on things like parking meters and send codes in texts or emails to send people to fake sites.
Before you tap, look at the web address your phone shows. If it does not match the business you expect, or a code arrived in a message you were not expecting, do not open it. Never type a password or card number into a site you reached from a code you are unsure about. Type the company's address yourself or use their official app.
Normal vs. not
Usually normal
The link takes a second or two to pop up, or you need to move the phone a little before the code reads.
Worth a closer look
A code asks you to install an app you did not expect, or opens a page asking for a password or payment right away. Close it and go to the company's site yourself.
Common questions
- Do I need to download a QR code app?
- Usually no. Samsung, Pixel, and Motorola phones can scan codes with the built-in Camera app or the Scan QR code button in Quick Settings.
- Can I scan a QR code that is on my own screen?
- You cannot point your camera at its own screen, so take a screenshot of the code first. Then open the screenshot in Google Photos and tap More, then Google Lens.
- How do I connect to Wi-Fi with a QR code?
- Scan it the same way, with the camera or the Quick Settings scanner. Google notes that a QR code can connect you to a Wi-Fi network, so you do not have to type the password. Tap the option that appears to join.
Related questions
Sources we checked
- Scan QR codes and other codes with Pixel Camera (Pixel Camera Help (Google))
- Ways to scan a QR code on your Galaxy phone (Samsung Support)
- Scan QR codes (moto g power 2026) (Motorola Help)
- Search with an image in Google Photos using Google Lens (Google Photos Help)
- Scammers hide harmful links in QR codes to steal your information (Federal Trade Commission)
Menu names can differ by phone brand and Android version. See our editorial policy for how we check steps.