How to Scan a QR Code on iPhone (Camera, Code Scanner & Screenshots)

QR codes are on restaurant tables, parking meters, posters, boarding passes and product boxes. If you have an iPhone, you almost certainly do not need to download anything to read them. The scanner is built into the Camera app, and there are a few other built-in options for awkward cases such as a code inside a screenshot.

This guide covers each way to scan a QR code on an iPhone, what to expect for different kinds of codes, how to stay safe, and what to do when your phone refuses to read one. Menu names can differ slightly between iOS versions, so if a label does not match exactly, look for the closest option.

The quick answer

Open the Camera app.
Point the rear camera at the QR code so the whole code is visible on screen.
Hold steady for a moment until a yellow QR code button or link banner appears.
Check the address shown, then tap it to open.

That works on iPhones running iOS 11 or later, which covers almost every iPhone in use today. You do not need to take a photo.

Method 1: The Camera app

The Camera app is the fastest option for most codes.

Use Photo mode. Scanning works in the normal camera view; you do not need to press the shutter.
Fill most of the screen with the code, but keep all four corners in view. If the code is very small, move closer; if it is large, step back.
Tap the banner, not the code. The QR code itself is just a picture. The banner or button that appears is what opens the link.

If the Camera app does not react

On many iOS versions, QR detection can be switched off. Open Settings → Camera and make sure Scan QR Codes (or a similarly named option) is turned on.

Method 2: The Code Scanner in Control Center

The iPhone also has a dedicated scanner, usually called Code Scanner or Scan Code. It shows a clean scanning window and opens results without switching to the camera roll view.

To add it:

Open Settings → Control Center (on newer iOS versions you can also edit Control Center directly by touching and holding an empty area of it).
Add Code Scanner or Scan Code to your controls.
Swipe down from the top-right corner (or up from the bottom on iPhones with a Home button) to open Control Center, then tap the QR icon.

You can also find it by swiping down on the Home Screen and searching for "Code Scanner". The dedicated scanner can be handy in low light because it usually offers a flashlight button.

Method 3: A QR code in a photo or screenshot

Sometimes the code is already on your phone: in a screenshot, an email, a PDF or a web page. You cannot point your camera at your own screen, but recent iOS versions can read codes in images.

In Photos: open the photo or screenshot. On supported iPhones with Live Text, touch and hold the QR code, or tap the Live Text icon, and look for an option to open the link.
In Safari or Mail: on many recent iOS versions, touching and holding an image of a QR code shows an option to open the encoded link.
If those options do not appear, your iPhone model or iOS version may not support it. Use Google Lens (below), or open the image on another device and scan it with your camera.

Method 4: Google Lens

The free Google app (and the Google Lens feature inside it) can scan QR codes from the camera or from images in your photo library. It is a useful backup if the built-in options do not work for a particular image. You do not need a separate "QR scanner" app from the App Store, and many of those apps show ads or ask for permissions they do not need.

Make a free QR code for a link, WiFi or contact card — generated in your browser.

Open the free QR code generator →

What happens after you scan

The iPhone reads the text stored in the code and offers an action that matches its type:

Code type	What the iPhone usually offers
Website link	Open the page in Safari (or your default browser)
WiFi network	Join the network, without typing the password
Contact card (vCard)	View and add the contact
Phone number	Call the number
Email or text message	Open a pre-filled message to review before sending
Calendar event	Add the event to your calendar
Plain text	Show the text

For WiFi codes specifically, see our guide to making a WiFi QR code. Note that scanning does not send a message or make a call by itself; you still confirm the action.

Check the link before you tap

The banner shows the web address before it opens. Take a second to read it:

Does the domain match the business or place you expect?
Is it a strange shortened link or a misspelled brand name?
Does it ask you to log in or pay right away?

QR codes in public places are sometimes covered with stickers that point to fake sites. If something looks off, do not open it. Our guide on how to check if a QR code is safe goes deeper.

iPhone will not scan the QR code? Try this

Clean the camera lens. A smudge is a common cause of blurry scans.
Add light or turn on the flashlight from the Code Scanner. Avoid strong glare on glossy surfaces.
Adjust distance and angle. Hold the phone straight on rather than at a steep angle.
Check the setting in Settings → Camera → Scan QR Codes.
Try the Code Scanner instead of the Camera app, or the other way around.
Restart the Camera app or your iPhone.
Update iOS if you are on a much older version.

If the code still will not scan on any phone, the problem is likely the code itself: it may be printed too small, have poor contrast, be damaged, or lack a clear margin. Our guide to QR codes not scanning explains the causes, and QR code colors that scan covers contrast.

Testing your own QR codes on an iPhone

If you make QR codes for a business, an event or a menu, test them on an iPhone before printing:

Create the code with our free generator and download it as a PNG.
Scan it from your computer screen with your iPhone camera.
Print a test copy at the real size and scan it again from a normal distance.
Ask a friend with an Android phone to scan it too.

For print size advice, see QR code size for print. If you add a logo, test extra carefully; our post on whether a QR code can have a logo explains why.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an app to scan a QR code on iPhone?

No. iPhones running iOS 11 or later can scan QR codes with the built-in Camera app. Point the camera at the code and tap the banner that appears.

Why is my iPhone camera not scanning QR codes?

Check that Scan QR Codes is turned on in Settings → Camera, clean the lens, improve the lighting and hold the phone straight on. If no phone can read the code, the code itself may be too small, low-contrast or damaged.

How do I scan a QR code from a screenshot on iPhone?

Open the screenshot in Photos. On supported iPhones, touch and hold the code or use Live Text to open the link. If that is not available, Google Lens can scan QR codes from images in your photo library.

Where is the QR code scanner on iPhone?

It is built into the Camera app. There is also a Code Scanner (sometimes called Scan Code) that you can add to Control Center from Settings or by editing Control Center.

Is it safe to scan QR codes on iPhone?

Scanning only reads the code. Risk comes from the link it opens. Check the address in the banner before tapping, and avoid codes that lead to unfamiliar sites asking for logins or payments.