From making payments to sharing a piece of information, verifying account details, sharing Wi-Fi networks, and others, QR Codes have been a small but great tool for everyone who has access to it. And talking of “anyone who has access to it”, you can scan QR Codes on your Android phone using no third-party app. Don’t worry if you don’t know how, though. We’ll guide you on how to scan QR codes with the phone right here.
And just so you know, it doesn’t matter if you use an older or new phone; you can scan QR codes on most Android phones as much as you have an active internet connection.
How to Scan QR Codes on Android Phones
Most Android phones have a QR Code scanner built into the camera app. Some phones require you to enter a specific mode first, while some can analyze the code in the default camera mode. In such a case, you don’t need any third-party app to get started. Just point your camera to the QR Code to fetch the information embedded into it.
And if your phone camera doesn’t have a built-in QR code scanner, you’ll want to look into using the Lens feature built into the Google app, Assistant, or get the Lens app itself. Nonetheless, you’ll get the job done.
Here are various methods on how to scan QR codes with a phone:
How to scan QR code with Camera
Using the scanner built into most Android phones' camera apps is by far the easiest and fastest way to scan QR codes. You only have to open the camera app and do your thing. Here’s how.
- Open the system Camera app on your Android phone.
- Steadily point it to the QR code for about 2-3 seconds.
- Your phone will analyze the code and pop up a banner containing the information embedded inside it.
- You can then tap the banner to access the content of the QR code.
If your phone recognizes nothing after 2-3 seconds, you need to enter a scanning mode first. Look for modes like Lens, Scan, or something similar in the camera menu. Here’s how:
- Launch the system Camera
- Enter the scanning mode or tap the Lens icon near the shutter button
- to launch the scanning
- Now point your camera to the QR code and wait for a few seconds to analyze it.
- You may also need to tap the search button to analyze the QR code properly.
How to scan QR code with the phone using Google apps
Besides the system Camera, the Google app is another lenient way to scan a QR code on your Android phone. All you need is to tap the camera icon in the Google app interface to enter the scanning mode. You can also add the search bar widget on your home screen to access it faster next time.
This method should work on most Android phones; just ensure you're running an updated version of the Google app, then follow these steps:
- Fire up the Google
- Tap the multicolored camera icon in the search bar.
- From there, you can choose to “Search with your camera” or select an existing image containing the code on your device.
- If you want to scan a QR code plastered on a surface, for instance, tap “Search with your camera” to launch the camera interface.
- Point your camera to the QR code to scan it.
Meanwhile, if you want to scan a QR code from an existing image in your Gallery, the quickest way is to use the Lens function in the Google Photos app.
- Launch the Photos app and find an image containing the QR code.
- Tap the “Lens” button to scan the code instantly.
So, can I scan a QR code on my phone screen? Yes, with the Google Photos app as mentioned above. More so, if the QR code is on your screen but not in the gallery already, you can take a screenshot and scan it later.
How to sign in using a QR code on Android
One reason to learn how to scan QR codes with the phone is that it's effective in many ways. If you’ve tried using WhatsApp on your computer, for instance, you probably have gotten to the step where it requires you to use your phone to scan a QR code from the computer screen to authenticate and link you in. Isn’t it? That’s just another use of QR Codes.
It doesn't end there. Many organizations require their staff to sign in to work every day by scanning a QR code. In whichever way you want to sign in using a QR code, you’ll need a QR code scanner either by using the methods analyzed above or a dedicated app/interface required by your company or the said app, like WhatsApp.
If you’re trying to use WhatsApp on your computer, for instance, you’ll need to scan a QR code on your laptop. Here’s how to do it:
- Go to whatsapp.com on your computer browser or open the WhatsApp desktop app. You’ll see a QR code there.
- Follow the instructions on the page on your phone.
- When your phone asks you to “Scan QR code”, point your camera to the QR code on the computer screen to sign in.
That’s it. Meanwhile, the process differs depending on the app/platform you're signing in to. For instance, the Google QR code login process is different from WhatsApp, but you get the message.
How to scan QR codes on Android phones without an app
If your phone runs Android 9 or later, you should have the scanner built into the system camera app. And if you use a slightly older Android version, the Google app, Photos, or Lens should help you out.
However, using the built-in QR code scanner can be slightly different on many Android phones. If you use a TECNO, Infinix, or itel phone running Android 9 or later, here's how to scan the QR code with the phone without using a third-party app.
How to scan QR codes on TECNO phones
If you use a TECNO device, learn how to scan the QR code Android without the app below.
- Launch the stock Camera app.
- Tap the Google Lens button next to the shutter.
- Focus the camera on the QR code for a few seconds.
- A banner would pop up on your screen. Tap the banner to access the information.
You can also use the Google app, Photos, AI Gallery, or Lens.
How to scan QR codes on Infinix phones
Scanning QR codes on Infinix phones is pretty similar to TECNO phones. Just follow the steps:
- Launch the stock Camera app.
- In the bottom right, tap the Google Lens icon to launch the scanner.
- Focus the camera on the QR code for a few seconds.
- A banner would pop up on your screen. Tap the banner to access the information.
Otherwise, you should use the Google app or install the Lens app from the Play Store.
How to scan QR codes on itel phones
You can find the dedicated Google Lens function in your itel’s stock camera app. If you can't find it there, you can use the Google app as mentioned above.
Although itel phones run on Android (Go Edition), that didn't stop them from being able to scan QR codes locally.
Wrap up
That’s practically how you can scan a QR code using a phone. Any of the methods mentioned above should work on supported Android devices. You may try out all of them to see what works best for you.
Unfortunately, these legacy methods might not work if your Android phone is ancient. Nonetheless, there are many third-party apps you can use on the Play Store. Just search and install any "QR Code Scanner" app from the Play Store to get started.
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