How to scan a QR code
- Tap Start scanning. Your browser asks for the camera the first time; the camera only turns on when you tap.
- Point the camera at the code so it sits inside the frame. It reads as soon as it's in focus.
- Check what it is: a link, Wi-Fi details, a contact, an event or text. Nothing opens until you tap a button.
- Tap Close (or press Escape) and the camera turns off.
Good uses
- Checking where a QR code leads before you open it
- Getting the password out of a Wi-Fi QR code
- Scanning on a laptop or tablet without a scanner app
- Reading codes from screenshots and photos you've been sent
What it reads
| Code | What you see |
|---|---|
| QR code with a link | The address and an Open button (nothing opens until you tap it) |
| Wi-Fi QR code | Network name, password with a Copy password button, and the security type |
| Contact (vCard) QR code | Name, phone, email and more, with Save contact |
| Event QR code | Event name, times and place, with Add to calendar |
| Email, phone and SMS codes | The address or number with an Email, Call or Text button |
| Product barcodes: EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A, UPC-E (and book ISBNs) | The number and its type, with Copy and Search the web |
| Code 128, Code 39, Code 93, ITF, Codabar | The text or number in the barcode, with Copy |
| Data Matrix, PDF417, Aztec | The text inside, with Copy (and Open for links) |
Tips
- Check the address before you tap Open: a sticker can be placed over a genuine code, and a link that looks wrong probably is.
- Hold the phone steady about 15 to 30 cm away. In poor light, move nearer a lamp or window.
- No camera, or permission denied? Use Scan from a photo instead.
How it works
Where the browser has its own barcode reader (Chrome on Android and Mac) the app uses it. Elsewhere, including Safari on iPhone and Mac and Firefox, a small open-source reader (ZXing) loads the first time you open the scanner. Either way, the camera picture and your photos are read in this browser tab: nothing is uploaded, and the camera stops as soon as you close the scanner.
Your last 12 scans are listed under Recent scans on this device until you clear them.
Questions
Is the QR code scanner free?
Yes. There is no sign-up, no limit on scans, and nothing to install.
Is the camera picture uploaded?
No. The camera picture is read in this browser tab on your device. Nothing is sent anywhere, and the camera stops when you close the scanner.
Does it work on iPhone?
Yes, in Safari and other browsers. The first time you scan, a small reader loads, then it works like any other scanner.