How to Scan QR Code on an Android

Nowadays, you see QR codes or barcodes everywhere. They are present on most of the products. The QR code contains information about that particular product or URL links. These QR codes easily react, such as quickly opening a web page, making a transaction, downloading an app, etc. You have to scan the QR code using your smartphone camera to access all information present in it. In this article, you will know how to scan a QR code with your Android phone.

What are QR Codes, and why do you need to scan them?

Initially, the QR codes were developed to expand and increase the area of Barcodes technology. QR codes are easy to scan due to their square design, and they are scanned horizontally and vertically.

Before the arrival of the smartphone, QR codes were scanned with a scanner device, and it is mostly found in inventory management. Now, the process has changed, and scanning has become easier and advanced because of smartphones. Scanning QR codes allow you to read the information about those products and services. QR code scanning is performed using a smartphone app or directly with your phone camera (facilitate some newer models).

How to Scan a QR code on an Android Phone

Most Android smartphones follow the same process and technique to scan QR codes. However, if you find it difficult to scan a QR code, you will know all the different ways to scan a QR code.

If you have a phone that runs on Android 8 or above, you can scan a QR code by pressing and holding the Home button and then choosing Lens. After that, point the phone camera towards the QR code you want to scan. Now, click on the magnifying glass icon to read the QR code. After the success of reading it pop-up a notification, tap on it.

Look at the below steps to scan the QR code.

1. Long-press and hold the Home button.
2. Then tap on the Lens icon that appears on the screen. You will find this icon just left of the four dotted colored icons present at just the center-bottom of your screen.
   
   If you are running this feature for the first time, a prompt will appear; just allow it. If your Android phone doesn't equip with the Google Assistant feature, then download the Google Lens app from the Play Store.
3. Focus the device camera over the QR code that you want to scan. Remember that you don't have to cover the complete screen, only be sure all the corners of the QR code are properly visible.
4. Click on the magnifying glass icon to scan the QR code. You will find the magnifying icon at the center bottom of the same screen. Some phone scans automatically depend on the device camera feature.
   
5. When the scanning gets complete, a pop-up notification appears; tap on it. Now, your phone does the action based on the information contained in the QR code. It may open a URL link, make a transaction, show product details, save a contact, etc.
   

How to scan QR Codes with Samsung Galaxy

There are various ways to scan QR codes with your Samsung smartphone. But it may be possible that it could vary depending on the device model and OS version.

1. Bixby Vision

1. Launch the device camera app and click on Bixby Vision.
   
2. If you are accessing Bixby Vision for the first time, it will pop up a screen to enable permission to use it.
   
3. Now, use your camera and point it on a QR code to scan. Select Go to view the content embedded in the QR code.

2. Camera app

This feature is currently available on devices running on Android version 9.0.

1. Swipe the screen from the top to access Quick Settings and click on QR Scanner.
2. Click on OK to proceed to the next step.
3. Now the camera will launch, and you can start scanning a QR code. After the success of scanning, your phone does action based on the content present in the QR code.
4. If the scanning process doesn't work, you will require activating this setting. To do this, click on the Camera Settings icon available at the top left.
5. In the Settings option, toggle on Scan QR codes.

3. Gallery app

1. Capture a photo of the QR code that you want to scan and then launch the Gallery app.
2. Select the same image of the QR code that you capture.
3. Tap on the Bixby Vision icon that is available at the bottom-left corner of the screen.
4. Choose Lens and allow Bixby Vision to read the QR code.

How to scan QR Codes with LG G6

You can use two different options to scan QR codes with your LG G6 smartphone. The first option is by using Google Lens by opening it with Assistant, and the second option is by opening the Google Lens app.

Google Lens in the Assistant

It is the easiest way to scan QR codes without using any app. To use Google Lens in Assistant for scanning a QR code, follow the below-mentioned steps:

1. Long-press and hold the Home button to enable Assistant.
2. Depending on the Assistant version, the Lens button appears automatically. If not, tap on the Lens icon that appears on the screen. You will find this icon just left of the four-dotted colored icon present at just the center-bottom of your screen.
3. If you are running this feature for the first time, a prompt will appear; just allow it. If your Android phone doesn't enable the Google Assistant feature, download the Google Lens app from the Play Store.
4. Focus the device camera towards the QR code, and it will start scanning it.

Using the Google Lens app

To scan a QR code using the Google Lens App, download it from the Play Store and follow the same instructions as mentioned above starting from point 2.

How to scan QR Codes with Sony Xperia (Using Info-eye)

1. Launch the device camera app.
2. Select the yellow camera icon and then the blue "i" button.
3. Now point your camera on the QR Code and click its photo.
4. Please wait for a few seconds to analyze the photo, hold the pop-up notification, and drag it upwards to view the content.

How to scan QR Codes with HTC U11

You can use two different options to scan QR codes with HTC U11. The first option is by using the Camera app, and the second option is using the Google Lens in the Assistant.

With your Camera app

Your phone may already have the ability to scan QR codes straight from the phone's camera. To check it, follow the below steps:

1. Launch the stock camera app of your HTC phone and point it for a few seconds on the QR code you want to scan.
2. When the QR code scanning completes, a pop-up notification will appear.
3. If scanning doesn't start, you will need to visit your Settings app and activate QR code scanning.
4. If there is no option of QR code in your settings, unfortunately, your phone can't scan QR codes natively. In such a case, you need to download a third-party QR code scanner app on your smartphone.

Google Lens in the Assistant

It is the easiest way to scan QR codes without using any app. To use Google Lens in Assistant for scanning a QR code, follow the below-mentioned steps:

1. Long-press and hold the Home button to enable Assistant.
2. Depending on the Assistant version, the Lens button appears automatically. If not, tap on the Lens icon that appears on the screen. You will find this icon just left of the four dotted colored icons present at just the center-bottom of your screen.
3. If you are running this feature for the first time, a prompt will appear; allow it. If your Android phone doesn't equip with the Google Assistant feature, then download the Google Lens app from the Play Store.
4. Focus the device camera towards the QR code, and it will start scanning it.

How to scan QR Codes with Nokia 8

Similar to the above phones, Nokia 8 also allows two different options to scan QR codes. The first option is by using the Camera app, and the second option is using the Google Lens in the Assistant.

Using your Camera app

Your phone may already have the ability to scan QR codes straight from the phone's camera. To check it, follow the below steps:

1. Launch the stock camera app of your Nokia phone and point it a few seconds on the QR code you want to scan.
2. When the QR code scanning completes, a pop-up notification will appear.
3. If scanning doesn't start, you will need to visit your Settings app and activate QR code scanning.
4. If there is no option of QR code in your settings, unfortunately, your phone can't scan QR codes natively. In such a case, you need to download a third-party QR code scanner app on your phone.

Google Lens in the Assistant

It is the easiest way to scan QR codes without using any app. To use Google Lens in Assistant for scanning a QR code, follow the below-mentioned steps:

1. Long-press and hold the Home button to enable Assistant.
2. Depending on the Assistant version, the Lens button appears automatically. If not, tap on the Lens icon that appears on the screen. You will find this icon just left of the four dotted colored icons present at just the center-bottom of your screen.
3. If you are running this feature for the first time, a prompt will appear; allow it. If your Android phone doesn't offer the Google Assistant feature, then download the Google Lens app from the Play Store.
4. Focus the device camera towards the QR code, and it will start scanning it.

How to scan a QR code on an Android phone using a camera app

Most Android smartphones now facilitate scanning QR codes using their built-in camera app, which has become an excellent alternative to the third-party QR code reader. Phones running on Android version Pie (Android 9) or above versions integrated the camera app with Google Lens. If your phone's camera doesn't integrate with Google Lens, you must download it from Play Store.

Just launch your camera app and focus it on the QR code for a few seconds (don't click the photo of the code). Google Lens automatically detects the QR code and displays whatever is present in it (like a URL). Please tap on the link to open it or view the content's detail.

You need to activate Google Lens manually if nothing happens when you place the camera over the QR code.

1. Launch your phone's camera app and tap on the Google Lens
   
2. It will launch the Google Lens scanner and place it over your QR code.
3. The lens scans the code and displays whatever it contains (such as a URL link).
4. Tap on the link or search icon to open the link on the browser.
   

Samsung smartphones have their own technology and built-in features to scan QR codes. Ensure the "Scan QR code" feature is enabled on the camera app settings. Also, you can access the "Scan QR code" feature by swiping down from the phone screen to visit the Quick Settings panel.

How to scan a QR code with your Android browser app

Besides scanning a QR code using the device's camera app and opening its link separately in your browser, you could choose a browser app for such a task. Some Android web browser apps let you scan and open QR code links directly on it. Such browser apps include the Samsung Internet browser for Samsung phones user, Firefox browser for Android users, etc.

Android users on Firefox:

1. Launch the Firefox browser on your Android phone.
2. Now, tap on the address bar, and it will show up a scan icon.
3. Finally, tap on the Scan icon to scan the barcode or QR code.
   

Android users on Edge app:

Similarly to the Firefox browser app, the Edge app lets you scan the QR code directly.

1. Launch the Edge browser app on your Android device.
2. Tap on the camera icon in the search bar.
3. Now choose the "Barcode".

Samsung users:

1. For Samsung smartphone users, launch the Samsung Internet browser and then tap on the three-line icon at the bottom-right of the screen.
2. Choose Settings from the list of available options and then select Useful features.
3. Enable the QR code scanner option.
4. Now tap on the address bar and select the QR code icon to add a QR code scanning shortcut to the browser.

Scan QR codes on Android using third-party QR code scanner apps

Several third-party QR code scanner apps are available at Google Play Store, where you can get a scanner app to scan your QR code. Most of these apps work the same to scan QR codes on Android phones. But be aware of scanning scam QR codes that do exist and are easy to stick anywhere.

Launch the third-party scanner app to scan the QR code and focus its camera on a QR code. The app scan QR automatically or in a few clicks, based on the Scanner app on Android. Look at these popular QR code scanner apps which scan your code.

• QR code reader
• Lightning QR Scanner
• QR Code Reader and Scanner

QR code reader

The QR code reader is a fast QR code scanner app containing rich features. It supports all kinds of QR codes and barcodes to read, and there has a flashlight to use the app even in low-light environments.

Simple user guide for QR code reader

Launch the QR code reader and focus the camera on the code you want to scan. The app will automatically recognize your QR code. You can use your browser to visit the site if the code contains a URL link. If the QR code contains only text, you can instantly see it on your scanner screen.

Download the QR code reader from Play Store.

Lightning QR Scanner

The Lightning QR Scanner app is designed for QR code and barcode decoding. It is an ultimate QR code scanner app for Android, allows enjoying the benefit of scanning a QR code or barcode to access coupons and promotions.

If you are concerned about your privacy, this app is for you, which is safe and fully compatible with Android phones running on Android 6.0 OS or above. This QR scanner app is widely used to read barcodes and QR codes like ISBN, EAN, UPC, etc.

Key Feature:

• Place your device's camera over a QR code or bar code object.
• After scanning the QR code, you can search for product info or browse the website.
• It also allows exporting all links via your e-mail or reusing the link.
• If your device is active on Darkness, don't worry; turn on Flashlight.

Download Lightning QR Scanner from the Play Store

QR Code Reader and Scanner

Kaspersky's QR Code Reader and Scanner is a smart QR code scanner app that reads most QR codes. It also protects you from QR codes containing a dangerous link (or information) that can divert you somewhere else you don't want to go. This QR Code Reader alerts you from malicious traps.

Key Features:

• It immediately checks the safety behind the QR code you scan that contains links, texts, images, and websites.
• It instantly displays a warning to you when scanning a QR code containing a dangerous link or trying to redirect you to a malicious website.
• It quickly and securely adds contact information by scanning a QR code to your phone without any mistakes.
• This scanner app also stores the history of the QR code you scan on your device, so you can access past links, images, and websites if needed.
• It also supports scanning Wi-Fi QR codes to quickly set up credentials and connect to them in a few seconds.

Download the QR Code Reader from Play Store.

Also, look at some other popular QR and Barcode scanner apps for Android.