Scan a QR Code
Point your camera at a code, or upload a photo or screenshot. Everything is decoded in your browser — the image never leaves your device.
You can also drag an image here, or paste a screenshot with Ctrl+V / Cmd+V.
How to Scan a QR Code on Android
How to scan a QR code on Android using the Camera app, Google Lens, Quick Settings, and Google Photos. Includes reading a QR code from a screenshot or saved picture, and what to do when your Android camera will not scan.
Quick Answer
To scan a QR code on Android, open the Camera app and point it at the code — a link banner appears that you tap to open. If nothing appears, swipe down twice from the top of the screen and tap the 'Scan QR code' tile in Quick Settings, or open Google Lens. To read a code already saved on your phone, open it in Google Photos and tap the Lens icon.
How to scan a QR code on Android
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Step 1: Open the Camera app. On Android 9 and later, most manufacturers scan QR codes in the default photo mode without any extra setting.
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Step 2: Point the rear camera at the code and hold steady for a second — a banner or chip appears showing the destination.
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Step 3: Tap the banner to open the link, after reading the domain it shows.
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Step 4: If no banner appears, swipe down twice from the top of the screen to open Quick Settings and look for a 'Scan QR code' tile. Tap it.
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Step 5: If there is no tile, edit Quick Settings with the pencil icon and drag 'Scan QR code' into the active area, or open the Google app and tap the Lens camera icon in the search bar.
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Step 6: For a code already saved as a photo or screenshot, open it in Google Photos and tap the Lens icon at the bottom of the screen.
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Step 7: If the code is on the screen you are looking at, screenshot it first, then run Lens or the browser scanner above on the screenshot.
Android has four scanners and they are not equally good
Android fragmentation means the route that works depends on your manufacturer and version. These four cover essentially every device in use.
- 1Camera app — on Android 9 and later, Pixel, OnePlus, Xiaomi, Oppo and most others detect QR codes in the standard photo mode. Some skins require you to enable it in the camera's own settings under a name like 'Scan QR codes' or 'Smart scan'.
- 2Quick Settings tile — swipe down twice and tap 'Scan QR code'. Present on Android 13 and later, and on many earlier Samsung and Pixel builds. This is the most reliable route because it is a dedicated scanner, not a camera feature.
- 3Google Lens — open the Google app, tap the Lens icon in the search bar, and point. Lens reads QR codes, barcodes, and text, and handles poorly printed codes better than most camera apps because it retries aggressively.
- 4Google Photos — open any saved image and tap the Lens icon at the bottom. This is how you scan a screenshot or a code someone sent you in a chat.
You cannot scan a code on the screen you are looking at
The single most common Android scanning problem is a code that is already on your own display — in a WhatsApp message, an emailed ticket, a PDF, or a web page. No camera can photograph the screen it is attached to.
Screenshot it instead. On most Android phones, press power and volume-down together. Then open the screenshot in Google Photos and tap the Lens icon, or upload it to the scanner at the top of this page. The browser route has one advantage: it shows you the decoded destination without opening it, so you can check a link before you trust it.
When your Android camera will not scan
- 1QR detection is off in the camera's own settings. Open the Camera app, tap the gear icon, and look for 'Scan QR codes', 'Smart scan', or 'Google Lens suggestions'.
- 2You are using an older Android version. Below Android 9, most stock camera apps do not scan at all. Use Google Lens or the browser scanner above instead of installing a scanner app.
- 3You are too close for the lens to focus. Back off to 15–30 cm so the whole code and its white margin fit comfortably in frame.
- 4A third-party camera app has replaced the default one and does not support scanning. Try the Quick Settings tile, which bypasses the camera app entirely.
- 5The code is damaged, faded, low contrast, or behind reflective glass. Change your angle, and if that fails photograph it and upload the photo above — our scanner retries at several scales automatically.
You almost certainly do not need a QR scanner app
The Play Store is full of QR scanner apps, and they are one of the more aggressive categories for permissions and advertising. Many request contacts, location, and storage access that scanning a QR code does not require, and several have historically shipped adware.
Every Android phone from version 9 onward can scan without one, and Google Lens covers the rest. If you want a scanner that also handles screenshots and shows you the destination before opening it, the browser scanner at the top of this page does that with no install and no permissions beyond the camera you explicitly grant.
Free, private, and permanent
WebsitesQR runs entirely in your browser. Codes you create are static and never expire; images you scan are never uploaded. Learn about QR code safety →
Frequently Asked Questions
Why won't my Android camera scan QR codes?
Either QR detection is disabled in the camera app's settings, or your Android version is too old for native scanning. Check the camera's gear icon for a 'Scan QR codes' or 'Smart scan' option. If it isn't there, use the Quick Settings tile, Google Lens, or the browser scanner above — all three bypass the camera app.
How do I scan a QR code from a screenshot on Android?
Open the screenshot in Google Photos and tap the Lens icon at the bottom of the screen — it reads the code and offers the link. Or upload the screenshot to the scanner at the top of this page, which decodes it and shows you the destination without opening it.
Do I need to download an app to scan QR codes on Android?
No. Android 9 and later scan natively in the Camera app, Android 13 added a Quick Settings tile, and Google Lens works on essentially everything. Play Store QR scanner apps commonly ask for contacts, location, and storage permissions that scanning does not require — there is no reason to install one.
Where is the QR code scanner in Quick Settings?
Swipe down twice from the top of the screen to expand Quick Settings, then look for a 'Scan QR code' tile. If it isn't visible, tap the pencil or edit icon and drag the tile from the inactive list into the active area. It's available on Android 13 and later, and on many Samsung and Pixel builds before that.
Does Google Lens scan QR codes?
Yes, and it is often the most reliable option on Android. Open the Google app, tap the Lens icon in the search bar, and point at the code. Lens handles faded, angled, and poorly printed codes better than most stock camera apps because it retries the decode more aggressively.
How do I scan a QR code on my Android without a camera?
Upload the image. If the code arrived as a file, screenshot, or photo, the scanner at the top of this page decodes it in your browser with no camera involved. This also works on a laptop or tablet with no rear camera at all.