Native support for QR code scanning via the Camera app means it's easier than ever to use these types of codes in your daily life. Previously, you needed to download a third-party app to do so. That's not the case anymore!
- How to scan a QR code on iPhone and iPad
- How to set up and use QR code scanning from Control Center
- How to disable QR code scanning on iPhone and iPad
- A little more about QR codes
How to scan a QR code on iPhone and iPad
To scan QR codes on iPhone and iPad, it's quite literally a matter of opening your camera and pointing.
- Launch the Camera app on your device
- Point it at the QR code you want to scan.
- Look for the notification banner at the top of the screen — this is the data stored in the QR code.
- If your QR code contains actionable data (contact info, a phone number, etc.) tap on the notification banner to trigger the action.
How to set up and use QR code scanning from Control Center
If you scan a lot of QR codes, you might benefit from putting a link to the tool in Control Center. To add the built-in QR Code Reader:
- Tap on the Settings app on your mobile device.
- Choose Control Center.
- Tap Customize Controls.
- Under More Controls, tap the green + next to QR Code Reader.
- Move QR Code Reader to whatever location you'd like in Control Center using the hamburger icon to the right of it.
To use the QR Code Reader from Control Center:
- Tap the QR Code Reader icon in Control Center.
- Hold the camera near a QR Code to scan.
- If your QR code contains actionable data (contact info, a phone number, etc.) tap on the notification banner to trigger the action.
How to disable QR code scanning on iPhone and iPad
- Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Scroll down and tap Camera.
- Tap the toggle next to Scan QR Codes to turn off QR code scanning.
A little more about QR codes
QR codes might seem outdated, especially when compared to NFC tag scanning. After all, QR codes are nothing more than two-dimensional designs without any fancy circuitry or electromagnetic communication. But that's what makes QR codes so great. Anyone can create QR codes and store them physically or electronically. QR codes can also be scanned from a distance or up close. NFC tags have to be purchased, data has to be written to them (Apple doesn't support writing to an NFC tag), and you have to be within the near-field range in order to get information from them. Where NFC tags feel sort of closed off and inaccessible, QR codes are open and easy to make.
To give you an idea of how you might use QR codes, here's a list of different QR code data types and how iOS lets you interact with that data.
- Website URL: Scanning this QR code will give you a prompt to open the website.
- App Store Link: Scanning this QR code will give you a prompt to open the app in the App Store.
- Telephone Number: Scanning this QR code will give you a prompt to call the number.
- Plain Text: Scanning this QR code will give you a prompt to search the web using your default search provider in Safari.
- SMS Message: Scanning this QR code will give you a prompt to compose the specified message to the specified number.
- Email Address: Scanning this QR code will give you a prompt to compose an email to the specified email address.
- Email Message: Scanning this QR code will give you a prompt to compose the specified message to the specified email address.
- Contact Info: Scanning this QR code will give you a prompt to add the specified contact details to your contacts.
- Calendar Event: Scanning this QR code will give you a prompt to add the specified event to your calendar.
- Wi-Fi Credentials: Scanning this QR code will give you a prompt to connect to the specified Wi-Fi router with the specified login credentials.
That last one is especially exciting. You can have a long, complicated password on your guest network and you won't have to start off the evening with friends by doing an open mic session called, "I'm Reading out My Long-As-Hell Wi-Fi Password and You All Hate Me for It". You can simply show the QR code and your friends can scan and tap!
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Thoughts?
What do you think of QR codes? NFC tags? Give us a shout in the comments or over on Twitter!
Updated July 2019: This article has been updated for the most recent version of iOS.
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Bryan M Wolfe
Staff Writer
Bryan M. Wolfe has written about technology for over a decade on various websites, including TechRadar, AppAdvice, and many more. Before this, he worked in the technology field across different industries, including healthcare and education. He’s currently iMore’s lead on all things Mac and macOS, although he also loves covering iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. Bryan enjoys watching his favorite sports teams, traveling, and driving around his teenage daughter to her latest stage show, audition, or school event in his spare time. He also keeps busy walking his black and white co*cker spaniel, Izzy, and trying new coffees and liquid grapes.
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