To scan a QR code on Android, open your camera app and point it at the code; on most phones a link or button pops up within a second. If your camera doesn’t react, use Google Lens, which reads QR codes and is available in the Google app, Google Photos and Chrome. Many phones also have a QR scanner shortcut in Quick Settings.
Android phones come from dozens of makers, so menus differ a little between a Pixel, a Samsung Galaxy and a Motorola. The methods below cover almost every phone.
Method 1: Use your camera app #
- Open the camera in normal photo mode.
- Point it at the QR code so the whole code is in the frame.
- Wait for the pop-up. A link, a chip or a small QR icon appears when the phone recognizes the code.
- Read where it leads, then tap it to open the link or take the action.
If nothing appears after a few seconds, look for a Google Lens button in the camera app or a QR scanning option in the camera’s settings. Some makers put code scanning behind a switch that can be turned off. On Samsung phones, check the camera app’s settings for a QR code scanning option.
Method 2: Use Google Lens #
Google Lens reads QR codes, barcodes and text. Google says Lens is available in the Google app, Google Photos and Chrome, and in the camera app of select Android devices.
- Open the Google app and tap the Lens icon (the camera symbol) in the search bar.
- Point it at the code. Lens highlights it and shows the link.
- Tap the result to open it, or copy it.
Lens is also the easiest way to read a code from an image already on your phone. See method 4 in the section on screenshots below.
Method 3: Use the Quick Settings scanner #
Many recent Android phones include a Scan QR code tile in Quick Settings.
- Swipe down twice from the top of the screen to open the full Quick Settings panel.
- Look for a tile named “Scan QR code” or with a QR icon.
- If it isn’t there, tap the pencil or edit button and drag the tile into your panel.
- Tap the tile and point the phone at the code.
Whether you have this tile depends on your phone and Android version. If you don’t, the camera and Lens methods work the same way.
Method 4: Join Wi-Fi from your Wi-Fi settings #
For Wi-Fi codes, you can scan straight from your network settings on many phones. In Settings > Network & internet > Internet (or Wi-Fi), look for a QR icon next to Add network. Scanning the code there joins the network directly.
Going the other way, Android can share your current network as a code. Google’s Android Help gives the steps: Settings > Network & internet > Internet, tap your network, then tap Share, and your friend scans the code with another device. Some of these steps only work on Android 12 and up. Our guide to making a Wi-Fi QR code covers codes you can print for guests.
How to scan a QR code from a screenshot on Android #
You can’t point the camera at your own screen, so use one of these:
- Google Photos: open the screenshot, then open Google Lens from the photo’s options. Google’s help page describes it as select the photo, tap More, then Google Lens.
- Google app: open Lens and pick the image from your gallery instead of using the camera.
- A scanner app that imports photos.
Full walkthroughs for both platforms are in how to scan a QR code from a screenshot.
Why won’t my Android phone scan a QR code? #
- Clean the camera lens. Pocket lint and fingerprints blur codes.
- Change the distance. Too close and the camera can’t focus; too far and the code is too small.
- Remove glare by tilting the phone or the code.
- Add light. Dim restaurants and parking garages are common trouble spots.
- Try a different method. If the camera misses it, try Lens or the Quick Settings tile.
- Check permissions. If a scanner app shows a black screen, it may not have camera permission. Check Settings > Apps.
- Check the code. A faded, crumpled or low-contrast code, or one with no blank border, may not scan on any phone.
Our full troubleshooting guide, QR code not scanning, goes through each cause.
Should you install a QR scanner app on Android? #
You don’t need one to read codes, and the FBI recommends using your phone’s built-in scanner instead of downloading one. Some third-party scanners on Google Play ask for permissions they don’t need or bury the result under ads.
A scanner app is worth it if you want features the camera doesn’t offer. QR Handler is one option: it shows the full contents of every code before anything opens, and for links it names the real site and warns about shortened links, unencrypted http, raw IP addresses and look-alike characters. It keeps a searchable history on your phone, reads codes from screenshots, reads product barcodes, and has a flashlight and 1×, 2× and 3× zoom for hard-to-reach codes. It’s free with ads and needs no account. It can’t tell you that a normally spelled scam domain is fake, and neither can Lens or your camera, so still read the address. For Wi-Fi codes it shows the network and copies the password rather than joining for you.
For a head-to-head, see Google Lens vs QR code scanner app.
Frequently asked questions #
Does Android have a built-in QR code scanner? #
Yes. Most Android camera apps read QR codes, Google Lens reads them, and many phones have a Scan QR code tile in Quick Settings. Exactly where it lives depends on your phone’s maker.
How do I scan a QR code on a Samsung phone? #
Open the Samsung Camera app and point it at the code. If nothing appears, check the camera’s settings for a QR code scanning option and turn it on. Google Lens and the Quick Settings panel are alternatives.
Can I scan a QR code without an app on Android? #
Yes. The camera app, Google Lens (included on most phones through the Google app) and the Quick Settings tile all work without installing anything extra.
How do I scan a QR code for Wi-Fi on Android? #
Point your camera at the code and tap the join prompt, or go to your Wi-Fi settings and tap the QR icon next to Add network. Both connect you without typing the password.