More important than ever to know how to scan QR codes on Android, with the coronavirus pandemic has given this new plot a whole new life.
QR codes provide a quick way to share and receive information, and many post-Covid businesses are now asking customers to scan QR codes to check their places, download their apps and place their orders.
There are hundreds of QR code scanners for Android devices in the Google Play store, but many are filled with ads or have dubious privacy policies. Additionally, your phone should be able to scan QR codes without you having to install an app.
Here are the best methods to use to scan a QR code on your Android device.
How to scan a QR code on Android: Use your Android camera app
A large number of Android phones now allow you to scan QR codes using the built -in camera app, to save you installing a third -party QR code reader. If your phone is running Android 9 (Pie) or later, the camera will offer this feature through integration with Google Lens.
Simply put open the camera app and point to the QR code for a while, so be in focus - no need to take pictures. Google Lens will automatically detect and parse the code and display a link, usually to a website. Tap this link to open and view the contents of the code.
If nothing happens while you scan a QR code with the camera, you may need to manually activate Google Lens. Go into you camera application settings and turn on Google Lens over there.
On Samsung phones, who use their own technology to scan QR codes, make sure “Scan QR code” is turned on in the Camera application settings. You can also access the “Scan QR code” option with swipe down from the top of your screen to open Quick Settings Tray.
How to scan a QR code on an old Android phone
If your phone is running Android 8 (Oreo), you can scan QR codes with Google Lens via Google Assistant. Either long press the Home button or say “Hi Google” to open the Assistant, then tap the Google Lens icon. Alternatively, install Google Lens app to add a shortcut to your home screen.
On older phones running Android 7 (Nougat) or earlier, you’ll need to install a third -party app to scan QR codes. We recommend QR Code & Barcode Scanner, which works quickly even when you’re away from code and don’t need an internet connection. Also, unlike a free QR code scanner, it is ad -free.
How to scan a QR code with your Android browser
Instead of scanning a QR code with your camera app and then opening the link separately in your browser, some Android browsers allow you to scan and open the code directly.
On Samsung phones, you can activate this option in Samsung’s Internet browser. Tap the three -line button inside bottom right corner of the screen, select Settings and select “Useful features.” Open it “QR code scanner,” then tap your address bar and select “QR code icon” to add a scanning shortcut to the browser.
In Firefox for Android, you can scan a QR code just by tap the address bar and press Scan. Likewise, in Edge app for Android, only tap the camera icon in the search box and select Barcode.
Surprisingly, Google offers a QR code scanning feature in the iOS version of Chrome, but not in its Android browser, though Chrome for Android lets you generate your own QR codes.