QR codes are used for many purposes, so being able to scan a QR code with your iPhone can be very useful.
But if you’ve never tried it and are wondering how it works, you may have avoided these QR codes.
Fortunately, you can scan these codes and open their links quite easily using the camera app on your phone.
You can scan QR codes on iPhone by enabling the option in Settings > Camera > Scan QR Codes; Then you can open the camera app and place the QR code in the viewfinder and then tap the pop-up link.
How to enable QR code scanning using the iPhone camera
- I open Settings.
- Select the camera.
- Turn on QR code scanning.
- Open the Camera app.
- Put the QR code in the window.
- Click on the popup to open the link.
Below, our guide continues with more information on how to scan QR codes on iPhone 13, including images of these steps.
A QR code is a fairly versatile tool for performing many different actions.
You can scan it to view a restaurant menu, visit a Web page you find on a flyer, send a text message, and more.
But it can be a bit confusing if you’ve never used a QR code before, so you might be wondering what to do.
Basically, what you need to do is open the camera app, put the code in the camera window, wait for the app to recognize it as a QR code and read the data, and then display a link that allows you to perform an action.
However, you also need to enable an option in the iPhone Camera menu to allow this process.
Our guide below will show you what to do so you can start scanning QR codes without having to download any third party apps.
Related: If you want to send someone a copy of a document you have, our Scan to iPhone guide can show you how to do it using the Notes app.
How to unlock the QR code scanner on your iPhone
The steps in this article were done on an iPhone 13 running iOS 16.
Step 1: Locate the Settings app icon on the home screen and tap on it to open the menu.
Step 2: Scroll down and select the “Camera” option.
Step 3: Click the button to the right of “Scan QR Codes” to enable this feature.
You’ll know it’s enabled when a green shade appears around the button. I have it in the photo below.
Step 4: Exit the Settings menu, then open the Camera app.
Step 5: Place the QR code you want to scan in the viewfinder, then wait for the link to appear.
Step 6: Click the link to go to the website, or follow the procedure indicated by the QR code.
Now that you know how to scan QR codes on iPhone 13, you can start using this new knowledge to scan codes that you come across in your normal daily activities.
More information about scanning a QR code for iPhone
Another option for using QR codes on iPhone is to take a picture of the code.
You can then open the Photos app, tap the Live Text button in the lower right corner of the screen, and then tap the link that pops up.
While many of the QR codes you’ll find at restaurants and other businesses will be safe, you still need to be careful about which links you click when scanning one of these codes.
If you want to generate your own QR codes, you can use something like this QR code for website generator do it.
If you decide you don’t want to scan QR codes, or if you’re trying to take a picture of something and the QR code scanner keeps activating, you can disable QR codes on your iPhone by going back to Settings > Camera > and disabling the “Scan QR Codes” option. .