How To Scan QR Codes on Android [Brand-Wise Guide]

Imagine seeing a QR Code on a flier with the text “Scan for discounts.” It’s your favorite brand, having an annual sale on the product you’ve been eyeing for a while. You take your Android phone out but cannot scan the QR Code. Confusion can also arise from the multiple methods to scan it and what might suit you the best. Since Android is heavily customized by OEMs, different devices (Xperia, Galaxy, OnePlus, Pixel) might have different pathways to scan a QR Code. 

If you’ve been in a similar situation or want a detailed guide to scan a QR Code with your Android phone, we’ve covered you in this post.

Table of contents

1. How to scan QR Codes with Android phones?
2. How to scan QR Codes on Android 8 and below
3. How to Scan QR Codes on Android 9 and above
4. Brand-wise guide to scanning QR Codes on Android
5. Types of QR Code you can scan with your Android device
6. Frequently asked questions

How to scan QR Codes with Android phones?

Scanning QR Codes with Android phones is as simple as opening the camera app, thanks to Google’s latest updates in the software. There are primarily three ways to scan a QR Code with Android phones:

1. Using the native camera app (if compatible)
2. Using the Google app, Lens, and Photos
3. Using a third-party QR Code scanner app (for older versions)

If your phone doesn’t have a built-in QR Code scanner in the native camera app, you can download a QR Code scanner app from the Google Play store. Many free and paid QR Code scanner apps are available for Android devices.

How to scan QR Codes on Android 8 and below

Android 8 or below does not support QR Code scanning from the native camera app. You must download an app to scan the QR Code. 

Pick from our list of third-party QR Code Scanner apps to scan and access QR Codes on your Android phone. Some of the popular third-party apps that help you scan a QR Code on Android are:

1. TrendMicro’s Safe QR Code Reader (🫰best security) 
2. QR and Barcode Reader by Gamma Play (👍best features)
3. QR Code Reader by TeaCapps
4. QR & Barcode Reader by QR SCAN 
5. QR Scanner by Simple Design

How to scan QR Codes on Android 9 and above

If you’re using Android 9(Pie) and above, here are the five ways to scan a QR Code: 

1. Using the native camera app
2. Using Google Photos
3. Using Google app and Chrome
4. Using a third-party browser
5. Using the Google Lens app (downloaded)

1. Using the native camera app

Most Android OEMs make camera apps that can support QR Code scanning. Some of them use Google Lens to enable scanning. Keeping this in mind, here are the steps to scan a QR Code using a native app:

1. Open the camera app
2. Point your camera at a QR Code
3. Your phone should automatically recognize the QR Code and display a notification or pop-up with the corresponding information.

2. Google Photos

Google Photos is Google’s gallery app, built in with many Android phones. You can use it to scan QR Codes from images. You can click the Google Lens icon at the bottom to scan a QR Code stored in an image.

3. Using the Google app and Chrome

The Google app is a fast and straightforward way to access the Google Lens feature on your phone:

To scan a QR code using the Google app:

1. Open the Google app: Tap the Google app icon on your home screen.
2. Access Google Lens: Tap the image icon on the right side of the search bar.
3. Scan the QR Code: Point your camera at the QR Code or select a photo of it from your gallery.

Alternatively, you can use Google Chrome:

1. Open Google Chrome: Tap the Chrome app icon.
2. Access Google Lens: Follow the same steps as above using the Google search bar on the Chrome homepage.

4. Using Google Lens

Source

Google Lens is an AI interface by Google used to scan visual data. It “searches” for everything you point your camera at, including QR Codes. It is integrated into all your favorite apps, such as Google Camera, Chrome, Photos, and Screen Search.

You can directly use the Google Lens app by following the below steps:

1. Download the Google Lens app if it is not already on your device
2. Open the Google Lens app and point it for 2-3 seconds at the QR Code
3. A pop-up with the redirected content will appear

In the other sections, we’ve also broken down the steps for the other apps containing Google Lens.

5. Using a third-party browser (Firefox)

Firefox has a built-in QR Code scanner. You can access it with the following steps: 

1. Open the Firefox app on your mobile device
2. Tap the search bar and look for the scan icon
3. Tap the scan icon to activate the QR Code scanner
4. ‘Allow’ camera access if prompted

Note: Other browsers, such as Brave and Samsung Internet, also offer QR Code scanning abilities

How to scan QR Codes on Android: brand-wise guide

Different OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) design their UI with different pathways to scan QR Codes. 

Here’s a quick guide on how to scan a QR Code on some of the top-selling Android devices available:

How to scan QR Codes on Samsung devices

Scanning QR Codes on Samsung phones depends on the OS you are using. For Samsung One UI 9 and above, QR Code scanning is a native feature in the camera. For OneUI below 9, you may need a QR Code scanner app.

Here’s how to scan QR Codes on Samsung in five ways:

1. Using the native camera app

You can easily use the native camera app on Samsung to scan a QR Code:

1. Swipe down to access “Quick settings” and select “QR Code scanner”
2. This opens the camera app
3. Aim it at the QR Code for two-three seconds

If the QR Code still doesn’t scan, you may have to enable it. Click “Settings” in the top left and toggle on the “Scan QR Codes” option to enable it. 

2. Using Bixby Vision

Bixby Vision is Samsung’s version of Google Lens, built into Galaxy devices with OneUI 7 and above. To use this:

1. You can open the Bixby Vision app by searching for it on your phone. Alternatively, you can open your camera app and select the Bixby Vision option
2. Enable permission to use it if you haven’t used it before
3. Point it at the QR Code and click “Go” to access the QR Code content

3. Using the quick settings drop-down

This is an in-built feature in Samsung’s UI to scan QR Codes:

1. Swipe down from your notification bar and find “Scan QR Code”
2. The scanner will use your camera; you can point it at any QR Code
3. If you have saved a QR Code as an image, you can click the image icon on the scanner app to open your gallery and scan it
4. The data in the QR Code will appear as a pop-up

4. Using the Gallery app

You can scan a QR Code on Samsung’s gallery app with Bixby Vision. To use this feature:

1. Take a screenshot of the QR Code
2. Navigate to the image in the gallery 
3. Click the Bixby icon at the top right
4. A pop-up will appear with the link present in the QR Code

5. Using Samsung Internet

If your Samsung device has the latest version of the Samsung Internet browser, you can scan a QR Code on it. You must first toggle it on before using: 

1. Access the browser “Settings”
2. Click “Useful features”
3. Activate the “QR Code reader” option
4. The next time you use the address bar, find the QR Code scanner button on the right

How to scan QR Codes on Motorola devices

The Google Lens feature is built into the native camera and the “Photos” app in your Motorola device:

1. You can turn on Google Lens through the camera settings if not enabled already 
2. Once you have enabled permissions, you can point at the QR Code, and it will automatically scan it

How to scan QR Codes on Google Pixel devices

The Google Lens feature is automatically built into the native camera, “Photos,” and Google app for Pixel users:

1. Launch the camera app and point it to a QR Code 
2. A link associated with the QR Code will appear as a pop-up
3. Check the link and click if you want to follow

How to scan QR Codes on OnePlus devices

OnePlus’s native camera app can automatically detect QR Codes: 

1. You can point your camera to a QR Code and scan for the content 
2. The camera also has the option to enable Google Lens, which you can use as an alternative

How to scan QR Codes on Sony Xperia devices

Point your camera at the QR Code to scan it on Sony’s Xperia mobile devices. The native camera app will have automatic scannability with Android 9 and above.

Types of QR Code you can scan with your Android device

QR Codes are being widely implemented due to their versatility, from getting discounts by scanning coupons to listening to your favorite Spotify playlist. With many Android devices being able to scan QR Codes, they are only set to increase in popularity. 

Some popular use cases of QR Codes on Android devices are:

1. Scanning QR Codes on packaging for discounts, coupons, and product information 
2. Scanning QR Codes for Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat profiles
3. Spotify QR Codes to share your favorite playlists
4. WhatsApp QR Codes for entering a Whatsapp Business Chat.
5. WiFi QR Code to help you easily connect to Wifi networks
6. QR Codes to redirect to a location on Google Maps

We hope this guide will help you scan any QR Code from your Android device. If you want to create a QR Code for your use, you can create it for free on Uniqode—no credit card needed.

Frequently asked questions

1. What happens when you scan QR Codes?

When consumers scan QR Codes, a number of things can occur. Businesses can use QR Codes to deliver coupons, product information, and deals or use them to ask shoppers to leave reviews and feedback and follow them on social media.

2. Are QR Codes free?

Yes, QR Codes can be generated for free online. Although these QR Codes are static codes and, once downloaded, cannot be edited. To change QR Code destination or content, you need editable QR Codes.

3. How do I download a QR Code on my Android phone?

Once you create a QR Code using a QR Code generator like Uniqode, you can download it in the file formats available. It is then saved to your phone’s gallery. You can share online or print the QR Code image to share offline. 

4. Why won’t my Android camera scan a QR Code?

Your Android camera may have smudges, or you may be too close or too far from the QR Code. Ensure that the QR Code is clearly visible in the camera and not blurry. This can ensure that the QR Code is scannable by the camera.

• Author Details

Author Details

Sneh Ratna Choudhary

Sneh is a Content Marketing Manager at Uniqode and has a penchant for all things tech and startups that improve human lives. She adores dogs, Radiohead, and Michael Gary Scott.

sneh.c@mobstac.com