To scan a QR code on iPhone, open the Camera app, point it at the code so the whole square is in view, and tap the yellow notification banner that appears to open the link. You do not need a separate scanner app; QR reading is built into the Camera on iOS 11 and later. Below are every method, including how to scan a code that is already saved as a photo, plus the Control Center scanner and a quick safety note.

Scan with the Camera app

This is the method almost everyone should use:

  1. Open the Camera app (any lens works; the rear camera in Photo mode is easiest).
  2. Hold the phone so the QR code fills a good part of the frame and stays in focus.
  3. Wait a moment for a notification banner to slide down from the top.
  4. Tap the banner to open the link, menu, Wi-Fi join prompt, or other action.

You do not need to take a photo; just pointing the camera is enough. If nothing happens, move a little closer or farther so the whole code is sharp.

If scanning is not working

A few quick checks fix almost every problem:

  • Confirm the feature is on: go to Settings, Camera and make sure Scan QR Codes is enabled.
  • Steady the phone and get the entire code in frame; a partial or angled code will not read.
  • Improve the lighting. Dim or glare-covered codes are hard to detect.
  • Make sure the code is not damaged, blurry, or too small on screen.

Scan a QR code from a saved photo or screenshot

Sometimes the code is in an image already on your phone, for example a ticket someone texted you:

  1. Open the image in the Photos app.
  2. Touch and hold the QR code in the picture, or tap the Live Text icon in the corner.
  3. iPhone recognizes the code and shows a link or action to tap.

This works because iOS can detect QR codes in still images, not just through the live camera.

Use the Control Center Code Scanner

iPhone has a dedicated scanner you can reach in one swipe. It opens a scanning view and clearly shows where a code leads, which many people find safer than tapping a Camera banner.

First, add it to Control Center:

  1. Go to Settings, Control Center.
  2. Under More Controls, tap the plus (+) next to Code Scanner (or Add a Control, then choose Code Scanner on newer iOS).

Then to use it, open Control Center (swipe down from the top-right corner, or up from the bottom on Home-button models) and tap Code Scanner. Point it at the code and it shows the destination before you continue.

What you can do with a QR code

Scanning is not just for websites. Depending on the code, your iPhone may offer to:

  • Open a website, menu, or app page.
  • Join a Wi-Fi network without typing the password.
  • Add a contact or calendar event.
  • Open a payment or ticket in the relevant app.

A quick safety note

Scanning a QR code is safe, but the code can link to anywhere, just like a shortened URL. Scammers sometimes stick fake codes over real ones on parking meters, flyers, or restaurant tables. Before you tap, read the preview URL and make sure it matches where you expect to go. If a code asks you to enter a password or payment details on an unfamiliar site, stop and navigate there yourself instead.

How to create your own QR code

iPhone can generate certain codes for others to scan, no app required:

  • Share your Wi-Fi: some newer iOS versions can create a Wi-Fi QR code from the network’s settings, letting guests join by scanning instead of typing a password.
  • Share a contact: your personal contact card can be shared as a scannable code through the Contacts app or NameDrop.
  • Link to an app or page: the App Store and many websites display a QR code you can point another phone at to open the same page.

For anything more custom, a reputable QR generator website will make one you can save and print.

Older iPhones and iOS versions

Camera scanning arrived with iOS 11, so any iPhone running that version or later scans QR codes out of the box. If you are on a much older device or iOS version, the Camera may not detect codes; in that case, updating iOS under Settings, General, Software Update is the fix, and it is safer than installing a random third-party scanner app that may be packed with ads or trackers.

Related iPhone guides

If a scanned code prompts you to log in, our explainer on passkeys and what replaces your password is worth a read. You may also want to screenshot the result to save a ticket or confirmation, and to check your iPhone storage if scanning saves a lot of files.