How to scan QR codes with your iPhone

QR or Quick Response codes are one of the most popular ways to access information on the go. Invented in 1994 and once considered the wave of the future, part of the QR code revival that started in 2017 with Apple’s iOS 11 update that included a QR code reader as part of its built-in Camera app.

These square barcodes can house URLs, Wi-Fi passwords, contact information, restaurant menus, home sale walkthroughs, videos, App Store downloads, and just about anything you’d like.

QR codes are easy to use if you know how to access the information they contain and have an internet connection. Here are a few ways to access QR code information using your iPhone with iOS 16.

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The easiest way to read a QR code is to use the good old Camera app on your iPhone. Here’s what to do.

In the upcoming iOS 17 release, Apple has tweaked the Camera app’s QR Code interface. The link button automatically appears at the bottom of the Camera interface directly above the shutter button, rather than floating within the viewfinder as you focus on the code. It’s a small but significant refinement that will make it much easier to access the code’s information.

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If you add a QR Code control to the iPhone’s Control Center, the Code Scanner automatically opens the link in the proper app (Mail or Safari for example) without your having to tap on it. First, make sure it’s properly set up in the Settings app.

Opening a QR code link with the Code Scanner is a more secure option than using the Camera app because the link opens in a sandboxed view rather than a URL.

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Using Siri is a super quick way to access the QR Code Scanner.

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Why use a separate app? The iPhone’s native QR code readers offer bare-bones, read-only features, but if you want to create your own QR codes, you’ll need to turn to a third-party app. Some apps are completely free while others may offer only a free trial or require payment. Here are a few highly rated QR Code readers we found.

The QR Reader for iPhone lets you scan QR codes, barcodes, puzzles, databases, business cards, and documents. You can also create, share, and export QR codes and approve referral websites before opening them.

The QR Tiger QR Code Generator, an ad-free QR code scanner, and creator, lets you create QR codes with images for links, URLs, contacts, text, Wi-Fi, business cards, applications, and social accounts. A dynamic option lets you edit codes, track data, change patterns, and colors, and add a logo.

The QR, Barcode Scanner for iPhone lets you use your iPhone camera to automatically scan and recognize many types of QR code or barcode data, supports all major code formats, and includes a 2FA authenticator, the ability to create and share codes, and batch scanning. You can also view and save usage history, apply an app lock, and customize colors for the QR codes you create.

Also read: How to scan QR codes with your iPhone or iPad

Jackie Dove is an insomniac tech writer and editor in northern California. A wildlife advocate, cat fan, and photo app fanatic, her specialties include Mac hardware and software, art, design, photography, video, and a wide range of creative and productivity apps and systems. Jackie now writes for a variety of consumer tech publications.