How to Scan a QR Code on Android — All Methods
Every way to scan QR codes on Android phones — camera app, Google Lens, and third-party options.
Using Google Lens (Built-In)
Most Android phones running Android 8 or later have Google Lens built into the camera app. Open your camera and point it at a QR code — a link or action prompt should appear automatically. If it does not, look for a Google Lens icon in the camera interface and tap it.
Google Lens is the most reliable built-in method on Android. It can read QR codes, barcodes, text, and more. On Pixel phones, it is integrated directly into the camera. On Samsung and other brands, you may need to enable it in camera settings.
Samsung Camera Quick Scan
Samsung Galaxy phones have a built-in QR scanner in the camera app. Open the Camera app and point it at a QR code. A notification banner or popup will appear with the decoded content. If this does not work, go to Camera Settings and enable 'Scan QR codes'.
You can also scan QR codes from Samsung's Quick Settings panel. Swipe down from the top of the screen, look for the 'Scan QR code' tile, and tap it to open a dedicated scanner.
Using the Google App
If your camera app does not support QR scanning, open the Google app and tap the camera icon in the search bar to launch Google Lens. Point it at the QR code and it will be decoded instantly. This method works on virtually all Android phones.
Scanning QR Codes from Images
To scan a QR code from a screenshot or saved image, open Google Photos, select the image, and tap the Lens icon. Google Lens will analyze the image and detect any QR codes. Alternatively, open Google Lens directly and select the image from your gallery.
This is useful when someone sends you a QR code in a chat message or email — you can scan it without needing a second device.