QR codes are those square barcode-looking things that when scanned by your iPhone 16 Pro, Galaxy S25 Ultra or any other phone, can send you straight to a particular webpage or to download an app, all without having to type in a complicated URL. While they used to be a rare sight, many businesses — especially restaurants — adopted them during the pandemic as a way of giving easy access to information like menus, without you having to touch anything. 

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They can be great time-savers, but they’re not always obvious in how to use them, particularly if you have an older Android phone. Here’s how to scan a QR code with any phone.

How to scan a QR code on an Android phone

As QR codes have become more common, more manufacturers have built QR scanners directly into the default camera app. Most phones (whether iPhone or Android) bought within the past few years will be able to scan them because the function has been built directly into Android and iOS, but if you’re using a much older handset on outdated software then you may not. If that’s the case, you should also know that it’s not safe to use a phone that doesn’t receive software updates anymore.

Here’s how to do it:

• Open your phone’s camera
• Point it at the QR code, ensuring that it’s in focus and can be clearly seen
• If a link appears on screen, tap it to open

If no link appears it may either be that the camera can’t recognise it as a QR code or your phone doesn’t support QR code scanning in the camera app. If that’s the case you’ll need to download a QR code scanner.

Best QR code scanner for older Android phones

While there are loads of QR scanners available for free in the Google Play store, the best option is Google’s own Google Lens, which offers a variety of text scanning and translation tools but also has a QR scanner. Download and install the app (if it isn’t already a default app on your phone) and when you open it, grant permission to use the camera. 

Then, point it at your QR code and the app will reveal the hidden information, be it a website link or whatever. Keep the scanner app in a location you’ll remember as you’ll need to use it whenever you want to scan a QR code.