In iOS 11, the native camera app includes functionality that allows you to scan QR codes and access QR code content like URLs without having to download a third-party app.


Here's how to scan a QR code when you run into one:

  1. Open the Camera app on the iPhone or iPad.
  2. Make sure you have adequate lighting so the camera can pick up the QR code.
  3. Align the camera with the QR code.

That's all there is to it. From there, the camera will read the QR code and provide you with a notification to access whatever it contains.

QR codes can include contact information, calendar events, website links, phone numbers, email addresses, Wi-Fi information, and more, so they can be pretty handy, and it's nice to have the built-in scanning feature available when you need it.

Top Rated Comments

Michael Scrip Avatar
104 months ago
This should have happened a LONG time ago.

I remember having to download "Red Laser" or something on my iPhone 4S

Of course I knew what to do... but the average person? Nope.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
IHelpId10t5 Avatar
104 months ago
I hope the notification includes displaying the actual URL before navigating to it. The singificant problem with QR codes (and shortened URLs) is that they are handy for masking a malicious destination from unsuspecting click-happy smartphone users that have no care for their own security.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rlarsen_eu Avatar
104 months ago
Yes can auto QR recognition be disabled?
1: Go to the Settings app on iPhone, iPad

2: Scroll down and tap on Camera

3: Find [B]Scan QR codes[/B] and disabled it.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dannyyankou Avatar
104 months ago
This is useful for joining WiFi networks.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
neliason Avatar
104 months ago
I’m glad they implemented this but I don’t really bother with QR codes anymore. The ideal of them being handy didn’t work for me when you had to pull out your phone, type in a passcode, and find an app. Now with face and fingerprint unlock and the camera app more easily accessible it is finally useful. But I don’t notice as many codes (the rage seems to have died down) and I have it in my mind to ignore them.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
guidocruz Avatar
104 months ago
For years I have been saying Apple ought to do this some day. Glad they did.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 26

iOS 26.4 and iOS 27 Features Revealed in New Leak

Friday December 12, 2025 10:56 am PST by
Macworld's Filipe Espósito today revealed a handful of features that Apple is allegedly planning for iOS 26.4, iOS 27, and even iOS 28. The report said the features are referenced within the code for a leaked internal build of iOS 26 that is not meant to be seen by the public. However, it appears that Espósito and/or his sources managed to gain access to it, providing us with a sneak peek...
Apple Logo Top Half

Early iOS 26 Software Leak Uncovers Dozens of Upcoming Apple Features

Monday December 15, 2025 3:05 pm PST by
Software from an iPhone prototype running an early build of iOS 26 leaked last week, giving us a glimpse at future Apple devices and iOS features. We recapped device codenames in our prior article, and now we have a list of some of the most notable feature flags that were found in the software code. In some cases, it's obvious what the feature flags are referring to, while some are more...
apple beta 26 lineup

Apple Leak Confirms Work on Foldable iPhone, AirTag 2, and Dozens More Devices

Monday December 15, 2025 2:05 pm PST by
Last week, details about unreleased Apple devices and future iOS features were shared by Macworld. This week, we learned where the information came from, plus we have more findings from the leak. As it turns out, an Apple prototype device running an early build of iOS 26 was sold, and the person who bought it shared the software. The OS has a version number of 23A5234w, and the first...
iOS 26

iOS 26.3 Beta 1 Features: What's New So Far

Monday December 15, 2025 4:23 pm PST by
Apple is testing iOS 26.3, the next version of iOS 26 that will launch around January. Since iOS 26.3's testing is happening over the holidays, it is a smaller update with fewer features than we've seen in prior betas. We've rounded up what's new so far, and we'll add to our list with subsequent betas if we come across any other features. Transfer to Android Apple is making it simpler...
Apple Foldable Thumb

Leak Reveals Foldable iPhone Details

Monday December 15, 2025 9:09 am PST by
The first foldable iPhone will feature a series of design and hardware firsts for Apple, according to details shared by the Weibo leaker known as Digital Chat Station. According to a new post, via machine translation, Apple is developing what the leaker describes as a "wide foldable" device, a term used to refer to a horizontally oriented, book-style foldable with a large internal display....
iOS 26

Apple Releases iOS 26.2 With Alarms for Reminders, Lock Screen Changes, Enhanced Safety Alerts and More

Friday December 12, 2025 10:10 am PST by
Apple today released iOS 26.2, the second major update to the iOS 26 operating system that came out in September, iOS 26.2 comes a little over a month after iOS 26.1 launched. ‌iOS 26‌.2 is compatible with the ‌iPhone‌ 11 series and later, as well as the second-generation ‌iPhone‌ SE. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones over-the-air by going to Settings >...
airpods max 2024 colors

AirPods Max 2 Likely to Offer These 10 New Features

Monday December 15, 2025 7:41 am PST by
Apple released the AirPods Max on December 15, 2020, meaning the over-ear headphones launched five years ago today. While the AirPods Max were updated with a USB-C port and new color options last year, followed by support for lossless audio and ultra-low latency audio this year, the headphones lack some of the features that have been introduced for newer generations of the regular AirPods and the ...
iOS 26

iOS 26.2 Coming Soon With These 8 New Features on Your iPhone

Thursday December 11, 2025 8:49 am PST by
Apple seeded the second iOS 26.2 Release Candidate to developers earlier this week, meaning the update will be released to the general public very soon. Apple confirmed iOS 26.2 would be released in December, but it did not provide a specific date. We expect the update to be released by early next week. iOS 26.2 includes a handful of new features and changes on the iPhone, such as a new...