Is there a free bar code scanner for iPhone?

ScanLife Barcode Reader (Free / iOS, Android) Designed for Android/iOS, the ScanLife barcode reader enables users to quickly scan barcodes and receive information. Usable for both traditional barcodes and QR codes, this is a versatile and simple barcode reader. Even better, its free.

How do I scan a barcode on my iPhone without a camera?

If youre using an iPhone, select Photo Library and select the QR code from there. Web QR will display the human readable” message embedded within the QR code. In this example, the QR code links to the website www.simplehelp.net. Thats it!

How to scan bar code on iphone

It's super easy to scan QR codes on your iPhone or iPad, but not everyone is aware of how to do it. If you're not familiar with QR codes and have never had the opportunity to scan one on your device before, rest assured, you've come to the right place.

Table of Contents Show

How do I scan a QR code on iPhone?
How to scan QR codes on your iPhone or iPad
The secret code scanner in your iPhone
Wallet app can scan QR codes on iPhone and iPad
How Do You Scan a Barcode?
How Do I Scan a Barcode on My iPhone for Free?
How Do I Scan a QR Code on My iPhone?
How Do I Scan With My iPhone?
Is there a free bar code scanner for iPhone?
How do I scan a barcode on my iPhone without a camera?

QR codes have become more popular in the last two years with the pandemic increasing the need for contactless interactions. These two-dimensional barcodes are read by the camera on your device and are often used by shops, websites and locations as a way of communicating or storing information.

They're becoming more common in some restaurants and cafes as rather than printing out paper menus and having to dispose of them each time new customers come in, these eateries can simply get you to scan a QR code and bring the menu up on your device - pretty cool, huh?

If you have one of the best iPhones or best iPads, you'll find it easy to scan QR codes on these because Apple have build a QR code reader into the camera. But, as with all tech software it can take a few minutes to get to grips with this handy tool, which is why we've put together this simple guide on how to scan QR codes on your iPhone or iPad.

But, before we dive into that, we recommend you don't overlook the security risk posed by QR codes. Yes, they can be super handy and there are definitely benefits to using them, but cyber criminals have cottoned on to how powerful they can be and it's worth being aware of how they're seeking to target them.

For those of you who are happy to proceed, let's take a look at how you can scan QR codes on your iPhone or iPad. Oh, and if you're using a device other than one produced by Apple, check out our guide to how to scan QR codes on your Android - we've got you covered there too!

How do I scan a QR code on iPhone?

Open up the camera app on your iPhone or iPad
Hold the camera so the QR code is clearly visible
Your device will recognize the code, and show you a notification
Tap the notification to be taken to the destination of your QR code

How to scan QR codes on your iPhone or iPad

If you want to scan QR codes on your iPhone or iPad, the first step is to open up the camera app on your iPhone or iPad. This can usually be found on the home page, in the bottom right corner of the device, although on iPads it's on the first page and if you've moved it around it'll be somewhere else.

Now, hold the device's camera up to the QR code. No need to hit the shutter button, your iOS device will automatically recognize the QR code and provide you with an on-screen notification. (Make sure you have mobile signal or you're connected to Wi-Fi, otherwise this won't work.)

Tap the notification to be taken to the destination of the QR code. This could be a website, app, or feature of your phone. Remember, you can now change the default browser on your iPhone or iPad, thanks to a relaxation in recent versions of iOS, meaning you'll see a notification to go to Chrome or Safari when scanning.

There – in those few steps, you've learned how to scan QR codes on your iPhone or iPad - well done!

An example of a QR code on iPad

The secret code scanner in your iPhone

There's also a secret code scanner in your iPhone - did you know that? It's not an app, as such (well, it is, but you can't see it in your app library) but can be found using Spotlight.

It does the same thing as in the camera app, but just offers a larger viewfinder to play with.

All you need to do is swipe down from the home screen to open up the search bar at the top of your iPhone and type in 'Code Scanner' - or you can head to 'Settings', then to 'Control Center' and add 'Code Scanner' to your mix.

Now you can access it by just swiping down from the top right-hand side of your screen, and can get all scan-like whenever you fancy.

Wallet app can scan QR codes on iPhone and iPad

There's also a built-in QR reader in the Wallet app on iPhone and iPod. To access the scanner, open the app, click on the plus button at the top of the "Passes" section, then tap on Scan Code to Add a Pass.

From here, you can scan QR codes for coupons, boarding passes, tickets, and loyalty cards, but only for the specific things that Wallet considers "passes." If you try to scan any other QR code, you'll get an error message.

If you don't fancy either of the above two methods, you can also head to the App Store where you'll find a wide selection of free QR code reading applications.

This article will walk you through the steps for how to use your iPhone smartphone to scan a regular barcode. While focusing primarily on traditional, or 1D, barcodes, this guide also contains some additional information on how to scan a QR code with your iPhone and what you need to do to scan documents for editing and sharing.

The following instructions for scanning a barcode with an iPhone apply to iPhones running iOS 9.0 and up.

How Do You Scan a Barcode?

To scan a barcode on your iPhone or iPad, you’ll need to first download a barcode scanner iOS app. There are many iPhone barcode apps available for download from the Apple App Store but, for this example, we’ll use QR Code Reader - Barcode Maker. This app is easy to use, supports all major barcode formats, and is free. This app can also be used to make your own barcodes.

Download QR Code Reader For iPhone

Open the QR Code Reader - Barcode Maker app on your iPhone and tap the large circular barcode icon in the center of the screen.
The app will ask for permission to use your iPhone’s camera. Tap OK.
The app will only ask for permission the first time you use it.
Position the barcode you want to scan in view of the camera.
Your iPhone should scan the barcode automatically and display its data. This could be a series of numbers, some text, or maybe even a website address.
To view more information about the barcode’s data, tap the Search icon.

How Do I Scan a Barcode on My iPhone for Free?

While there are many paid iPhone apps for scanning barcodes, there’s also a large number of apps that are either completely free or offer some in-app purchases for additional functionality.

The QR Code Reader app used in the above instructions is a good free option for general barcode scanning. Other popular iPhone apps which feature free barcode scanning functionality include ShopSavvy for shopping deals, Fitbit for logging food and drinks, and Good Reads for tracking physical books your own or have read.

How Do I Scan a QR Code on My iPhone?

You don’t need to download any additional apps to scan a QR code on your iPhone or iPad as the native iOS Camera app has this functionality built-in. To use your iPhone to scan a QR code, all you need to do is open the Camera app and aim your device at the code.

You don’t need to take a photo of the QR code. The code being seen by the Camera app is enough to trigger an automatic scan.

How Do I Scan With My iPhone?

In addition to scanning barcodes, your iPhone can also be used to scan documents. The easiest way to scan a document with your iPhone is to use the Notes app though there are also a variety of third-party iOS scanner apps which provide a number of additional features such as faxing and advanced image and text editing.

FAQ

How do I scan a barcode on an Android phone?
As with iPhones, scanning a barcode with an Android device requires a third-party app. Go to the Google Play Store and perform a search using the term "barcode scanner." Download, install, and open the app you choose. To scan a barcode, hold it up to the app's reader box. Based on what you scanned, the app will offer you several options, such as going directly to a website or starting a Google search.
How do I scan a barcode to find out where something was purchased?
There may be times when you want to track down where something was purchased, such as when you want to return a gift. Usually, an item's barcode won't offer this information. Most barcodes are UPC codes, which identify only the product and company. Some companies, however, may make a barcode specific to a store or area. The only way to see what information is available is to scan the code.

Is there a free bar code scanner for iPhone?

ScanLife Barcode Reader (Free / iOS, Android) Designed for Android/iOS, the ScanLife barcode reader enables users to quickly scan barcodes and receive information. Usable for both traditional barcodes and QR codes, this is a versatile and simple barcode reader. Even better, it's free.

How do I scan a barcode on my iPhone without a camera?

If you're using an iPhone, select Photo Library and select the QR code from there. Web QR will display the “human readable” message embedded within the QR code. In this example, the QR code links to the website www.simplehelp.net. That's it!