How to scan a QR code on Android - review of applications for reading QR codes. Scanning a QR code on Android devices
Two-dimensional QR codes (English: quick response) were developed in Japan by Denso-Wave in 1994 for the needs of the automotive industry. Over time, QR codes have become widespread in a variety of fields due to their efficient way of storing encoded information. The information itself can be anything: links to websites, phone numbers, email addresses, texts of several thousand characters.
In order to decipher the information contained in the QR code, you need to scan and read it. Most modern smartphones successfully cope with this task.
How to scan a QR code
The built-in cameras of mobile devices are used to scan the QR code. A special application recognizes QR codes, receives their detailed display and deciphers the information contained in them.
Let's consider solving the problem of scanning QR codes using the example of applications for the most popular smartphone platforms: iOS for iPhone and Android for mobile devices from various manufacturers.
Application for scanning QR codes on iPhone
To enable your iPhone to work with QR codes and scan them, follow these steps. 
Example of scanning QR codes on Android
On the Android platform, working with QR codes is not fundamentally different from similar actions on iOS. 
Of course, the application we reviewed is far from the only program for scanning QR codes on mobile devices. You can try other applications yourself and find the most convenient option among them.
There are also programs for reading QR codes for personal computers. They can also be successfully used to scan single codes. If you need to work with a large number of codes, then it makes sense to think about purchasing a special hand-held barcode scanner that connects to a computer via a USB port and has much better performance.
A QR code is a special digital key created for convenient data encryption. It is usually used in Internet communications, transmitting words, links and other information through it, including pictures. But most of all it is used for links, because it is very convenient. There is no need to rewrite the link or copy it. All you need to do is point your phone camera at the QR code and the link will be opened in a matter of milliseconds.
To recognize QR codes, you need a special application, since it contains the decryption cycle. There are a lot of similar solutions on the mobile application market. Moreover, most of them are absolutely free.
In Xiaomi smartphones, the QR code recognition function is built-in. But this applies only to those devices on which a version of the proprietary MIUI shell no lower than 8.0 is installed. If you have a lower version, then in order to be able to scan the QR code, you need to download and install a special application from Google Play. Some of the best are reviewed below.
Let's say that you are the happy owner of a Xiaomi smartphone with MIUI 8.0 and higher. In this case, to recognize the QR code, you need to find a program called “QR code” in the list of all applications and run it.
After launching the software, it will immediately turn on the camera and begin scanning everything around in search of a code. You just need to point the camera at the code and wait until it is read. Next, the action encrypted in the QR code will occur. A link to a website, an image will open, or another action will be performed.
In this application, you can perform some other actions with the camera; you can select them at the bottom of the interface. There are such items as shopping, translate, study, document and so on. They do similar things: they scan data from the camera in search of the necessary information and decipher it, translate it into another language, convert it into a digital value, and so on.
Installing a QR code recognition application
If for one reason or another your Xiaomi device does not have a stock application for reading QR codes, then you can install it.
Go to the Google Play branded application store for Android smartphones and find any application you like for decoding QR codes.
Most of them are distributed free of charge, but with advertising. Some, in addition to the code recognition function, have a number of other functions, it depends on the application.
Let's look at the best apps for reading QR codes.
Choosing the best application
There are many applications for recognizing QR codes, but we have selected the most useful ones:
- QR and barcode scanner (Russian);
- Google Goggles.
A very simple app for scanning not only QR codes, but also legacy barcodes such as those on supermarket products.
The application can read pictures, contacts, links, location and other data and immediately open them within itself through the built-in browser. It is possible to import the received contact into your contact book.
The application is convenient, the interface is very simple and unremarkable.
QR and barcode scanner (Russian)
Also quite simple, but at the same time a more pleasant-looking application.
After reading the name, you can understand that this scanner can read both QR and barcodes.
The program has a nice interface with rounded icons and windows in material style. In addition to the usual links, contacts, and so on, she can read Wi-Fi passwords, programs (links to programs), calendar events, information about a person, and other less useful data.
Thanks to a convenient code generation system, you can quickly transfer data from one smartphone to another by simply creating a code on one and reading it on the other.
A secure QR code scanner from programmers from the Kaspersky team, well known for creating their anti-virus software for computers and laptops.
In essence, this is a regular scanner with only built-in phishing protection in the browser. Thus, when opening links, the built-in Kaspersky browser will check it for threats and warn if they are found. Much emphasis is placed on protection, so there are no special other functions.
Google Goggles
Scanner from Google. This combine scanner can read a lot of things besides QR codes and barcodes.
Google's program can find a picture in a photo, determine the location from the photo, find out what kind of store, statue or car is shown in the picture, report what is happening in the picture, and so on. This doesn’t work perfectly, but it is still extremely useful in some cases, especially for travelers.
This utility also contains a code scanner. It works great and opens all links in the browser you have installed, not your own. Unfortunately, you cannot share information through it, but you can quickly and easily find it.
Unfortunately, this application is no longer available on Google Play. You can download from trusted sites through a search.
Probably many of you have noticed that not only advertising leaflets, but also other information, including useful ones, are often accompanied by a QR code. Why is this necessary? The fact is that if you write a link to a website instead of a QR code, you will have to enter this link manually on your device, which is not very convenient. It is much more convenient to simply point the camera at the square. Using QR codes, not only links to any materials are encrypted, but also programs such as Viber or E-Num provide authorization. Therefore, absolutely every smartphone must be equipped with a tool that allows you to read a QR code.
How to scan a qr code on android?
Many devices already have this function by default, for example Xiaomi. The function can be implemented either as a separate application or as an option built into the mobile phone camera. If you do not find pre-installed software on your smartphone, then try pointing the camera in shooting mode at this QR code.
If you see any information about the QR code, click on it to find out more details. This could be a pop-up message or an icon. Here's how it worked on my Xiaomi Redmi 3S.
After clicking on the inscription “More details about the QR code,” the scan result opened. Since the result of scanning is the url address of our site, the program prompted me to open the link in the browser by clicking on the “Go to site” button.
How to read android qr code using programs?
If your smartphone is not able to read QR codes using standard means, then you just need to install a third-party application from PlayMarket that allows you to do this. The choice of such applications is large, many of them have similar functionality; we will consider the QR Code Reader application.
A QR code is a barcode developed and introduced by the Japanese company Denso-Wave back in 1994. QR codes have recently become popular in our country. Using a barcode, you can encrypt a lot of information, for example, an address or a web link. In order to read information, it is enough to have a smartphone or tablet with a camera at hand. Today we will show you how to read these kinds of codes on Android devices.
First of all, you will need to download a barcode scanner. Which one you will use is up to you to decide - there are a lot of them on the Google Play Store. Just type in the search the phrase “qr code” (without quotes) and choose to be healthy. We used QR Code Reader. By the way, it is quite possible that your firmware already has a QR code scanner.
To read it, we need to launch the downloaded application and run it. After launch, you will see an image from the camera - don’t be alarmed, that’s how it’s supposed to be. When you point the camera at a QR code, the application automatically reads it, meaning you do not need to press additional buttons. In this case, you will immediately see the description hidden in the code.
Actually, that's all. Install the application and scan the QR codes that you come across. Perhaps you will find something interesting in them.
A QR code is an image in the form of squares, a two-dimensional matrix code that stores programmed (hidden) information. It can be decrypted using special software.
QR code (quick response) is translated from English as “quick response”. It is found on business cards, on various websites, and in advertising. Typically, a phone number, website address, coordinates and other data are encrypted in this way. This is a modernized version of the barcode. To decipher a QR code, you need to launch the program to read the information and bring the code to the reading device (camera of a regular mobile phone, smartphone, tablet). The reading process itself is called scanning. When reading the code is completed, information will appear on the screen or a new window will open (of course, access to the Internet is required). The maximum amount of information that can be stored in a QR code is 2,953 bytes in binary code (4,296 characters or 7,089 digits). To read information from a QR code using a mobile phone, you need to install a special application on it. Moreover, a separate program is suitable for each operating system. For example, for Android OS you can use Barcode Scanner. This program also allows you to scan regular barcodes and Data Matrix codes. You can also use it to create your own codes that will contain printed text, information about links to programs, Internet resources, and contact information. For those with iOS, TapMedia's free QR Reader is suitable. It works very quickly, offering the user applications to display information after reading the code (if it is not text or a link). Also allows you to share the QR code via social networks. If you have a Windows Phone OS, QR Code Reader is suitable. You can download programs for scanning QR codes on the Internet, for example, on Google Play or in the App Store. The QR.biz program is convenient and practical. It allows you to scan a code in poor lighting, provided it is placed on an uneven surface, at different angles. If several codes enter the camera, they can be scanned simultaneously, which significantly speeds up the entire process of reading information. After installing the program on the mobile application, you need to launch it. If necessary, you can use the service prompts, which will make working with the program easier. Point the device screen at the code being analyzed, you will see a red stripe moving across the screen, similar to an infrared beam. This will be enough for the program to read the information. Then the data will be processed and you will get the result. You can also find other applications on the Internet, for example, for working on a desktop computer. However, they allow you to scan single codes. If you plan to recognize a lot of QR codes, it is better to purchase a manual barcode scanner - it has better performance. Such a device is connected to a computer via a USB port.
The QR code first appeared in Japan. It was developed by Denso-Wave in 1994 for use in the automotive industry. Today, the main industry for using QR codes is the advertising industry, but gradually this technology is being introduced into other areas: in tourism, in transport (like electronic tickets). This technology also allows you to encode geographic coordinates and more.