How to Scan a QR Code on iPhone

Scanning is built into every iPhone — but there's more to it than pointing the camera, especially for Wi-Fi codes, screenshots, and codes that need saving for later.

The quick answer

Open the Camera app and point it at the code — a yellow banner appears; tap it. For Wi-Fi codes it offers to join the network; for contact codes it offers to save the contact; for URLs it opens the link.

All the ways to scan

1. Camera app: the default. Point, wait half a second, tap the banner.
2. Control Center Code Scanner: add it via Settings → Control Center for a dedicated scanner that opens links in-app.
3. From a screenshot or photo: got sent a code? In Photos, touch and hold the code in the image and choose the action — no second device needed.
4. A scanner app like Quick QR: adds what the built-ins skip — scan history, copying the raw contents, reading barcodes, and working entirely offline.

What happens with each code type

URL codes open in Safari. Wi-Fi codes show "Join [network]" and connect you without ever revealing the password. vCard codes open a ready-to-save contact. Text codes display their contents. If you'd rather inspect before acting — useful for codes in the wild — a scanner app shows you the raw content first.

From scanning to making

The same app that scans also creates: your own Wi-Fi code for guests, or a contact card for networking — designed and print-ready.