How to use a Pixel phone to scan QR codes, QR codes are ubiquitous. You’ll see many businesses use them for almost everything from transactions, promotions, or feedback to serving instructions, contact information, or menus.
Naturally, this means that you need a QR code scanner to access the information embedded in these codes. If you’re a Pixel user, there are several methods of scanning QR codes built into the system that you can use to do this.
Let’s go through these methods and see how to scan QR codes on the Pixel phone, including instructions for scanning QR codes on images stored on the device itself.
1. Scan the QR code per pixel using the Quick Settings tile
With Android 13, Google introduced a one-tap QR code scanner to all Pixel phones to make scanning QR codes easy it’s called QR Code Scanner, and you can get to it through the Quick Settings menu on your iPhone.
You must include the tile in the Quick Settings panel in order to use it.
.Swipe down the screen twice and tap the pen icon at the bottom. Here you’ll see a list of all the Quick Settings tiles, with the ones at the top currently available in the Quick Settings menu. Find the QR code scanner tile and drag it to this area.
Now, when you want to scan a QR code, bring up the Quick Settings menu, tap the QR code scanner tile, and point your device at the QR code. Depending on the type of information the QR code contains, you will see a pop-up card at the bottom of the screen with all the relevant information and action suggestions.
In the case of a link, the option to open it in Chrome will be displayed. Meanwhile, if it’s a text snippet, there’ll be an option to copy it, or if it’s a phone number or email address, an option to open it on your phone and default email app.
2. Scan QR codes with Google Camera
If you’re using a Pixel phone with an older version of Android, a quick way to scan QR codes is to use Google Camera. Google uses Google Lens suggestions in the Camera app to offer this feature.
To use it, launch the app on your phone and point it at the QR code on another screen. The QR code will be scanned by the app, which will then display the information it contains and make dynamic app suggestions to access the content in the associated apps that have been previewed. If the Camera app can’t scan a QR code, it’s probably because the Google Lens suggestions feature is disabled. To enable this, launch Camera, tap the settings icon in the upper-left corner, and select More settings. Under General, turn on the button for Google Lens suggestions. The app ought to be able to read the QR code this time if you go back and scan it once again.
3. How to scan a QR code with Google Lens
The Camera app’s connection with Google Lens runs without a hitch. But sometimes it can be a bit distracting and it can give you actions when you try to click on the image of the object with the QR code nearby.
For such scenarios, it’s better to turn off the Google Lens suggestions feature in Google Camera and use the Google Lens app instead. Google Lens is accessible from the Google search box at the bottom of the phone’s home screen. Or you can even download its app from Play Store.
To scan a QR code with Google Lens, tap the camera icon in the Google search bar. When the Google Lens QR code scanner appears, point your device at the QR code. In most
cases, Google Lens will automatically identify the content of the QR code and display it on the screen. But if not, you can reveal them by tapping the shutter button.
Compared to other methods, Google Lens displays certain information, such as contact information, better, with appropriate buttons for different actions laid out in advance to help you take subsequent actions conveniently. However, unlike the Google Camera method, it doesn’t open the links in a dedicated browser window, so they can’t be revisited later.
4. How to scan QR codes on your device using Google Photos
Apart from the Google Lens method, all the other QR code scanning methods we’ve talked about so far only help you scan QR codes outside in the real world or on another device. If you need to scan a QR code on an image stored in your phone’s gallery, you’ll need to use a different method.
Although Google Lens also manages this, it can be finicky at times. A better alternative is Google Photos. Open the image with the desired QR code and start the program to use it. Tap the Google Lens button at the bottom and it will start scanning the QR code on the image.
Wait a few seconds and you should see the information from the QR code on the screen. In addition, you will also have several action buttons below the information. These change depending on what’s in the QR code and help you respond instantly to the information provided
5. Scan the QR codes using a third-party QR scanner
If you only need to scan QR codes once in a while, all of the above methods will do the job. However, you should consider using third-party QR code scanners like QR & Barcode Scanner if you need to do this frequently or if you want sophisticated capabilities.QR & Barcode Scanner is fast, reliable, and offers information-specific actions. It allows you to scan QR codes in images, view the history of all your previous scans, share QR codes with others, and even create your own codes. Moreover, as the name suggests, it can also scan barcodes, so you don’t need to download special barcode scanner apps for the same.
Apart from that, the app also gives you a lot of customization options to help you tweak or change its behavior with regard to scanning QR codes and displaying results.
After installation, you can scan QR codes with QR and barcode scanner:
Launch the app and when prompted, allow it to access the media on your device.
Point your phone at the QR code and make sure it fits into the square box on the screen.
If the code is far away, use the magnifying glass at the bottom to zoom in and scan the code.
The QR & Barcode Scanner will read the barcode and use the action buttons underneath it to display its data. To carry out the specified action, click the button. To view your scan history, click the hamburger button in the upper left corner and select History. And to save a scan for later, star it and it will be saved as a bookmark in your Favorites.
Be careful about the QR codes you scan
Google makes it very easy to scan QR codes on its Pixel devices. Each of its built-in methods offers a secure way to scan QR codes on your device, and if you don’t need additional features, they should be enough for your needs. However, keep in mind that not all QR codes are secure. Therefore, you must be careful about scanning QR codes from untrusted sources as they can sometimes expose you to various threats. We recommend learning more about these threats and the preventative steps you can take to avoid becoming a victim of online QR code scams and attacks.