Scanning Picture QR Codes on iPhone

Discover how to scan picture QR codes on your iPhone with ease. This article will walk you through the process, explaining the concept, importance, and use cases of QR codes in great detail. …

Updated September 9, 2023

Discover how to scan picture QR codes on your iPhone with ease. This article will walk you through the process, explaining the concept, importance, and use cases of QR codes in great detail.

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QR Codes, or Quick Response codes, are two-dimensional barcodes that contain information about a product, service, or event. They were invented in 1994 by Masahiro Hara, an engineer at Denso Wave, a Japanese company. The primary purpose of QR codes was to track parts during manufacturing and quality control.

What is Picture QR Code?

A picture QR code is a type of QR code that uses an image as its background. This image can be any visual element, such as a logo, pattern, or even a photograph. The key characteristic of a picture QR code is that it contains a hidden QR code embedded within the image. When scanned using a smartphone camera, the QR code is decoded, and the user is redirected to the intended webpage, message, or action.

Importance and Use Cases

Picture QR codes have become increasingly popular in various industries, including:

Marketing: Companies use picture QR codes on billboards, posters, and advertisements to direct potential customers to a landing page, promo code, or product information.
Product Packaging: Picture QR codes are used on product labels to provide instructions, recipes, or offer exclusive promotions.
Event Promotions: Organizers use picture QR codes on event materials, tickets, or flyers to share important details, such as schedules, maps, or RSVP links.

How to Scan Picture QR Code iPhone

Scanning a picture QR code on an iPhone is straightforward and only requires the built-in Camera app. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Open the Camera App

Locate the Camera app on your iPhone.
Tap the Camera app icon to open it.
Point the camera at the picture QR code.

Step 2: Focus on the Code

Make sure the camera is focused on the QR code. You can adjust the zoom using pinch gestures or use the flash for better lighting.
If the code is too small, you can tap the screen to zoom in further.

Step 3: Hold Still and Scan

Hold your iPhone steady with both hands, if possible, to ensure a stable scan.
Wait for about 2-5 seconds or until the camera app recognizes the QR code.

If the camera app successfully decodes the QR code:

A popup will appear with information from the QR code.