As smartphones have become more and more ubiquitous, so have QR codes. These maze-looking squares are a type of matrix bar code that contains data — usually, QR codes point to a website or open a designated application.
QR code scanning app (optional)
Although they may look confusing, QR codes are really easy to use. Follow the steps below to turn your iPhone or Android phone into an instant QR code scanner using nothing more than your default camera app.
Apple's iPhones have built-in QR code scanning capabilities right in the camera app itself, so there's no need to download a separate scanning app unless you really want to. Ever since iOS 12, there's even a direct QR code reader in the Control Center, so you can launch it even faster. In other words, if you have one of the best iPhones, this should work.
Step 1: Open the Camera app, or open the dedicated QR code reader from your Control Center by swiping up from the home page and selecting the QR code button.
Step 2: Point your camera at the QR code. If you're using the QR code scanner, make sure the QR code is inside the box on the screen. It will either open immediately (on the scanner), or a link will appear at the top of your screen (in the camera); just select it to go to the link in your browser.
The dedicated QR code scanner is a handy way to quickly open a QR code, largely because it has a built-in button to help scan the code, unlike the Camera app. As such, it's often more useful if scanning a QR code on a physical sheet. If you don't see this QR code shortcut on your iPhone, here's how to add it.
Step 1: If you don't see the QR code icon in your Control Center on iOS, you can start adding it by going to the Settings app.
Step 3: Find Code reader under the More controls section.
Step 4: Tap the green Plus icon to add it.
QR codes aren't solely the domain of iPhones. The best Android phones can scan through the camera app or, that failing, Google Assistant.
If you have an older Android phone and the following steps don't work for you, we recommend QR Code Reader, which is a simple and highly effective alternative (albeit one that comes with ads).
Step 1: Open the Camera app on your phone.
Step 2: Point your camera's viewfinder at the QR code. There will often be a slight pause as it works out the code.
Step 3: If successful, a link should appear in a small pop-up window. Select it to go to the address.
Just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should. QR codes, while extremely useful, can also be used maliciously. While the QR codes themselves aren't to blame, the content they give you can harm your device.
While rare, this sort of QR code-based malware is possible, so we recommend always being careful about which QR codes you scan. Make sure you trust the person or organization you're scanning the code from and make sure to cancel any downloads if you're not expecting one. Like with anything on the internet, approach QR codes with a bit of common sense.
Are you tired of paying for streaming services you never watch just to get a phone plan feature you actually want? T-Mobile has good news for you! The carrier is rolling out new plans, called T-Mix, in early November to replace its old Experience lineup with a build-your-own perks system called Picks.
The benefits you choose vary from streaming and gaming to food delivery, AI, satellite service, and phone discounts. But if you are satisfied with your existing plan, you can keep it.
Merely days after the iPhone Duo hit the shelves, images of broken screens on the phone started popping up across social media. Until now, it’s been unclear what’s causing the line of defective pixels that appears vertically along the crease, as well as horizontally, on the phone’s inner display.
Apple has finally acknowledged the issue, which has shown up on iPhone Duo units owned by customers as well as demo units in stores. In a statement shared with Bloomberg, Apple says that not all iPhone Duo units are affected and that those that are tend to show the display fault early on. The company added that users who experience problems with their iPhone Duo display should contact AppleCare for a replacement.
Not long ago, Apple treated independent repair like an act of outright hostility. The Cupertino giant locked down parts with serial-number pairing, while repair tools remained firmly out of reach of anyone outside its authorized repair network. More importantly, the company waged a legal and lobbying battle against right-to-repair legislation.
I've covered enough of these fights over the years to know what a shift looks like. That's why what happened in October 2026 genuinely caught me off guard. The day the iPhone Duo went on sale, what may be the most mechanically complex iPhone to date, Apple pulled off a surprising about-face. It published teardown-style repair manuals for a handful of major components.