While there are QR Codes specifically intended to be read by a particular mobile application, in many situations, using a generic application is more than enough to take advantage of the information contained in this small digital visual. Whether at a restaurant, to get the menu on your smartphone, to quickly connect to a website, to obtain a form to fill out or to access a WiFi connection without having to type a long password, there is no shortage of uses. But this very practical tool requires knowing how to scan it. If you have an Android smartphone, you have a very wide choice of possibilities: you can use the QR Code reader integrated into the operating system,or download an Android QR Code application if you prefer to benefit from additional features, for example. Here are all the keys that allow you to answer this very relevant question: how to scan a QR Code on Android?
What are the origins of the QR Code?
If the QR Code is presented as a recent technological innovation, in reality it has existed since 1994. We owe it to the Japanese engineer Masahiro Hara, who originally designed it to follow the route of spare parts within Toyota factories.
From internal use in companies, the QR Code saw its use develop in 1999 when the firm Denso-Wave, which held the exclusive rights, decided to publish the QR code under a free license.
Despite everything, it will have taken many years to see its use become more democratic.
Today, the QR Code is widely used, especially because it allows access to a lot of contactless information, with a simple Android smartphone equipped with a suitable application.
Enough to save precious time in many situations.
Scan a QR code with the camera of the Android smartphone
If you just want to flash a QR code with your Android device, you may not need to install any additional application, but this is not always the case.
To start, open the photo application on your Android smartphone, then try to read the QR Code of your choice.
If a small icon appears at the bottom right of the screen, just click on it to activate the QR code.
If you do not see anything displayed, it means that your version of Android does not embed this basic functionality. Indeed, depending on the brand of your Android smartphone, the manufacturer may or may not choose to integrate this type of option into its interface. Don't panic if this is not the case: go to the Google Play Store to download Google Lens, which is the photo application developed by Google.
Once the application is installed, all you have to do is launch it and use the Search function to then scan the QR Code that interests you.
The app clearly displays the source of the file and you can choose to track it if you wish.
Note that the Google Lens app has many other uses, which may prompt you to use it regularly after its installation, which is completely free.
Install a scan application to read QR codes on Android
If you feel like testing other QR Code apps on your Android device, you can do so without any problem.
There are dozens of apps for scanning QR Codes on a smartphone, and they're all free.
QR Code & Barcode Scanner
, from Augenstern Inc Limited, enjoys the high rating of 5 out of 5 on the Google Play Store. This application not only scans QR codes, but also barcodes, which can direct you to search for a specific product on the Internet. You can also create your own QR Code using this free application.
Barcode & QR Scanner
, from Gamma Play, is rated 4.5 out of 5. It is presented as the fastest QR Code and barcode reader application on the market.
It is very easy to use and allows you, in fact, to quickly access the information contained in the scanned visuals.
The app leaves you the final decision to determine whether or not you want to follow a link contained in a QR code.
QR Droid Code Scanner
is an app developed by DroidLa.
Rated 4 out of 5, it turns your smartphone into a QR code reader, but also a barcode and data matrix reader.
You can therefore scan almost anything you want with this application, which is also multilingual.
Here too, the experience is completely free.
QR Code Generator Free WiFi
is rated 4 out of 5 and designed by Olyfox Webbrowser Inc. This super long name app can not only scan QR Codes and barcodes, but also help you easily generate your own QR Code, especially for give access to a Wi-Fi network to your loved ones.
All you have to do then is the scanner to connect to your home, which is very practical, especially if your network password is long.
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