QR code not scanning?
Drop a picture of the QR code that won't scan: a photo of the print, or the file you are about to print. You get a list of what to fix.
Drop a picture of the QR code that won't scan
or paste a screenshot (Ctrl+V)a screenshot, a photo, or a picture someone sent you
A photo of the printed code, or the image file you plan to print. It is checked on your device.
Point the camera at the code
Checked. When a code is hard to read, the app helps: pinch to zoom, tap to focus and a torch for dim light.
The iPhone app- 01
Add a picture of the code
Use a photo of the printed code as people will see it, or the image file you are about to print.
- 02
Read the checks
Each check (contrast, colours, margin, size, sharpness, density, error correction) is marked OK, Check or Fix with a short reason.
- 03
Fix and test again
Change what is marked, then drop the new version in to check it before you print a whole batch.
The six usual reasons
Contrast: scanners need dark modules on a light background. Light grey, pastel or gold-on-cream codes often fail, and so do light codes on a dark background, which many phones can't read at all.
Margin: a QR code needs an empty border (the quiet zone) of four modules on every side. Text, frames or a busy photo touching the code are the most common print mistake.
Size and distance: as a rule of thumb, make the code at least a tenth as wide as the distance it is scanned from. A code scanned from 1 metre should be at least 10 cm wide.
Blur: a low-resolution image scaled up for print has soft edges. Export the code as SVG or PDF, or as a large PNG.
Too much data: a very long link makes a dense code with tiny modules. A shorter link gives a simpler code that scans from further away.
Damage and logos: scratches, folds or a logo bigger than the error correction can cover. Use error correction level H if you put a logo in the middle.
When no QR code scans on your phone
iPhone: Settings › Camera › Scan QR Codes must be on. Open Control Center and add the Code Scanner if the Camera app keeps missing codes. Clean the lens, and step back a little: phones can't focus closer than about 10 cm.
Android: in the Camera app's settings, turn on Scan QR codes or Google Lens suggestions. Some phones only read codes from Google Lens or the quick settings tile.
Everywhere: turn up the brightness when scanning a code on another screen, avoid reflections, and make sure the whole code, with its margin, is inside the frame.
QR code not working on iPhoneMake a print-ready QR code (sister site)
Why is my QR code not scanning?
Usually one of: too little contrast, light-on-dark colours, no empty margin around it, printed too small for the distance, blurry, or holding too much data. Drop the code on this page to see which.
Why won't my iPhone camera scan a QR code?
Check Settings › Camera › Scan QR Codes is on, clean the lens, hold the phone 15–30 cm away, and make sure the whole code is in view. If the code itself is the problem, the checks above will show it.
Why does a QR code scan on one phone but not another?
Cameras and scanner apps differ. Inverted (light-on-dark) codes, tiny codes and low-contrast colours are read by some scanners and not others. A plain dark-on-light code with a margin works everywhere.
Can a QR code expire?
A normal (static) code never expires: the link is stored in the pattern itself. Dynamic codes from QR services go through the service's website and stop working if the subscription ends. That looks like 'not scanning' but is a dead link.
How big should a printed QR code be?
At least 2 × 2 cm for something held in the hand, and about a tenth of the scanning distance in general: 10 cm wide for 1 metre, 50 cm for a sign read from 5 metres.
Can I fix a blurry QR code?
Not by sharpening the picture. Make the code again from the original link, and export it as SVG, PDF or a large PNG for printing.
QR Code Scan KitComing soon
