How to read QR code with Samsung

Have you found a QR code on a brochure, useful for deepening its content, but having recently purchased your first Samsung smartphone, you don’t know how to do it? Can’t find the right app? Don’t despair: you have landed on the right guide, at the right time.

In fact, with this tutorial of mine, I will explain how to read QR code with Samsung using the default function of your device – yes, there is! – or by using some third-party apps. In both cases, all you have to do is point the smartphone camera at the QR code and wait for the scanning procedure to be completed, in order to view the related content.

In short, believe me, it is much more complicated said than done! At this point, I would say to put the chatter aside and move on to the practical side. Do you agree? Yup? Great! Then position yourself comfortably and immediately start focusing on the following. I sincerely hope that, in the end, you will be satisfied with the results obtained. Enjoy your reading and have fun!

Index

• Preliminary information
• Default function to read QR code with Samsung
• App to read QR code with Samsung
  • Barcode Scanner
  • QR Scanner
  • Other apps to read QR code with Samsung

Preliminary information

Before getting to the heart of the tutorial, going to explain how to read QR code with Samsung, there are some preliminary information, in this regard, which is my duty provided to allow you to have perfectly clear ideas on the matter.

First, let’s try to understand what exactly these QR codes are. In case you do not know, the acronym is the acronym of “Quick Response” and it is a sort of barcodes, with a square shape, which can be found on the Internet, in newspapers, on flyers and many others set off.

If framed with the camera of the smartphone, tablet or computer – using special software – they can allow instant access to information, websites and other online content.

QR codes are therefore extremely convenient in a variety of circumstances, but special attention must be paid to security and privacy. If exploited by an attacker, QR codes could in fact refer to unsavory content, because they do not provide any visibility on the web page, application or other to which they lead.

Special attention should also be paid to the tools used to scan QR codes. On Samsung devices (but also on other smartphones and tablets) you can use the default function (if available) accessible from the camera, but also third-party apps.

In the latter case, it is preferable to always scrupulously check the permissions required by the applications and prefer solutions without advertising and of an open-source nature (therefore with public source code), since very often the apps of this type, even those of well-known brands (in some cases even involved in the IT security sector) can hide unwelcome surprises in terms of data processing and privacy violation.

Having made the necessary clarifications above, I would say that we can finally get to the heart of the tutorial and go and find out how to read QR code with Samsung.

Default function to read QR code with Samsung

First, I want to explain to you how to use the default function of Samsung smartphones and tablets of scanning QR codes.

In fact, you should know that most of the newer Samsung devices have a QR code scanning feature that makes the installation of third-party apps optional. This feature is not available as a standalone application but is integrated into the Camera app, which is the one that allows you to take photos and record videos on Samsung terminals.

That said, to scan a QR code, open the Camera app that you find on the Home Screen or in the drawer (it is the one with the camera icon ) and, through the screen that is shown to you at this point, proceed in first activate the function to scan QR codes, by tapping on the gear wheel icon at the top and turning the switch next to Scan QR codes to ON. Obviously, if the function is already active you don’t have to do anything.

Then, go to the main screen of the Camera app, select the Photography mode via the menu below and make sure that the rear camera is in use (otherwise set it yourself, by pressing the button with the two arrows at the top of the screen), then scan the QR code of your interest, taking care to position it in the center of the lens.

Then wait for the QR code to be detected and for the notification with the scan result to be shown on the display. By clicking on it, you will be able to access the content to which the code refers and perform any related actions.

As an alternative to what I have just indicated, you can access the function to read QR codes from the Android notification panel, by recalling the latter (by sliding a finger from the top edge of the screen downwards, by sliding your finger again from the top of the panel towards the bottom of the display), so as to view the section dedicated to quick access to apps and device features, and selecting the Scan QR code option.

Please note that the information I have given you in this step may differ slightly from what you see on the screen of your Samsung device, depending on the version of Android installed and the exact model of your smartphone or tablet.

App to read QR code with Samsung

If you want to read Samsung S9 QR Code or in any case using a smartphone or tablet from the South Korean company that does not include any predefined function in this sense, you can turn to one of the many ad hoc third-party apps. To find out which, in my opinion, are the best in the category (as well as the safest), continue reading.

Barcode Scanner

The first third-party application to read QR code with Samsung that I recommend you try is Barcode Scanner. It is based on the ZXing open source libraries and allows you to read QR codes in an incredibly easy and fast way. It does not include particularly advanced features, but offers several options for sharing scan results, such as via email or SMS. It is free and there are no advertising banners.

To download and install Barcode Scanner on your device, go to the relevant section of the Play Store and press the Install button. Then, start the app by selecting the relative icon that has been added to the home screen and/or drawer.

Now that you see the main Barcode Scanner screen, you can finally start using QR codes with your smartphone (or tablet) simply by framing them with the device’s camera. The phone must be held in a horizontal position and the QR code must be kept inside the bright box located in the center of the screen.

At the end of the scan, depending on the content of the framed QR code, you can decide whether to share the result via email, via SMS or open it in the browser, by selecting one of the options located at the bottom of the screen.

All information collected by the application is stored in an internal history that can be consulted by anyone. If you want to protect your privacy and prevent someone from tracing the QR codes framed with the Barcode Scanner, tap the History button located at the top right and select the Delete history item from the screen that opens. In this way, you will delete the addresses and information previously scanned with the application.

I also point out that using the Share button, located at the top, it is possible to generate personalized QR codes, while the ⋮ button allows you to access the app settings.

QR Scanner

Another app to read QR code with Samsung that, in my opinion, you would do well to turn to is QR Scanner. It allows you to scan the QR codes of your interest, to view the content to which they refer and to decide whether to save the scans made in the history or not. It is very minimal, but it performs the task for which it is intended in an excellent way. It is free and does not include advertisements.

To use it, download and install the app from the Play Store, then start it and, once the main screen is displayed, follow the brief introductory tutorial that is proposed to you, then grant the app permissions to access the camera.

At this point, you can start scanning QR codes with your smartphone (or tablet). So, frame the codes of your interest with the camera of your Samsung, holding the device vertically and making the QR code fit inside the light box in the center of the display.

Once the scan is complete, a new screen will appear which will indicate the type of content to which the QR code refers. You can then choose to access it, by tapping on the Continue button and to take any related actions through the menu that opens.

You can also decide to share the content to which the code refers or to copy the related textual information, by clicking on the icon for sharing and on the one with the two sheets at the top of the screen respectively.

I also point out that by tapping the button with the three lines horizontally on the main screen of the app you can open the menu through which you can access the QR code generator, the history and the QR Scanner settings.

Other apps to read QR code with Samsung

In addition to the apps to read QR code with Samsung that I have already reported to you, you can consider using the additional solutions belonging to the category in question that you find in the list below.

• Binary Eye– free, ad-free and very easy to use app which allows you to scan QR codes using the open source ZXing libraries. It works in both portrait and landscape orientation. Note that it also allows you to create custom QR codes.
• Ad-free QR & Barcode Scanner– another application that allows you to scan QR codes and all other common codes. It also supports the use of the flashlight and the zoom to improve the scanning procedure; there is the history, allows the export of data and also allows you to create custom codes. It is totally free and there is no advertising.
• QR Code No Ads– this is another application for Android devices through which you can scan the QR codes that are given to you “in the meal”. It is no frills and acts quickly and easily. It is open source, free and ad-free.