How to Scan a Barcode or QR Code on Your iPhone in 3 Ways

Download Article

Quickly scan barcodes for price and product info on your iPhone

Written by Megaera Lorenz, PhD

Last Updated: November 28, 2025 Fact Checked

Download Article

Scanning QR Codes

|

Using Price Scanner Barcode

|

Using Store Apps

|

Video

|

Q&A

|

Tips

Do you need to scan a QR code or get information about a product by scanning a barcode? You can easily do either with your iPhone. While iPhones have a built-in QR code scanner, you’ll need to download a third-party app to scan a traditional barcode. In this article, we’ll explain how to scan both types of codes.

Scanning QR and Bar Codes on iPhone

To scan a QR code, open your iPhone’s camera and aim it at the code. Once your camera detects the code, tap the link that appears to open it.
To scan a barcode, you’ll need to use a third-party app like Price Scanner Barcode.
You can also scan barcodes in some retail store apps.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Scanning QR Codes

Download Article

1
Open your camera. While QR codes are not barcodes, they involve similar technology. Most often, QR codes are used as a way to display a link in a way that your phone can easily scan and open.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- QR code scanning is built into your iPhone as long as your phone is running iOS 11 or later.
Make sure the camera is focusing on the QR code.^{[2]
X
Research source}

Advertisement
Yellow brackets will appear around the code and a link will pop up once your phone recognizes you're scanning a QR code. Tap the link to be directed to the webpage.^{[3]
X
Research source}
4
Open the code scanner from the Control Center as an alternative. You can also open the Scan Code utility from your iPhone’s Control Center, although you may have to add it to the Control Center first.
- Swipe down from the top right corner of the screen to open the Control Center.
- If you don’t see the Scan Code option, tap and hold a blank space on the Control Center screen. Tap Add a Control, then tap Scan Code. You can use the search bar at the top if you don’t see it. Tap a blank area of the screen to exit edit mode.
- Tap the Scan Code icon. It looks like a QR code inside square brackets.
- Position the code in the brackets on your screen. When the scanner successfully captures the code, it will automatically direct you to the embedded link.
  - If there’s not enough light to scan the code, tap the flashlight icon on your screen.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using Price Scanner Barcode

Download Article

1
Download Price Scanner Barcode from the App Store
. While iOS has a built-in utility for scanning QR codes, you have to use a third-party app to scan barcodes. There are numerous third-party apps that can scan barcodes, but we’ll explain how to use the Price Scanner Barcode app. To download it:
- Open the App Store.
- Tap the search bar at the bottom of the screen and type in price scanner barcode.
- Tap Get next to Price Scanner Barcode in the search results. This app was developed by BuyVia and has an icon that looks like a barcode with a red line through it. Follow the prompts to complete the download process.
2
Open Price Scanner Barcode. Tap the icon of the barcode scanner you installed from the Home Screen to open it, or tap Open in the App Store once the download is complete.
- The app may ask you to grant various permissions the first time you open it, such as whether you want to allow notifications or app tracking.
- When the app first opens, you’ll see a screen prompting you to subscribe to go ad-free. Tap the blue X at the top right corner.
It's the middle option and has an icon of a square with a line through it.
4
Tap Allow to allow the app to use your camera. If you are asked if you would like to allow "PriceScanner" to use your camera, tap Allow to allow it.
- All barcode scanner applications use the built-in camera of your iPhone to scan barcodes.
- A window with a scanning tip may open, explaining that the scanner works best with non-grocery items worth more than $10. Tap OK.
Make sure that the barcode details, like the lines and number, can be clearly seen on the camera screen of the application. Hold your phone steady to make sure that the scanner gets a clear view of the barcode. You may need to move the phone in and out to get the code in focus.
The app will automatically scan the barcode once it gets a clear shot of it. The scan will take only about a second or two, and will immediately display the information, like the brand name, prices, and where you can buy the item.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using Store Apps

Download Article

Many retail stores have their own apps that include barcode scanning tools. You can use these apps to learn about product pricing and availability in a specific store by scanning barcodes. Search for the name of the store you’re interested in (e.g., “Target” or “Michaels”), then download and launch the official app.
2
Sign in, if required. Some apps require you to sign in, but most will let you continue as a guest. The option should be somewhere on the opening screen of the app.
- As each app will be laid out a bit differently, the location of each option or setting will be in a slightly different location.
- You might also be prompted to grant or deny various permissions, such as allowing the app to send you notifications or track your activity.
Most of the time, it's in the same location as the search bar, and looks like a barcode with a line through it.
4
Tap OK to allow the app to access your camera. When you first try to use the camera in the app, the app will ask for permission to use your camera.
- If you don't tap OK, you can edit your app permissions by going to Settings > Apps and scrolling until you find the store's app, then selecting the app and toggling on Camera.
5
Scan a barcode. If the item is available at that store, it will show up along with the price as well as some additional information. What information is displayed will vary by app.
- For example, you might see information about sales or special deals associated with the item.

Community Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

Can Snapchat scan barcodes?

Community Answer

It can only scan the barcodes of the accounts on other phones. It can not scan barcodes that are from a website.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 2 Helpful 7