How to scan QR codes with iOS 11’s Camera app

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QR codes
Beware sketchy QR codes if you’re using iOS 11.
Photo: Thomas Leuthard/Flickr

QR codes are set to take off in a big way, thanks to a new feature included in iOS 11 that makes scanning the quirky-looking blocks easier than ever before.

Apple didn’t announce the feature during its WWDC 2017 keynote, but the new QR-scanning capability is among the many minor iOS 11 features that may prove to be a big deal. Even though QR codes have been around for nearly two decades, they haven’t been super-useful to regular consumers.

That’s about to change.

How to scan QR codes in iOS 11

With iOS 11, all you have to do to scan a QR code is follow these steps:

1 – Open the iPhone’s Camera app.
2 – Point your camera at a QR code.
3 – Tap to focus.
4 – Viola! A notification box should pop up allowing you act on the QR code.

QR code scan

The new QR-scanning feature could be useful in all sorts of scenarios, like joining the Wi-Fi network at a coffee shop, finding directions to a restaurant, adding calendar events, sharing URLs and much more.

If you’re running iOS 11, you can test the QR code function yourself by scanning sample codes on the internet.

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