How to Scan Barcode on iPhone easily

Before we begin

Scanning barcodes on iPhone is more complicated than QR codes. There are no inbuilt features to scan barcodes. So here, we will discuss how to scan Barcode on iPhone. The only way to do this is through third-party apps like the QR Code Reader app for iPhone. Don’t let the name fool you. This app can scan both QR codes and barcodes on your iPhone.

How to scan Barcode on iPhone using the QR Code Reader app?

A barcode includes information about a product, such as its price and weight, the date of manufacture and expiration, the name of the producer, and so on. So it is helpful to have a barcode scanner in hand to check the quality of a product.

Though many QR and barcode reader apps are available on the App Store, the QR Code Reader is the best. You can read both QR codes and barcodes using the QR Code Reader app. Additionally, this app has the ability to generate QR codes and barcodes.

Before you continue and learn how to scan barcode on iPhone, download the QR Code Reader app from the App Store for free.

With the QR Code Reader app, the process of scanning barcodes is similar to QR codes. So if you also want to know how to read QR code on iPhone, then continue with this blog.

Here’s how to scan Barcode on iPhone using the QR Code Reader app:

how to scan a barcode with iPhone_QR Code Reader app

Launch the QR Code Reader app.
When the scanner screen appears, then point your camera to the barcode or QR code.
Immediately the information from the code will be displayed on a new screen.
You can then quickly share or access the data from the barcode or QR code.

Here’s the type of barcodes generated by the QR Code Reader app:

You could use your iPhone Camera app to scan QR codes but not barcodes. This is because Apple considers QR codes to be more popular. You should know about all the types of barcodes that the QR Code Reader app can generate.

Code 128
Code 39
EAN-13
EAN-8
UPC-A
UPC-E

Here’s how to generate a barcode on iPhone with the QR Code Reader app:

How to generate barcodes on iPhone_QR Code Reader app

Open the QR Code Reader app.
Tap on the My Codes section from the bottom of the screen.
Then tap on the Plus + icon on the top-left of the screen.
A Create section with types of QR codes appears. Tap on the toggle bar at the top of the screen and select Bar-Code.
Then select from the various types of barcodes listed.
Enter the information on your code and tap Create.
You can share your code by tapping on Share and it will be saved in My Codes section.

How to scan barcode on iPhone (Video tutorial)

How to scan QR codes with iPhone

A QR code can be considered a matrix type barcode which has gained popularity in recent years. It is used for storing information such as an address, web link, phone number, etc. We’ve previously discussed how to scan barcodes with iPhone. The QR Code Reader, as the name suggests, can read QR codes. However, you can also scan QR codes using your built-in iPhone Camera app.

Find out how to read a QR code on iPhone with the Camera app:

How to scan a QR code on iPhone_Camera app

Open your built-in Camera app.
Point your iPhone rear camera over the QR code.
Your iPhone will instantly decipher the information from the code and send a notification.
To view the link associated with the QR code, tap on the notification.

Conclusion

If you want to scan barcodes on your iPhone, then you’d definitely need a barcode scanner app. For this, the QR Code Reader is the best for the task. This app allows you to scan and generate QR codes and barcodes on your iPhone. Additionally, if you only want to read QR codes, then use your iPhone Camera app.

If you liked the QR Code Reader app, you should try the Business Card Scanner app as well. As the name indicates, this app can extract text and scan QR codes from business cards.