How to scan a QR code on iPhone and Android, and how to spot a fake one

Steps

1. Scan with the Camera on iPhoneOpen the Camera app from the Home Screen, the Lock Screen or Control Center. In Photo mode, hold the iPhone so the QR code appears inside the camera frame; you do not need to take a picture. When the code is recognised a link appears at the bottom of the screen; read the address, then tap it. On a phone set to Turkish, the app is called Kamera.
2. Use the Code Scanner on iPhoneOpen Control Center and tap the Scan Code button, then hold the phone so the code appears on the screen. If the button is not there, touch and hold the background of Control Center, tap Add a Control and choose the Scan Code control from the gallery (in Turkish: Denetim Merkezi, Denetim Ekle, Kodu Tara). In the dark, tap the flashlight in the scanner for more light.
3. Scan with the camera on AndroidOpen the Camera app, point it at the QR code and make sure the whole code shows on the screen; you do not need to take a picture. Wait a moment: when the camera recognises the code it shows a bubble or a link, which you then tap. If nothing happens, check the camera settings; on Pixel phones, Settings → More settings → Camera scan suggestions must be on (Kamerayla tarama önerileri in Turkish), and other brands use different menu names.
4. Use the Quick Settings button on AndroidSwipe down from the top of the screen to open Quick Settings and tap Scan QR code (QR kodunu tara in Turkish). If you do not see it, swipe left for more buttons or tap the pencil icon to add it. Point the scanner that opens at the code. This button is on Pixel phones; on other brands its name and position may differ.
5. Scan with Google Lens or from a screenshotIf the camera will not read the code, open Chrome, open a new tab, tap the Google Lens icon in the search bar and then Search with your camera. Position the code in the box on screen and tap the link that appears. If the code is in a screenshot or photo on your phone, pick it from your screenshots or images on the same screen; Chrome on iPhone also offers Google Lens and a gallery picker.
6. Fix a code that will not scanIf the code will not read, hold your hand steady so the camera can focus and the code is not blurred. Scan in a well-lit place with no shadow or glare on the code. Wipe a smudged camera lens with a soft cloth. Move the phone closer, but keep the whole square clearly on the screen.
7. Look carefully at the code itselfWith QR codes in public places, check for a sticker stuck on top, a misaligned print or a pixelated image, and do not scan a code that looks suspicious. The US Federal Trade Commission has highlighted cases of scammers covering the real code on parking meters with a code of their own. Also avoid codes whose source is unclear or that promise unusual discounts or payments.
8. Do not trust codes in unexpected messagesDo not scan a QR code that arrives in an e-mail, text message or social media post you were not expecting. Messages built to create urgency, panic or curiosity, such as "your parcel could not be delivered" or "suspicious activity on your account", are the typical form of this trap. To check whether a message is genuine, contact the organisation yourself through a phone number or official website you already know.
9. Read the address before opening itBefore tapping the link, read the address shown on the screen. Check that it really belongs to the organisation or business you want to reach; misspellings, swapped letters, unusual characters or odd domain endings are warning signs. If you do not recognise the address, do not open the page.
10. Stop if a page asks for details or a downloadIf a page opened from a QR code asks for a password, a verification code or card details, do not type anything; enter the organisation's address in your browser yourself instead. If the code tries to make you download a file or an app, do not download it. Keep your phone's operating system up to date, use strong passwords and turn on two-step (multi-factor) verification wherever possible.