Getting users to leverage QR Codes on a mobile device

As QR Codes have cemented their position in marketing and communication, marketers like you and I, want to place them on almost everything.

Getting users to scan QR codes on their mobile devices requires strategic placement and clear value communication.

You need to position your QR codes prominently with compelling call-to-action text that explains exactly what users will receive—whether it's exclusive discounts, valuable content, or instant access to services.

Ensure codes are large enough for easy scanning and include brief instructions for first-time users. The key is making the scanning process feel effortless while promising immediate, tangible benefits.

Design codes that match your brand aesthetic to build trust, and always test scanning functionality across different devices and lighting conditions.

When users understand the value they'll gain from a simple scan, adoption becomes natural and engagement increases significantly.

Getting users to leverage QR Codes on a mobile device is a simple 2-step process:

Prompt users to take a screenshot of the mobile landing page. Scan the QR Code from the picture in the smartphone gallery (or Google Photos)

Both iOS and Android now have an easy way to scan QR Codes from the photo in the gallery. You do not need external apps to do that!

Scan QR Code from a photo on iOS devices

Apple has made several advancements in the last couple of years to incorporate the growing need for QR Codes – live text and visual look-up that scans QR Codes in photos, in one significant one.

Here’s how to do it –

  • Open the picture/screenshot on your phone gallery.
  • Click on the live text detection on the right bottom corner
  • Click on the QR Code and follow the prompt against it

Scan QR Code from a photo on Android devices

With Google’s image-recognition technology, scanning QR Codes from a photo is super simple. This capability is baked into Google Assistant, Google Photos, or the Google app.

Here’s how to do it –

  • Open your camera and switch to the Google Assistant mode
  • Select the picture from the gallery
  • The QR Code is automatically scanned. Follow the prompt.