How to scan QR codes and barcodes in the Microsoft Edge app

With Microsoft Edge’s built-in QR code scanner, you can quickly read QR codes and barcodes with your smartphone wherever you encounter them. Learn more about scanning codes using your Microsoft Edge mobile app so you can access information, event tickets, and so much more on the go.

What are QR codes and barcodes?

You can use your Microsoft Edge mobile app to read QR codes and barcodes anytime, anywhere. This is an incredibly convenient feature of your mobile browser, but before we get into the nitty-gritty of how this feature functions, let’s first take a minute to think about what QR codes and barcodes are and how they work.

QR codes

A QR (quick-response) code is a matrix-style barcode that was originally conceived for labeling car parts. QR codes proved to be a faster way to transfer information than a standard UPC (Universal Product Code) barcode. Today, QR codes are incredibly useful for sharing large amounts of specific information and are commonly used for time tracking, item identification, marketing, and managing documents.

These codes consist of black squares arranged in a square grid on a white background, and each one is unique—like 2D snowflakes. They’ve become increasingly popular as part of marketing strategies due to their convenience and high conversion rate. Simply put, if a QR code is used to open a link, it can be more likely to lead to a sales conversion or engagement. They can be found on product wrappers, paper advertisements, and even as part of televised programming and out-of-home advertisements.

Barcodes

There are a number of different kinds of barcodes that represent data in a machine-readable format. Barcodes are often used by businesses in a retail supply chain to identify a product and are traditionally represented by black parallel lines of various widths on a white background. Some variants use other patterns and shapes, including rectangles, dots, and hexagons.

Barcodes are used to convey a lot of information in a very small space, and the longer the code, the more information it tends to hold. If you’ve ever checked items out yourself at a store, you’ve used a barcode scanner to read a UPC code, which tracks merchandise. Technically, QR codes are a type of barcode as well.

Scanning QR codes and barcodes in the Microsoft Edge app

The process for scanning QR codes and traditional barcodes in your Microsoft Edge app couldn’t be simpler. Follow these steps to take full advantage of Microsoft Edge on the go when using these handy codes:

1. Open the Microsoft Edge app on your mobile device.
2. In the search box in the middle of the Bing homepage, select the Camera icon.
3. Allow the browser to use your mobile device’s camera.
4. Select Barcode.
5. Aim the camera at the QR code or barcode.
6. Open the link.

Opening QR codes and barcodes in Microsoft Edge for PC

If you’d like to use your Microsoft Edge browser to access a QR code or barcode on your PC instead of your mobile phone, explore the wealth of Microsoft Edge Add-ons. There are many Add-ons specifically made to scan QR codes and help you open these two-dimensional codes from your computer.

In addition to scanning QR codes and barcodes wherever you find them, the Microsoft Edge mobile app lets you add to your Collections on the go, send a webpage to other synced devices, and access AI-powered Copilot in Edge wherever you are. Try Microsoft Edge today to explore these and other incredible Microsoft Edge features.