QR Codes - What Are They?
- Christ Episcopal Church
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
What are those odd pictures made up of dark-colored blocks, or bricks, or Lego-looking objects? They seem to be everywhere, but can also appear intimidating to people. But they are actually extremely useful, both for us as a church, and for you, as a parishioner. For example, we provide you with QR codes to share upcoming worship information, to inform you about fellowship events around the campus, and we even provide a digital copy of the Sunday service leaflet and links to the Christ Church Gatherings each week.
QR - or Quick Response - codes are now commonplace, a means to send and receive information to readers, church members, or shoppers, depending on the use case. Scanning QR codes has become a standard part of navigating the modern world, and both Android and iPhone make the process nearly instantaneous.
Below are simple guides to reading QR codes on both major phone platforms.
Scanning on Android
For most modern Android devices, including the latest models, scanning is built directly into the Camera app. Simply open your camera and point it at the QR code; a small banner or link should appear on your screen within a second. If it doesn’t, you can swipe down from the top of your screen to access the Quick Settings panel and tap the "Scan QR code" shortcut. For older devices or those without native support, Google Lens (often found as a colorful lens icon in the search bar) is the most reliable tool to get the job done.
Here's a brief video that shows you how to scan a QR code using an Android device:
Scanning on iPhone
On an iPhone, the process is equally seamless using the native Camera app. Just open the camera from your Lock Screen or Home Screen and center the QR code in the frame; a yellow link button will appear immediately below the code for you to tap. If you prefer a dedicated tool, you can add the Code Scanner to your Control Center via your phone's Settings. Once added, you can simply swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen, tap the scanner icon, and your phone will automatically open the link as soon as it recognizes the code.
Here's a short video that shows you how to scan a QR code using an iPhone:
If you have any questions, email Chris at communications@christchurchcolumbia.org and he will contact you and help you get on your way to using QR codes to your benefit.
