My iphone 15 won't scan QR codes

I can confirm that I have the same issue. I tried scanning barcode via Discogs using my iPhone 11 and it captured it instantly. However using my iPhone 15 Pro, the focus on the barcode is blurry and even after I get a clear view of the barcode, it still won’t read it. Sucks.

Since the new update 17.1.2 I haven’t been able to use my qr reader. I am not using a 3rd party app. Done the reset. Did the distance thing that I’ve read. Setting on read qr and always in photo. Nothing! It DID work before the update. So it has to be the new iOS?!?

There's something OS side that isn't handling focusing properly. My bet is it is on these new macro mode feature that iOS 17 has.

To prove it try this: Go to the stock camera app and focus on a QR code from far away, then move the phone closer. You'll notice a focus shift and a flower icon show in the lower corner of the screen. The phone changed modes automatically to this macro mode and was able to focus up close. Then go to the iOS native QR code scanning app/utility. Try the same thing. It won't focus.

Apple needs to fix this or provide devs a way to call this macro mode from within their apps. They don't even have it right within their own apps.

I can’t scan barcodes at target or qr codes and the up close focus and tap does not work. It has always worked on older iphones. I am very unhappy with the iphone 15 pro max cameras. This is either hardware or software. It IS an issue and do apple employees even shop at target. Fix it already!

My iPhone 15pro is also not able to scan QR using third party apps. It just blank, not showing any camera but my camera is working fine. All the third party apps that was working fine suddenly not working. Guess there’s a bug or something happening.

Followed all advice above- can’t scan QR codes on my new iPhone 15 Pro Max

It's easy to say that and dismiss the responsibility of the hardware/software manufacturer, but when all these apps work perfectly on a previous version of the device, and then the manufacturer releases a new device and with NO CHANGES to the apps or specified necessary by the manufacturer, all these 'third party' apps fail in the same way, that excuse is no longer worthy of any consideration.

That's like saying if a car manufacturer swaps the gas and brake pedals in a car but tells no one and a bunch of people crash, it's the fault of the drivers. It's false, dismissive, and far from helpful.

This is definitely an iPhone 14/15 problem. Previously I had a 12 and it never had this issue. When trying to scan barcodes or QR codes with third party apps like the Alexa app to add a plug for example, the camera/app will not allow zoom adjustment to be able to capture the QR code. This may be due to the new lenses in the cameras, but that excuse still does not address the fact we have tons of folks out there that have this same issue with the cameras. Either Apple or the Third party Devs need to collaborate on a fix or allow in app zoom to resolve or this will just get worse as the cameras evolve.

I opened a ticket with Amazon for this same issue and it’s a dead end & deaf ears.

For what this phone costs it’s unacceptable that i can’t scan my coupon codes at Safeway. Or anything else.

I’m using an iPhone 15 Pro for past few days and have been unable to scan a British National Lottery ticket using their app and just now trying to add a Nest camera to out Google account. Mrs did both using her iPhone 14. My theory as to why is both apps (and perhaps any others requesting a QR scan) are using one of the IPhone 15 Pro’s lenses - which isn’t the correct or most suitable one. Please fix.

Found a work around for devs to implement within the app. Disagree that this responsibility sits in individual app devs. There are 1000’s of apps that use the camera that previously had no knowledge of the specifics of how a phone camera focuses. Apple needs to be responsible for ensuring their HW works with their supported OS’s. Case-in-point is this doesn’t even work on Apple’s native QR scanning utility. So if anyone is going to yell at devs, it should be at Apple’s devs since they don’t even have it right on their own QR scanner.

At a minimum there needed to be documentation to call this out.

For the devs:

Call

AVCaptureDevice.selectBestCameraAvailable

and enable the auto focus property

it’s fixed. My 15 Pro uses the triple camera after the fix.

Yes iphone 15 max pro with ios 17 fors not scan uding iphone camera. Settings are ok (camera scanning enabled). It actually scans randomly (one in 50 attempts). There is something bad going on and Apple is not acknowledging this.

I wish that I didn’t trade in my 12, that phone scanned QR’s and barcodes without issue. This 15 Pro isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Just a gimmick the camera is movie quality, like I needed that. But simple scanning it can’t do. I need a phone to scan for my business, if Apple isn’t going to correct it soon I need to make a decision, can’t wait. Looks like they’ve known about it a long time.

Hello,

please try this steps:

• reinstall or update the app you using to scan QR codes,
• clean the camera lens,
• remove any camera lens protector you may have,
• use Apple camera app to scan QR codes (to activate this function go to Settings > Camera, scroll down and turn on Scan QR Codes option).