Can't scan QR codes like everyone else.

[Davidoo]

Many restaurants are not giving out menus any longer and ask you to point your camera to a QR so you can see the menu. Everyone else with other Android phones simply turns on their camera and the page pops up. When I do that, absolutely nothing happens on my 3 XL.

I did go into the camera settings and turn on Google lens, which made no difference. I checked all the other Google settings and couldn't find anything that could be stopping this. Does anyone have a pixel 3 that works as it should it have an idea what I need to do?

 

[B. Diddy]

I have a 3 XL, and if I point the camera at a QR code, the link will show up after about a second.

Go to the Camera settings -- is Google Lens Suggestions turned on? (Not sure if that's what you meant when you said you turned on Google Lens.)

 

[Davidoo]

Yes, it is turned on.

 

[B. Diddy]

See if it works in Safe Mode: https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/2852139?hl=en

Also, if you use the actual Google Lens function of the Camera app and take a picture of the QR, does it give you a link?

 

[Davidoo]

It doesn't work in safe mode. It does work using the Lens function when the camera app is on. Would still like to just point it like everyone else I know does.

 

[B. Diddy]

Your system is up to date, right? Also make sure your Google Play Security Update is current (which is different from the system update -- go to Settings>Security and tap Google Play Security Update to see if there's anything for you there).

Also make sure Android System Webview is fully up to date -- search for it in the Play Store and see if there's an Update button showing.

 

[Davidoo]

Thanks for trying to help. All of those things are up to date. Just done quirk of my device I guess.

 

[Mooncatt]

You may need to download a specific QR code scanning app. There are some available in the Play store

 

[B. Diddy]

Try joining the beta version of the Google app. Go to the Google app's page in the Play Store and scroll down to the Join Beta option.

 

[FF22]

Well, I just checked mine, too. Does not work and Google Lens is enabled in the Camera Settings. A third party app does work. Just focusing does nothing, nor does taking a picture of the code.

All is up to date.

And Safe Mode killed by Blackberry Keyboard app the other day so I won't try that again unless a very important reason pops up. QR code is NOT important enough since the 3rd party app works.

 

[B. Diddy]

Hmm. Do either of you have another browser besides Chrome installed? If so, and if it's set as the default browser, I wonder if that could be interfering. This is just speculation, but when I use the Camera app as a QR scanner, the link that appears always has a Chrome icon next to it, so maybe that has something to do with it.

 

[Davidoo]

I only have the Chrome browser that came with the phone. Went to a restaurant a few days ago with my girlfriend who has a Nokia 7 something and hers doesn't work either, but my son who has a Galaxy S9 just points the camera to the QR at the restaurant and the menu link pops up immediately. It appears this is widespread.

 

[B. Diddy]

The native QR scanning feature isn't available on all stock camera apps. This article says that it's currently only on Pixels, Samsung, and some Android One phones: https://www.androidpolice.com/2020/07/11/how-to-scan-qr-codes-on-android/

If this is important enough for you, then it might be worth trying a factory reset.

 

[FF22]

I'll just deal with a third party app. I do have Firefix but Davidoo only has chrome apparently and that is not the deciding factor. But these quirks do tend to make one nuts or MORE nuts! (g)

 

[Davidoo]

Downloading Android 11 now. Maybe this will make it work better.