Your iPhone has a hidden app and it’s never on your Home Screen – how to find it
YOU’VE probably had an iPhone for years – but have you ever used the hidden app?
Buried away in your iPhone is a secret app that can only be found by searching for it.
It won’t appear on your Home Screen, and it’s not in your App Library either.
That’s very strange because the Apple App Library is designed to house all of your apps.
The app is called Code Scanner, and is seriously well-hidden.
To find it, swipe down from the top of your screen.
This will unlock the Search function on your iPhone.
Then type in “code scanner”, or even just “code” or “scanner”.
An icon will appear under the Apps tab that says Code Scanner.
Its symbol is a grey square with rounded corners, with a QR code and a scanning icon in the middle.
The app’s main function is to scan QR codes – which you’ll see out and about in the real world.
Restaurants might use them for menus, or a hospital could use it to provide some quick information to you.
Simply hold the Code Scanner viewfinder up to a QR code and scan away.
For iPhone power users, it’s possible to add the Code Scanner to your Control Centre through settings too.
That means you don’t have to search it every time.
Bear in mind that this will only work if you’re using iOS 14 or later.
You probably are, but to check: go to Settings > General > Software Update.
Arguably, the app is somewhat redundant.
That’s because the standard iPhone camera app has a QR code scanner built right in.
However, there are some minor differences.
The Code Scanner codes appear in a specific app browser, and not your regular Safari app.
This also means that you lose access to the page once you close the app.
But it’s an easy way to scan QR codes without clogging up your Safari history.
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