QR codes have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. We use them for everything from mobile payments to accessing menus at restaurants. However, sometimes QR codes can become blurry due to damage, dirt, or improper printing. This can make them difficult or even impossible to scan with your phone’s camera. Fortunately, there are some simple tricks you can use to fix a blurry QR code and get it working again.
Why Do QR Codes Get Blurry?
There are a few main reasons QR codes can become blurry and unscannable:
- Physical damage – If a QR code gets scratched, torn or folded, it can distort the pattern and make it blurry.
- Dirt or debris – Dust, grime, or stains on the QR code can obstruct the pattern and make it unclear.
- Improper printing – Low resolution printing or photocopying can degrade the precision of the QR code pattern.
- Low contrast – QR codes printed in low contrast colors like light gray on white are harder for cameras to read.
Blurriness makes it difficult for your phone’s camera to accurately detect the QR code’s pattern of light and dark squares. Even minor blurring can prevent the code from scanning.
How to Fix a Blurry QR Code
Here are some tips to try if you find yourself unable to scan a blurry QR code:
1. Clean the QR Code
Gently wipe away any dirt, grime, or stains obstructing the code using a soft, dry cloth. Avoid scratching or further damaging the code. Be sure to wipe away any residue left over after cleaning.
2. Reprint the Code
If the blurriness is caused by low resolution or improper printing, try printing the QR code again at a higher resolution. Many free QR code generators allow you to download codes in .png format for optimal sharpness and clarity.
3. Increase Contrast
For QR codes printed in low contrast colors, try darkening the dark squares and lightening the light squares with a black or white pen or marker. Don’t fully cover the existing color – just darken or lighten it to increase contrast.
4. Scan from Different Angles or Distances
Try scanning the blurry code from slightly different distances and angles. Move closer, farther, or position your phone differently until you find the “sweet spot” where the code suddenly scans properly.
5. Use Multiple Scanning Apps
Some QR scanning apps and software have better blur and error correction than others. Try a few different apps like Google Lens, QR Code Reader, QRscanner, or Kaywa to see if one can properly detect the blurry pattern.
6. Cover Damaged Sections
If the QR code has physical damage like scratch marks, carefully cover any obstructed or missing sections with a dark pen or marker so that the scanner can better interpolate the pattern.
7. Enlarge the Code
Print or display the blurry QR code at a larger size. Amplifying the code can make it easier to scan by providing more definition and detail to each square.
8. Scan a Regenerated Code
Many QR generators allow you to recreate or regenerate the same QR code. Try rescanning with a freshly generated version of the code for better results.
9. Upgrade Your Phone Camera
On older phones with lower megapixel cameras, upgrading to a newer model with improved image sensing can provide the boost needed to scan blurry codes.
10. Use a QR Reader App
Dedicated QR reader apps often include enhanced scanning capabilities tailored for reading blurry, damaged, or low-resolution codes. Give one a try if your phone’s default scanner struggles.
Special Scanning Tips
Here are some additional tips that may help in tricky cases of blurry QR codes:
- Enable flash when scanning – The extra illumination can help detect hard-to-see patterns.
- Zoom in as much as possible – Being closer makes distortions less impactful.
- Shoot at an overhead angle – Straight on scanning works best for crisp QR codes.
- Cover code with a transparent bag – Plastic wrapping can help smooth out blemishes.
- Scan small sections – Focus on scanning just a portion of the code.
When to Give Up and Recreate the Code
If you’ve tried every trick and technique but still can’t get a blurry QR code to scan properly, it may be time to recreate it from scratch. Some tips:
- For printed codes, design a new high resolution version and print again.
- For digital codes, delete and regenerate a fresh copy with QR code software.
- Make the new version even bigger and higher contrast.
- Simplify the data encoded to only essentials.
- Use a more robust error correction level.
Recreating a brand new QR code ensures crisp clarity and provides the best chance of getting it to scan properly. Only spend time trying to fix extremely blurry codes if recreating the code is not an option.
Common Causes of Blurry QR Codes
Understanding what typically makes QR codes blurry can help you avoid issues in the future:
| Cause | Description | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Low resolution printing | Pixelated QR codes printed at low DPI resolutions | Always use high resolution images for printing |
| Poor quality copying | Codes degraded when photocopied multiple times | Avoid recopying printed codes |
| Dirty lens/sensor | Scanner unable to clearly capture code | Clean phone camera lens regularly |
| Low contrast colors | Faint QR code blends into background | Use bold, high contrast colors |
| Physical damage | Scratches, tears, etc | Handle printed codes carefully |
| Glare on codes | Light reflection obscures code | Avoid scanning glossy/laminated codes |
How QR Codes Work
To fix blurry QR codes, it helps to understand how they store and transmit data.
QR codes consist of a matrix of square black and white dots arranged into a grid. This grid encodes data using binary values – each black or white dot is either a 1 or 0. By scanning the pattern of dots, QR code reader apps can decipher the encoded data.
QR codes have built-in redundancy to protect against dirt and damage. Up to 30% of the dots can be lost or unreadable and the code will still function. However, significant blurring or distortion across the whole code can exceed this tolerance threshold and prevent scanning.
Higher density QR codes with smaller modules are harder to scan when blurry compared to codes with larger modules. Smaller dots provide less structure and definition for the scanner to interpret.
QR codes also support various error correction levels that allow for differing amounts of restoration. The higher the error correction level, the more data redundancy is built in to help compensate for dirt or damage. Important QR codes should use error correction to maximize scannability when damaged or distorted.
Choosing the Right QR Code Generator
Preventing blurry QR codes starts with choosing the right generator when creating them:
- Use generators that allow high resolution image downloads for crisp printing.
- Select a low level of error correction like Level L to maximize data capacity.
- Enable quiet zone indicators to protect the code from obstructing elements.
- Choose bold, high contrast colors like black on white for easy scanning.
- Pick larger module sizes instead of ultra dense codes.
Follow these best practices when creating QR codes to minimize scanning issues down the road. Paying careful attention to QR code generation will save you from headaches later trying to scan defective codes.
What to Do if the Problem Persists
In rare cases, you may follow every trick and QR code best practice but still struggle with blurry, unscannable codes:
Update Your Phone’s OS
Updating to the latest OS version improves camera and QR scanning performance.
Try a Different Device
Test scanning the code on a different mobile device, tablet, or laptop webcam. Different cameras may have better results.
Contact the Creator
Reach out to whoever created the QR code and ask for a new high resolution version to be generated.
Use a More Powerful Scanner
On desktop, try more advanced QR scanning software that can detect more distorted patterns.
Manually Enter the Data
As a last resort, look up and manually enter the QR code data if possible.
Conclusion
With QR codes becoming so prevalent, it’s only natural that you’ll eventually encounter blurry, hard-to-scan examples as a user. But don’t despair – with the right troubleshooting techniques, you can often fix and resuscitate even the blurriest QR codes.
Start by cleaning, enhancing contrast, changing angles, or scanning with multiple apps. For more severely damaged codes, carefully cover obstructed sections or zoom in on readable segments. And if all else fails, take matters into your own hands by recreating a brand new high-resolution code free of defects.
While no scanning method is foolproof, using these tips will allow you to salvage the vast majority of blurry QR codes you come across. With some persistence and creativity, even the most distorted code can eventually relinquish the information hidden within its blurred and obscured pattern.