How to sign in on your TV with a QR code or your phone

What the QR code on your TV actually does

A QR code on a TV sign-in screen is simply a shortcut to a web address. When you scan it, your phone opens the same activation page that is printed under the code, and in many apps the code itself is already filled in. Behind the scenes it is the exact same process described in how to enter an activation code: your TV waits, you prove on your phone that you own the account, and the TV moves on by itself.

That means the QR code is optional. If scanning does not work for any reason, you can always type the web address and the code by hand. Both paths end in the same place.

Step by step: scan the QR code and sign in

1. Open the app on your TV and choose Sign in. Pick the option that mentions your phone, the web or another device. That screen shows the QR code, a short code and a web address. If you only see an email and password box, see where to find the activation code.
2. Point your phone camera at the QR code. Hold the phone steady and far enough back that the whole square fits in the frame. You do not need to take a photo.
3. Tap the link that appears. Before you tap, read the web address your phone shows. It should belong to the streaming service whose app you opened on the TV.
4. Sign in on your phone if you are not already signed in. Use the account you want the TV to use.
5. Confirm the code. If the code is already filled in, check that it matches the TV and tap Continue or Activate. If it is blank, type it from the TV screen.
6. Wait a few seconds. The TV should leave the sign-in screen on its own. You can close the page on your phone.

How to scan a QR code on an iPhone

On an iPhone you do not need a separate app. Open the built-in Camera app, point it at the code on the TV, and tap the link banner that appears on the screen. Apple explains this in its own guide, Scan a QR code with your iPhone camera. If nothing appears, make sure you are in the normal photo mode and that the code is fully inside the frame.

How to scan a QR code on an Android phone

Most Android phones can read QR codes straight from the camera app: point it at the TV and tap the link that pops up. If your camera does not react, use Google Lens, which is built into many Android phones and the Google app. Google describes it on its Google Lens page. The steps vary a little between phone makers, so if neither works, the manual web address under the code is the quickest fallback.

Why the QR code will not scan, and what to do

• Glare or brightness. Reflections on the TV and very bright screens can confuse the camera. Tilt the phone slightly or dim the room lights.
• Too close or too far. Step back until the whole code is in the frame with a little space around it, then move closer slowly.
• The code expired. Codes on TV sign-in screens are short-lived by design. If the page on your phone says the code is invalid, go back on the TV to get a new code and scan again.
• The phone is signed in to the wrong account. The TV will join whichever account is signed in on the phone. Sign out and back in with the right account if needed.
• Network trouble. Both devices need a working internet connection. Hotel, school and office networks sometimes block the hand-off; our activation code not working checklist covers this.

Is it safe to scan the QR code on my TV?

A QR code shown by an app you installed yourself from your TV's own app store is generally the normal sign-in path for that service. The safety habit that matters is checking where the code takes you. Before you sign in or tap Continue, look at the web address on your phone and make sure it is the service's own website. A real sign-in page asks you to sign in to your existing account and confirm a code. It does not ask for a fee, a gift card, a phone call or remote access to your device.

Be much more careful with QR codes that reach you some other way, such as in an email, a text message or an advert claiming you must "activate" a device. Those are not part of a normal TV sign-in. Our guide to activation code scams explains the warning signs.

QR codes on popular devices

The QR option depends on the app, not on the TV. The same app can offer a QR code on one device and only a typed web address on another. In general:

• Roku: open the app, choose Sign in, and look for the code screen. Details are in our Roku activation guide.
• Amazon Fire TV: pick the option to sign in on another device. See the Fire TV guide.
• Apple TV: choose the option to sign in with a mobile device or on the web. See the Apple TV guide.
• Android TV and Google TV: look for an option to use your phone or computer. See the Android TV and Google TV guide.
• Other smart TVs: Samsung, LG and other TVs follow the same pattern inside each app. See activating an app on a smart TV.

When to skip the QR code

If you do not have a phone with a camera to hand, or you prefer a bigger screen, use a computer instead: type the address from the TV into its browser and enter the code there. And if the app offers "Sign in on this TV", you can type your email and password with the remote. That is slower, but it works when the phone hand-off keeps failing.