How to Send Files to a Shop by Scanning a QR Code (Android and iPhone, Step by Step)
Your cyber café or print shop has a QR code on the counter that says "Scan to send files". With it you can send a file from your phone straight to the shop's computer: no WhatsApp number, no pen drive, no app to install.
This guide is for customers. Shop owners can send this link to their customers.
- What you need
- How to send files from an Android phone
- How to send files from an iPhone
- Which files can you send?
- If the file does not send
- Is it safe?
- Run a shop?
What you need
- Internet on your phone (mobile data or Wi-Fi).
- Your phone camera. Most phone cameras read QR codes by themselves.
- The file you want to send, saved on your phone (PDF, photo, Word, Excel, PowerPoint or text).
How to send files from an Android phone
- Open the camera and point it at the QR code. A link appears at the bottom; tap it.
- If the camera shows no link, open Google Lens (or the camera icon in the Google app) and scan the QR code.
- A page opens with the shop's name on it. Check that it is the right shop.
- If you like, type your name or print instructions in "Customer Name / Print Instructions" (for example "2 copies, colour").
- Tap "Tap to Select Files" and choose your files. You can pick several at once.
- Tap "Send to Shop PC". Do not close the page until you see "Files Sent to PC!".
- A Transfer ID appears on the screen. Tell the shop your name or this ID; your files are already on their computer.
How to send files from an iPhone
- Open the Camera app and point it at the QR code. A yellow link appears; tap it.
- The page opens in Safari. Check the shop's name.
- Tap "Tap to Select Files":
- For photos, choose Photo Library.
- For a PDF or document, choose Choose File and pick it from the Files app (files saved from WhatsApp are there too).
- Tap "Send to Shop PC" and wait for "Files Sent to PC!".
About iPhone photos (HEIC): iPhone photos are usually saved in HEIC format. When you upload them to a web page, the iPhone usually converts them to JPG automatically. If a photo still will not send, go to iPhone Settings → Camera → Formats → Most Compatible; photos you take after that are saved as JPG.
Which files can you send?
PDF, JPG, PNG and WEBP photos, Word (DOC, DOCX), Excel (XLS, XLSX), PowerPoint (PPT, PPTX) and TXT files. For safety, apps, programs and scripts (such as .exe or .apk files) cannot be sent, so no virus reaches the shop's computer.
If the file does not send
| Problem | What to do |
|---|---|
| The page says "QR Code Inactive" | Tell the shop; they will have a new QR code |
| The page does not open | Check your internet; turn mobile data off and on |
| The files are "too large" | Send fewer files at a time, and do not send big videos |
| The file type is not allowed | Save the file as a PDF or JPG and send it again |
| Sending is taking a long time | Do not close the page; large files are slow on a weak network |
Is it safe?
Yes. Your file goes only to the computer of the shop whose QR code you scanned. You do not create an account or share your phone number, and once the shop's computer has the file, our server's copy is deleted. More about this: Security and privacy.
Run a shop?
Want a QR code like this for your own shop? Send2PC is free for one counter.