Problem accessing QR Code scanner from the device

I’ve been thru some kind of a similar experience with an iOS. Instead of the multi-app kiosk policy, I’d applied the whitelisting to it. normally, scanning a QR code opens the corresponding link in safari. now the behaviour is contrasting. In the new normal, when I scan the QR code using camera, the QR code reader opens up but not the required link. As the whitelisting policy remains associated, I almost bought into the idea that the default browser is blacklisted too. (Whitelisted safari, but in vain) The QR code scanner functions well after I removed the policy. Seems like an analogy between the two!

I guess both of these are related. Check if any camera restrictions are turned on.

No restrictions applied.

Same here. No other policies except the multi app kiosk policy.

Hello folks,
I presume it is with the update from iOS 13 that causes the issue. @agneta @ybeees Cud u verify the OS versions? The problem with QR code scanner is commonly seen on the devices running iOS 14+.
Use the relevant settings on the device in getting the QR code scanner back in business. Go to the settings app and search for something like ‘code’. Next, toggle on the option ‘Scan QR Codes’. This enables the QR functioning of the camera app.
Hope this settles your prob.

That’s right. It was iOS 14.3. And the workaround helped. thanks @skyler for your reply.

@skyler our client devices are all running iOS 14.2+. It helped a few, but some still face the issue.

Hey All,

Happy to be of help,

According to the current workflow of iOS (from iOS 14+), the in-built QR code scanner gets blocked while the blacklisting/whitelisting policy is applied from any MDM solution. Since basically, a multi-app kiosk policy also performs blacklisting by blocking all the apps except the specified ones. This, in turn, generates the issue with your @agneta client devices too.

Therefore, the system app – com.apple.barcodesupport.qrcode should be explicitly permitted on the devices whenever these policies are applied. You will have to modify the kiosk lockdown policy or the blacklist policy to add the Code Scanner app among the other permitted System apps. Including the Code Scanner app among the whitelisted apps or adding it to the multi-app kiosk completely eradicates the problem with the QR code scanner.

Regards,

Catherine George
Hexnode UEM

That was extremely helpful. I was wondering if I should ask the client for a full reset on the device. thank you @catherine-george.

It’s great that you’ve already tried a couple of workarounds, but I totally understand that disenrolling the devices or wiping all the content and settings isn’t ideal for your client.