Open the Steam Mobile app, tap the shield icon in the bottom navigation bar to open Steam Guard, then select “Scan a QR code.” Use it to scan the QR code shown on the Steam sign-in screen.
How to open Steam’s QR scanner
- Open the official Steam Mobile app on your phone.
- Sign in to the Steam account you want to use.
- Tap the shield icon in the bottom navigation bar. This opens Steam Guard.
- Tap “Scan a QR code.”
- Point your phone at the QR code displayed on the computer or browser.
- Check the sign-in details Steam shows, including the approximate location, and approve the request only if it matches your login attempt.
Steam’s layout and labels can vary slightly between Android and iPhone versions. The important path is Steam Mobile → Steam Guard/shield icon → Scan a QR code. The scanner is inside Steam Mobile, not the phone’s standard camera app.
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How to display the QR code
The QR code appears on the device where you want to sign in:
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- Select “Sign in with QR” or “Show me a QR code.”
- Leave the QR code visible on screen.
- Scan it from Steam Mobile’s Steam Guard section.
The computer or browser displays the code; your phone scans it and Steam Mobile verifies the sign-in.
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What you need before scanning
- The official Steam Mobile app, rather than Steam Link or Steam Chat.
- Steam Mobile signed in to the correct Steam account.
- The mobile authenticator configured. Steam documents QR sign-in as part of its mobile-authenticator setup.
- Camera permission enabled for Steam Mobile.
- A visible, current QR code on the Steam sign-in screen.
If several accounts are stored in the app, select the account that matches the login you are approving. Installing the app alone may not make the QR option available until sign-in and authenticator setup are complete.
If “Scan a QR code” is missing
- Confirm you are using Steam Mobile, not another Steam app.
- Tap the shield icon to open Steam Guard.
- Check that the intended Steam account is selected.
- Update Steam Mobile through the official Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
- Check your phone’s app settings and allow Steam Mobile to use the camera.
- Close and reopen the app after changing the permission.
- If the option is still unavailable, use a Steam Guard code or sign-in notification instead.
Steam’s official mobile page currently lists minimum requirements of iOS 15.1 and Android 7.0 (as listed on August 18, 2026). Requirements and app interfaces can change.
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- Visa Virtual eGift Cards are designed for online use only. Gift Cards are subject to Terms and Conditions: a.co/5bw3qXJ
- When you access your Visa Virtual eGift Card for the first time, you’ll need to register your name, address, phone number, and email address via activationspot.com. These details should also be used as your billing address for online purchases, as many merchants require address verification for purchase authorization.
- This Visa Virtual eGift Card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Visa Virtual eGift Cards are emailed active.
- Funds do not expire but your Visa Virtual eGift Card has a ‘valid thru’ date (9 years from date of purchase). If funds remain after this date has passed, please call the Toll Free number found on your Visa Virtual eGift Card for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout.
- This item is not eligible for refund, resale, or return. Available for sale within the United States only. Not available to residents of Puerto Rico, Hawaii, New Mexico, South Dakota, West Virginia and the US Virgin Islands.
If the QR code will not scan
- Increase the computer screen’s brightness.
- Make sure the entire code is visible and not covered by another window.
- Hold the phone steady and move it slightly closer or farther away.
- Clean the phone’s camera lens.
- Avoid using a distorted or heavily compressed screenshot.
- Refresh the Steam sign-in page to generate a new code if the current one has expired.
- Make sure you are scanning inside Steam Mobile, not with the ordinary camera app.
If Steam cannot detect the code at all, focus on framing, brightness, camera permission, and distance. If Steam detects the code but the login fails, check the selected account, your connection, the approval details, and whether the code belongs to the intended Steam login page.
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Alternatives to QR sign-in
You do not have to use the scanner. With the mobile authenticator configured, Steam also supports:
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- Visa Virtual eGift Cards are designed for online use only. Gift Cards are subject to Terms and Conditions: a.co/5bw3qXJ
- When you access your Visa Virtual eGift Card for the first time, you’ll need to register your name, address, phone number, and email address via activationspot.com. These details should also be used as your billing address for online purchases, as many merchants require address verification for purchase authorization.
- This Visa Virtual eGift Card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Visa Virtual eGift Cards are emailed active.
- Funds do not expire but your Visa Virtual eGift Card has a ‘valid thru’ date (9 years from date of purchase). If funds remain after this date has passed, please call the Toll Free number found on your Visa Virtual eGift Card for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout.
- This item is not eligible for refund, resale, or return. Available for sale within the United States only. Not available to residents of Puerto Rico, Hawaii, New Mexico, South Dakota, West Virginia and the US Virgin Islands.
- Notification approval: enter your account name and password, then approve the sign-in notification in Steam Mobile.
- Manual Steam Guard code: open Steam Guard in the app and enter the current code on the sign-in screen.
QR sign-in is usually quicker, but notification approval or a manual code is useful when the camera is unavailable or the scanner is malfunctioning.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Stay safe when approving a QR login
Do not automatically approve every scan. Review the device and approximate location shown by Steam and reject unexpected requests. Never share Steam Guard codes, and do not enter authentication codes on websites that are not operated by Valve. If you have lost access to your phone or authenticator, use Steam Support’s sign-in and account-recovery flow rather than trying to bypass Steam security.
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For Valve’s instructions, see the Steam Guard Mobile Authenticator guide and the official Steam Mobile page.
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- Visa Virtual eGift Cards are designed for online use only. Gift Cards are subject to Terms and Conditions: a.co/5bw3qXJ
- When you access your Visa Virtual eGift Card for the first time, you’ll need to register your name, address, phone number, and email address via activationspot.com. These details should also be used as your billing address for online purchases, as many merchants require address verification for purchase authorization.
- This Visa Virtual eGift Card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Visa Virtual eGift Cards are emailed active.
- Funds do not expire but your Visa Virtual eGift Card has a ‘valid thru’ date (9 years from date of purchase). If funds remain after this date has passed, please call the Toll Free number found on your Visa Virtual eGift Card for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout.
- This item is not eligible for refund, resale, or return. Available for sale within the United States only. Not available to residents of Puerto Rico, Hawaii, New Mexico, South Dakota, West Virginia and the US Virgin Islands.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
