The HoloLens 2 will automatically detect any visible QR codes and indicate these with a green outline and play button.
The HoloLens 2 features always-on QR code detection using the front-facing RGB camera on the headset. Because only a single camera is used to detect codes the detection is impacted by environmental factors in much the same way as detection on other mobile devices. Learning to identify and resolve these factors can help improve reliability, precision and detection time.
Why can’t my device detect my QR code?
If you’re wearing the HoloLens and looking at a QR code but don’t see the green rectangle or play button this could be due to a number of factors.
The code is too small
The most common reason is the QR code is simply too far away and not enough pixels are visible to the HoloLens camera for detection. Try slowly moving the headset towards the QR code in the same way you would with a mobile phone to see if this improves detection. If possible, increase the size of the QR code by zooming in on your screen or printing on a larger sheet of paper.
The code is too shiny
Fologram and Twinbuild display QR codes in web apps to connect to models. Because these codes are typically rendered digitally, reflections on the glass display can interfere with the visibility of the code. If scanning a code displayed on a laptop, try tilting the display to reduce glare and reflections. If displaying a code on a monitor, try covering any external light sources that are reflecting from the display.
The code is too dark
If you’re in a particularly dark space or working with a low-brightness screen this can reduce the contrast between pixels in the QR code and inhibit detectability. Try turning on some lights or increasing display brightness to rectify this issue.
The camera is in use
In some cases an app running on the HoloLens may be using the device camera and preventing the native QR code tracking from functioning properly. Try exiting all apps on the HoloLens and restarting your device to see if this addresses the issue.
The code has no padding
QR codes are harder to detect when the edge of the code bleeds into other dark features visible to the camera. Ensure that the code is padded by a region of white space that is as large as possible. Avoid trimming printed codes without leaving some white space and resize digital codes such that white space is visible around the code.