Activating a new QR tag takes just a few taps: you scan the code on the tag with your phone, pick the pet it belongs to, and choose what a finder is allowed to see. This article walks through the whole flow.
Where to start
You can begin from any of these places in the Ask A Vet app:
- Home → the floating action button → Scan QR Tag
- Settings → Manage QR tags → Activate new QR tag
- A pet's profile → the QR Tags row → Activate new QR tag
- The Activate QR tag button on the screen shown right after you create a pet profile
Step-by-step
- On the Activate QR tag screen you'll see "Use your phone's camera to scan the individual QR code on your new pet tag." Tap Continue.
- On the Scan QR tag screen, allow camera access if you're asked. Hold the QR code on the tag inside the frame. Your phone gives a short vibration when the code is read and shows you the code it found.
- On Select pet, tap the pet this tag belongs to. This step is skipped if you started from a pet's profile.
- On Public info - QR tag #{code}, turn on the details you want a finder to see. For a brand-new tag, Your email is on and everything else is off.
- Tap Confirm. You'll land on QR Tag Activated! — "Go ahead and scan your pet's tag to see how their profile appears." Tap Okay to return to Home.
Tip: Do exactly what the success screen suggests — scan your own tag with your phone camera and check the page looks right. You can also preview it without recording a scan from the pet's Pet Page screen.
If the camera won't open
The scanner needs permission to use your camera.
| Message | What to do |
|---|---|
| "We need access to your camera to scan your QR tag." | Tap Grant Camera Access. |
| "Camera access is turned off. Open Settings to enable it." | Tap Open Settings and switch the camera permission on for the Ask A Vet app. |
| "No camera is available on this device." | Use a phone with a camera to activate the tag. |
Who can activate a tag
The pet's owner can, and so can a family member who has permission to edit that pet. Without that permission the app shows a "no access" message instead of continuing.
Please note: If your Confirm ends with "Your QR tag is activated, but we couldn't save your privacy settings. Tap Confirm to try again." — the tag is already linked to your pet. Tapping Confirm again only re-saves your privacy choices.
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