What Happens When Someone Scans Your Tag
A complete walkthrough of the scanning experience — what finders see, how anonymous contact works, and how you get notified.
Understanding what happens when someone scans your QrioTag helps you set up your tag profile effectively. This page shows you exactly what the finder experiences, step by step.
Mobile-First Design
The scan page is designed for mobile first — since most people scan QR codes with their phones. It looks great on any screen size, but the mobile experience is the priority.
Visibility Level Quick Reference
Your tag's visibility setting controls everything the finder sees. Choose the level that matches how much you want to share.
PUBLIC
Full profile visible: item name, photos, owner name, contact info, type-specific details (pet, vehicle, etc.), and the anonymous contact form.
CONTACT_ONLY
Minimal exposure: item name and anonymous contact form only. No owner name, no photos, no personal contact details.
EMERGENCY_ONLY
Medical information only for first responders: blood type, conditions, allergies, medications, emergency contacts. No contact form.
PRIVATE
Nothing shown to the finder — no details, no contact form. The scan is still recorded and you receive a notification.
For most items, CONTACT_ONLY is the best choice. It lets finders reach you without exposing your personal information. Switch to PUBLIC if you want maximum recovery chances for a specific item.
The Scanner's Perspective
Here is what happens when someone finds your item and scans the QR code:
The Finder Opens Their Camera
The finder takes out their phone and opens the camera app (or any QR code scanner app). They point the camera at the QR code on your QrioTag.
Most modern phones (iPhone and Android) can scan QR codes directly from the camera app — no special app is needed.
The Scan Page Loads
After scanning, the finder's phone automatically opens a web page in their browser. This is your tag's scan page. No app installation is required.
What the finder sees depends on your visibility settings (see below).
The Finder Sees Your Tag Information
Based on your visibility level, the finder sees different amounts of information.
The Finder Can Contact You
If the visibility is set to PUBLIC or CONTACT_ONLY, the finder sees an anonymous contact form where they can send you a message without needing to create an account.
You Get Notified
As soon as the tag is scanned, you receive a notification (if scan alerts are enabled in your settings).
Visibility Level Details
The Anonymous Contact Form
When visibility is set to PUBLIC or CONTACT_ONLY, finders see a simple contact form. Here is how it works:
What the Finder Fills Out
| Field | Required? | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Their Name | Optional | The finder can enter a name or alias (defaults to "Finder") |
| Message | Yes | A text message to you (e.g., "I found your keys at the coffee shop on Main Street") |
What Happens When They Submit
- The finder clicks "Send Message"
- A confirmation screen appears: "Message sent! The owner has been notified."
- The message appears in your message inbox
- You receive a notification about the new message
- You can reply through the inbox (the finder's identity remains anonymous unless they chose to share more)
No Account Needed
The finder does not need a QrioTag account to send you a message. The contact form is completely open. This maximizes the chances of someone reaching out to you.
If a finder creates a QrioTag account later, their messages can be linked to their account for ongoing conversations.
How the Message Reaches You
When a finder sends a message through the scan page:
- The message is stored securely in the QrioTag system
- You receive a notification (depending on your notification settings):
- Email notification — An email letting you know someone contacted you about a tag
- Push notification — A push alert on your phone (if you have push notifications enabled)
- In-app notification — A badge and notification in your dashboard
- You can read and reply to the message from your message inbox
Emergency Information for First Responders
If your tag is set to EMERGENCY_ONLY visibility (typically used for medical bands and emergency cards), first responders see a specialized page showing:
- Blood type (e.g., O Positive)
- Medical conditions (e.g., Diabetes Type 2, Epilepsy)
- Allergies (e.g., Penicillin, Shellfish)
- Current medications (e.g., Metformin 500mg twice daily)
- Emergency contacts with phone numbers they can call immediately
- Primary physician name and phone number
- Special instructions (e.g., "Do not administer aspirin," "Patient has a DNR order")
- Organ donor status
- Preferred hospital
- Languages spoken
If you use a QrioTag for medical emergencies, make sure your emergency profile is always up to date. Outdated medical information could be dangerous.
NFC Scanning
Some QrioTags come with an NFC chip in addition to the QR code. NFC works by holding the phone close to the tag (within a few centimeters). The experience is identical to QR scanning — the same scan page opens with the same information.
New to QR or NFC?
If you are not sure what these technologies are or how they differ, read the plain-English explainers: What is a QR code? and What is NFC?.
NFC scanning is especially convenient for:
- Medical bands — First responders can tap the band instead of trying to find and scan a QR code
- Key tags — Quick tap instead of scanning
- Cards — Tap the card to a phone like a contactless payment
Not all QrioTags have NFC. Check the product description when you purchase your tags to see if NFC is included or available as a variant.
Your Data Stays Private
Whatever the finder sees is strictly what your visibility level allows. They never see your email, your phone number, or your location. All contact flows through an anonymous relay — so even when messaging each other, neither side sees the other's personal details.
Full privacy explainer
For a plain-English walkthrough of how encrypted tag IDs, anonymous messaging, and your data controls work, read Privacy & Security.
Rate Limiting
To prevent abuse and protect tag owners, QrioTag limits scans to a maximum of 30 per minute per tag. If someone exceeds this, they will see a "Too many requests" message and need to wait. This security feature will not affect normal usage — a real finder only needs to scan once. If you are testing your own tag, wait a minute between rapid repeated scans to avoid triggering the limit.
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