Samsung Galaxy S21 5G does not work with Victorian government's check-in QR codes

As much as I try, I've never once been able to check in use a QR code in Victoria using my brand new Samsung Galaxy S21 5G. Another phone I've tested is a Samsung Galaxy A20 and last night also tested a more recent Apple iPhone. None worked. The Apple iPhone and Samsung Galaxy A20 had previously worked but the Apple iPhone didn't work on this occasion and the Samsung Galaxy A20 using Google Lens would not work even thought it worked earlier in the day.

With the Samsung S21 5G I've not only used the camera app, but I've also used a dedicated QR scanner app from Trend Micro and also Google Lens app. These apps can scan QR codes, it just seems to be the Victorian government's QR codes.

Now if this is happening to me, I'm sure it's happening to many people. The government will know because every time I scan the QR code it takes me to the following Victorian government page. I'm sure they're fully aware of the high failure rate.

Just in case you may be wondering why I'm not using the Victorian government's own app, because I also tried that early on and it didn't work.

So many people I see simply taking photos of the QR code thinking they've logged their details, others filling out their details but not clicking the submit button, so never logging in.

QR codes work. They're simple, but something the Victorian government has done means QR codes regularly don't work, at least they don't for me and many others I see using them.

Seems like the Victorian government's QR codes has taken a lesson from the Morrison government's app that never worked well and built something that is far less useful than it should be. Lots of IT contractors getting paid extremely good money taxpayers getting poor value for money.

Example QR code scanned

Takes me to the following page.

Which had the following URL

https://service.vic.gov.au/check-in/start?metadata=eyJhbGciOiJFUzUxMiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJsb2NhdGlvbklkIjoiN2FlMWZmMWItYzAxZC00NjE2LTk4MTgtOTc1YmM2YzFmMjNiIiwibG9jYXRpb25OYW1lIjoiS21hcnQgQ2xheXRvbiIsImp0aSI6IjA1OGFhYzlmLTYxMjUtNDAyYS05NmI0LWIzMDVjZWY5ZmIxNiIsImV4cCI6MzE4NzM4NTM0OCwiaWF0IjoxNjA5NTQ4NTQ4LCJpc3MiOiJodHRwczovL2R2cnMuc2VydmljZS52aWMuZ292LmF1In0.AXOlPVWflBVsb7M2ltDl-BDxqjkMl4Obeq9PCCrU8uo63XAfUW9ub5gxlbHAuOg530MULkqdUjCyaR1MucWyulMRAUfqaQ7eSi_oOjRmxnu21AU_vvqqsyMB_qwjheQC2VuNiU3u726s3kdjlEqUK521pRULCAKlHmrcOgXb7WbD0Icu

Yes this page does provide additional information and people can download the Victorian government's app and manually enter the code, or ask for assistance and write your information on a sheet at the store. But this really shouldn't be necessary.

Kelvin Eldridge

www.OnlineConnections.com.au

Update: 21 June 2021
Today I was able to check in for the first time. What was interesting was I was prompted to run an app without installing. This had not happened before. I was able to submit my name and phone number details.

Update: 6 July 2021
Looks like the government has updated something on their system as I can now reliably check in most of the time.