The Viber Desktop QR code shows on the first launch screen; you can bring it back by logging out, then reopening the app to pair again.
If you’ve installed the desktop app and you’re staring at the window wondering where that black-and-white square hides, here’s the short path: the login screen displays it by default. When the app is already linked to your phone, you won’t see it until you sign out from the desktop app and return to the welcome screen. This guide walks through every place the code appears, what to do when it won’t show, and quick fixes that get you paired in a minute.
Where The QR Code Lives On Viber For Desktop
On a fresh installation, the welcome window shows the code front and center. Point your phone’s Viber scanner at it and approve the prompt to finish setup. If you skipped pairing or closed the window, choose Menu → Settings → Log out from the desktop app, then reopen Viber; the same welcome window and code appear again.
Fast Steps On Windows And Mac
- Open Viber on your computer. If it’s the first run, the code is already on screen.
- If you’re signed in, click your profile picture → Settings → Log out. Reopen Viber to get the welcome screen with the code.
- On your phone: open Viber → More → tap the small QR icon. Point the camera at the desktop code and tap Approve when asked.
These steps mirror the official setup flow and work the same on Windows and macOS.
Scan Methods That Always Work
Your phone has two built-in ways to scan. The first is Viber’s own scanner (found by tapping the tiny QR icon in the More screen). The second is the phone’s default camera app, which can also read the login code and pass it to Viber when prompted. Viber’s help docs mention both routes and suggest trying the front and back camera if one struggles in low light.
Where To Open The Scanner On Your Phone
- Android: Viber → More → QR icon → QR Scanner if the scanner doesn’t open automatically.
- iPhone: Viber → More → QR icon → Scan QR Code if prompted.
When The Code Doesn’t Show On The Computer
If the welcome window never appears, or you only see your chats, the desktop app is already linked to a phone. Sign out from the desktop app to bring the code back. After reopening, the app should present the pairing window again.
If you still don’t see the code, network rules on the computer may block the initial handshake. Viber’s help pages list the ports the desktop app needs. On a managed network, ask the admin to open those ports and try again.
Fix Blurry Or Unreadable Codes
- Increase the window size so the squares are crisp.
- Turn up screen brightness and avoid color-shift modes that soften edges.
- Clean your phone’s lens; smudges make the camera hunt for focus.
- Switch cameras; some phones focus faster with the back sensor.
Pairing From Phone To Computer—Step-By-Step
Here’s the smoothest way to link the two apps without chasing menus:
- Install Viber for desktop and launch it. Leave the welcome window open with the code.
- Open Viber on your phone → More → tap the QR icon to open the scanner.
- Point the phone at the desktop window. Approve the activation prompt on the phone.
- Tap Sync to pull messages to the computer. The first sync fetches recent chats first.
That’s it—no password to remember, and no SMS loop. If you’re switching computers, repeat the same process on the new machine.
Find The Code Again After You’re Logged In
Sometimes you need to link a second desktop or fix a broken session. The fastest trick is to sign out from the desktop app you’re sitting at, which returns you to the welcome window with the code. If you don’t want to sign out just yet, you can also open your phone and use More → Desktop/Tablet to link another device to the same account. That option displays a scannable code on the phone and is handy when pairing a tablet, but for a computer you’ll still scan the code shown on that computer…
Menu Map On Desktop
Here’s where to find the key menus on a typical desktop build:
- Profile Menu: Click your avatar next to the search bar. This opens settings, app version, and the sign-out control.
- Settings: Account, notifications, audio/video, appearance, privacy, and the Log out button.
- Welcome Window: Appears after install or after you sign out; this is the screen that displays the login code.
Where Your Personal Contact QR Lives
Your phone also has a personal code for contact sharing. It’s kept under More → QR icon → My QR Code. Share that image if you want someone to add you without swapping numbers. This QR is different from the desktop login code, which only appears on the computer’s welcome screen.
Security Tips While You Pair
QR login is simple, but it’s smart to keep control of linked sessions. Check the list of connected devices on your phone and remove any entry you don’t recognize. Set up two-step verification with a PIN and a recovery email so no one can deactivate your account without that extra step. If you ever lose a computer, revoke its session from the phone.
Review Linked Devices
- Phone → Settings → Account → Desktop & Tablet.
- Remove sessions you don’t need.
Turn On Two-Step Verification
- Phone → Settings → Account → Two-step verification.
- Set a strong PIN and confirm a recovery email.
Troubleshooting Pairing Problems
The Phone Scanner Won’t Read The Screen
Try the built-in camera app on the phone. Many devices recognize the login code and hand the link to Viber. If it still fails, use a third-party scanner only to confirm your camera can read codes at all—don’t approve unknown prompts.
The Desktop Window Is Stuck On “Waiting”
Close the app, relaunch it, and wait on the welcome window. Confirm the computer is online and that security software isn’t intercepting the handshake. Corporate firewalls sometimes filter the ports Viber needs; once those are allowed, the code screen appears as expected.
Activation Worked, But Messages Aren’t Syncing
Give it a moment. Viber populates recent chats first, then fills older history. Leave both devices awake for the first few minutes so nothing sleeps mid-sync. If the feed stops moving, sign out on the desktop and pair again.
Small Checklist Before You Scan
- Phone has the latest Viber build from the app store.
- Desktop app is up-to-date from the official download page.
- Both devices have internet access.
- Screen brightness is high enough for the camera to read the code.
If You Need To Pair On A Work Computer
Some offices route traffic through strict firewalls. If your welcome screen stays blank or pairing stalls, ask IT to allow the ports Viber lists for desktop (80, 443, 4244, 5242, 5243, 7985 for both TCP and UDP). After those rules are in place, relaunch the app and the code screen should appear quickly.
Common Paths To The QR Code
The table below compresses the fast routes to get that login square back on screen or to open a scanner that can read it.
| Situation | On Computer | On Phone |
|---|---|---|
| First install | Open Viber; welcome window shows the code | Viber → More → QR icon → scan |
| Already signed in | Profile → Settings → Log out → reopen app | Viber → More → QR icon → scan |
| Linking a tablet | Use the phone’s Desktop/Tablet screen | More → Desktop/Tablet → follow prompts |
| Scanner failing | Increase window size; check ports | Try default Camera app; switch cameras |
Why You Might Not See The Code Right Away
The app hides the login screen once a session is active. That’s by design—there’s no need for a new code while you’re already linked. The only times you’ll see the code are during the initial setup, after you sign out on the desktop, or when you install Viber on another computer. If a code appears at random during an active session, treat it as a cue to check your network and restart the app.
Pro Tips For Fast Pairing
- Keep both devices near the router for the first sync.
- Use a bright, non-glossy monitor profile; high contrast helps the scanner lock on.
- Avoid screen shaders or blue-light filters during pairing; they blur edges.
- Close overlapping windows so the code isn’t partly hidden.
- If the monitor is ultrawide, move the window near the center so the camera sees it square on.
When To Reinstall The Desktop App
Reinstallation is rarely needed. Try sign out → relaunch first. If the app crashed mid-setup and won’t open the welcome window, uninstall, download the latest installer, and try again. Pairing should work on a clean start.
Helpful Official Guides
For step-by-step desktop pairing, skim Set up Viber on desktop. If a strict firewall blocks the code or keeps the app stuck, see Opening ports for Viber on desktop. For contact sharing and the personal QR, open the QR icon on your phone and tap My QR Code.
Wrap-Up
Here’s the takeaway: the desktop code lives on the welcome screen. If you’re already linked, sign out to bring that screen back. Open the scanner on your phone and approve the prompt, then let the first sync finish. With that, you can type from a full keyboard, keep calls on the big speakers, and switch devices without missing a beat.