How to Scan a QR Code from a Screenshot or Picture

The fastest way to scan a QR code from a screenshot or picture, on any device, is to upload it to our QR code scanner. Your phone's own camera app usually can too, and those built-in options are covered below along with a couple of safety checks worth doing first.

Basic phone scanning (for a code in front of you)

If the QR code is printed or displayed somewhere in front of you, not in a photo, just open your Camera app on iPhone or Android and point it at the code. Most phones show a notification or on-screen link within a second or two, no separate scanner app needed. The rest of this guide covers codes that are already inside an image.

Before you open anything: a quick safety check

Whatever method you use, check the full link before tapping it. Look for a domain you recognize, and be careful with shortened links (bit.ly and similar) since you can't see where they lead until you follow them. See our QR code security guide for what to watch for.

iPhone: Photos app and Live Text

1. Open the screenshot or photo in the Photos app.
2. Tap and hold directly on the QR code.
3. A popup should show the link or content it contains, tap it to open, or tap Copy to grab the link first.

This uses Live Text, which recognizes QR codes and text inside photos. It's built into recent iOS versions; exact steps may differ slightly on older versions.

Android: Google Lens in Photos

1. Open the screenshot in Google Photos.
2. Tap the Google Lens icon (usually at the bottom of the screen).
3. Lens detects the QR code and shows the link, tap it to open or copy it.

Menu placement can vary by phone manufacturer and Android version.

Any device: upload to our scanner

If your phone doesn't pick up the code automatically, or you're on a computer, use the QR code scanner on this site. Upload the image, drag it in, or paste it straight from your clipboard, and it decodes right in your browser. Nothing is uploaded to a server.

Scanning a code on your own screen

Pointing a second phone's camera at your own screen usually doesn't work well, glare and the screen's pixel pattern confuse most scanners. Instead, take a screenshot of the code and use one of the methods above on that image, or, if it's already open in a browser tab, right-click or long-press it to save the image directly.

On a computer instead?

See how to scan a QR code on a computer for Windows, Mac, and Chromebook options.