How to Scan a QR Code on iPhone, Android and PC (Even From a Screenshot)

Published · 2 min read

Scan QR codes with your iPhone camera, Android, Google Lens or a computer, no app needed. Read codes in screenshots and avoid QR scams.

Almost every phone today can scan QR codes without installing anything. This guide covers the quickest way on each device, how to read a QR code that is inside a photo or screenshot, and how to stay safe from QR scams.

Scan a QR code on iPhone

  1. Open the Camera app in photo mode.
  2. Point it at the QR code and hold steady for a second or two.
  3. Tap the banner that appears to open the link, join WiFi, save a contact and so on.

No banner? Go to Settings → Camera and turn on Scan QR Codes. You can also add the Code Scanner button to Control Center to open it straight from the lock screen.

Scan a QR code on Android

Depending on your phone, you have several options:

  • Camera: most Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo and Pixel phones read QR codes directly in the Camera app.
  • Quick Settings tile: swipe down and look for Scan QR code, built into many phones since Android 13.
  • Google Lens: open the Google app and tap the Lens camera icon in the search bar.

Scan a QR code on a computer

You do not need a phone to read a QR code:

  1. Open our online QR code scanner.
  2. Drag and drop an image, paste a screenshot with Ctrl+V, or click Scan with camera to use your webcam.
  3. The content appears instantly, with buttons to copy it or open the link.

Everything is processed in your browser; your image is never uploaded to a server.

Scan a QR code from a photo or screenshot

Someone sent you a QR code and you are viewing it on the same phone? Try one of these:

  • iPhone: open the image in Photos, then touch and hold the QR code to open it (Live Text).
  • Android: open the image in Google Photos and tap Lens.
  • Any device: upload the image to our QR scanner page.

QR code not scanning? Check these

  • Clean the camera lens, add light and avoid glare on glossy surfaces.
  • Move back or closer: the whole code, including its white margin, must fit in the frame.
  • The code is too small or too dense: the creator should print it larger or use a shorter link. See our QR code printing tips.
  • Light code on a dark background or low contrast: some cameras cannot read it.

Scan QR codes safely

QR phishing, or "quishing", is on the rise. Keep these rules in mind:

  • Read the web address your phone shows before opening it, and watch for look-alike domains of banks or government sites.
  • Never enter passwords or one-time codes on a page opened from an unknown QR code.
  • Check public QR codes for stickers placed over the original, especially on parking meters and payment stands.
  • When paying, always confirm the recipient's name in your banking or payment app.

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