How to Scan a QR Code from a Picture on Any Device

George El-Hage 🔗 LinkedIn

Founder, Wave Connect | 150,000+ digital business cards deployed

I work with QR codes daily - every Wave digital business card includes one. This guide covers the fastest methods I've found for scanning QR codes from photos, screenshots, and saved images on any device.

Need to scan a QR code from a picture on your phone or computer? You don't need a special app - your device can already do it. I'll show you how in about 30 seconds.

I run Wave Connect, a digital business card platform, so I deal with QR codes every day. People send me screenshots, save codes from emails, snap photos of posters - and they always ask: "How do I actually scan this?" This guide covers every method across iPhone, Android, and desktop.

Can You Scan a QR Code from a Picture?

Yes. Every modern iPhone and Android phone can scan a QR code directly from a saved photo, screenshot, or image - no extra app required. iPhones use the built-in Photos app or Live Text, and Android phones use Google Lens.

This works with screenshots, photos someone texted you, images from email, pictures saved from social media - even photos of QR codes on physical signs. The only catch? The QR code needs to be reasonably clear. I'll cover troubleshooting below, but in most cases it just works.

How to Scan a QR Code from a Photo on iPhone

As of iOS 16+, there are three built-in ways to scan a QR code from a picture - no third-party apps needed. Here they are, ranked by speed.

Method 1: Long-Press in the Photos App (Fastest)

This is the method I use daily. Works on any iPhone running iOS 16 or later.

That's it. Three seconds. The long-press triggers Apple's Visual Look Up feature, which automatically detects QR codes in your photos. If it doesn't work, make sure you're pressing directly on the QR code itself and that you're running iOS 16+ (Settings > General > About).

Method 2: Use the Code Scanner in Control Center

If you need to scan a QR code that's showing on another screen (like your laptop or a TV), the built-in Code Scanner is your best bet.

Don't see the Code Scanner icon? Go to Settings > Control Center and tap the green + next to Code Scanner. This method is best for scanning QR codes displayed on another screen - your laptop, a TV, another phone, or a printed flyer.

Method 3: Live Text (iOS 16+)

Apple's OCR feature also detects QR codes. It works similarly to long-press, but sometimes catches codes that Method 1 misses.

Requires iPhone XS or newer (A12 chip+). Older phones should stick with Method 1 or 2.

How to Scan a QR Code from a Photo on Android

Android handles this through Google Lens, built into most phones. The exact steps vary by brand, but here are the three most reliable methods.

Method 1: Google Lens in Google Photos

If the QR code is already saved as a photo or screenshot on your phone, this is the easiest approach.

Google Photos comes pre-installed on most Android phones. You probably already have it.

Method 2: Standalone Google Lens App

You can also use Google Lens directly, which is handy for scanning codes on another screen.

You can also access Lens through the Google app or by long-pressing the Home button and saying "scan this QR code."

Method 3: Samsung Gallery (Samsung Phones Only)

Samsung baked QR scanning right into their Gallery app - no Google Lens needed.

On newer Samsung phones (One UI 4.0+), you can also scan QR codes from the camera app. Open Camera, point at the QR code, and a popup appears. Make sure it's enabled: Camera > Settings > Scan QR codes.

How to Scan a QR Code from a Screenshot

Scanning a QR code from a screenshot works exactly the same as scanning any saved photo. Screenshots are just images, so all the methods above apply.

Here's the quick version:

• iPhone: Open the screenshot in Photos > long-press the QR code > tap "Open in Safari"
• Android: Open the screenshot in Google Photos > tap the Lens icon > tap the QR code link
• Samsung: Open in Gallery > tap the Bixby Vision/Lens icon > tap the code

Screenshots are generally high enough resolution for QR codes to scan easily. Where it gets tricky is screenshots of screenshots - each generation loses quality, and by the third or fourth time, the code may be too degraded to read.

How to Scan a QR Code from an Image on Desktop

This is the one most guides skip. You've got a QR code image on your computer and your phone isn't nearby. Here's what to do.

Windows

Windows doesn't have a built-in QR scanner, but you've got options:

• Google Lens (Chrome): Right-click any image in Chrome and select "Search image with Google Lens." Lens reads QR codes and shows you the URL. Fastest desktop method.
• Web-based scanner: Upload the image to a free online QR reader (covered in the next section). Takes about 10 seconds.

Mac

macOS has a few more built-in options:

• Google Lens (Chrome): Same as Windows - right-click an image > "Search image with Google Lens."
• Safari/Preview (macOS Ventura+): Right-click the QR code in the image. If macOS detects it, you'll see an "Open URL" option.
• Web-based scanner: Same as Windows - upload to an online QR reader.

My recommendation for desktop? Google Lens in Chrome. It's the most reliable cross-platform option - works on Windows, Mac, and ChromeOS, built right into the browser context menu. No extensions, no downloads.

Free Online QR Code Scanners

On an older device or restricted work computer? These web-based QR scanners let you upload an image and decode it instantly:

• WebQR - Simple drag-and-drop interface. Upload an image or use your webcam. Free, no signup.
• ScanQR.org - Clean, ad-light interface. Upload an image file and it decodes instantly.
• ZXing Decoder - Open-source QR decoder. Paste a URL to a QR image or upload the file directly. A bit old-school looking, but very reliable.

All three work in any browser on any device. Just keep the safety tips below in mind before clicking any decoded link.

Troubleshooting: Why Your Phone Can't Read the QR Code

If your phone won't scan the QR code in a photo, it's almost always one of these issues:

• Blurry or low-resolution image. Your phone can't distinguish the tiny squares. Fix: zoom in and screenshot just the QR code, or ask for a higher-res version.
• QR code is too small in the frame. Crop the image so the QR code fills most of the frame, then try again.
• Part of the code is cut off. QR codes need all three corner squares visible. If one is cropped, it won't scan. Get the full image.
• Poor contrast. QR codes work best with dark on light. Low-contrast codes (gray on white, blue on black) are hard to read. Try adjusting brightness/contrast in your Photos app.
• Code is damaged or obscured. QR codes can handle up to 30% damage via error correction, but beyond that they fail. Find a cleaner version.
• Outdated phone software. iOS pre-16 doesn't support long-press scanning. Older Android may lack Google Lens. Update your OS, or use a web-based scanner.
• The link behind the code expired. The scan works but the page is dead. This is why understanding QR code types matters - dynamic codes can be updated after creation, static ones can't.

QR Code Safety Tips

QR codes are convenient, but they can be used for phishing - just like email links. Before you tap any link from a scanned QR code, take two seconds to check it. 🔐

• Preview the URL before tapping. Both iPhone and Android show you the URL before opening it. Look at the domain name. If it says paypal.com, that's fine. If it says paypa1-secure.xyz, don't tap it.
• Watch for URL shorteners. Links like bit.ly/xxxx hide the real destination. Paste shortened URLs into a URL expander tool to see where they actually go.
• Be cautious with random QR codes in public. Scammers paste fraudulent QR stickers over legitimate ones on parking meters and restaurant menus. If a code looks stuck on top of another, skip it.
• Never enter passwords or payment info on a page you reached via QR code unless you've verified the URL. Bookmark your bank/payment sites and navigate directly.
• Use QR codes from trusted sources. QR codes on a colleague's digital business card, a verified business website, or official product packaging are generally safe. Random QR codes taped to a telephone pole? Use judgment.

Bottom line: the risk isn't the QR code itself - it's where the link takes you. Treat scanned links the same way you'd treat any unknown URL.