How to scan a QR code from a screenshot
Take a screenshot, then open it: on iPhone, touch and hold the code in Photos; on Android, tap Lens in Google Photos. No second phone needed.
Updated September 24, 2026
The problem
More and more QR codes arrive on the phone itself: concert tickets, payment links, invitations, access codes sent by text. You cannot point your camera at your own screen. The fix is an image: a screenshot, which your phone knows how to analyze.
On iPhone
- Take a screenshot: side button and volume up together.
- Open it in Photos.
- Touch and hold the QR code: a menu offers to open the link (Live Text, iOS 15 and later).
Tip: in Safari, touching and holding a QR code image on a web page also offers to open it, no screenshot needed.
On Android
- Take a screenshot: power and volume down together.
- Open it in Google Photos or your gallery.
- Tap Lens at the bottom: the link appears.
On phones with Circle to Search, long-press the navigation bar and circle the code, no screenshot required.
On a computer, or without those features
The QRTada online scanner reads a QR code from any image: drop the screenshot and the content shows up. Nothing is uploaded, decoding runs in your browser. On a computer, the Windows PC guide also covers built-in tools.
Common cases, direct fixes
- A payment link sent by text: before reading the code, make sure the sender really is your merchant. A real business can almost always send the link as plain text.
- A QR code in a PDF (invoice, appointment letter): zoom in inside the PDF reader, then take the screenshot. A code that is tiny in the screenshot will not read.
- A QR code on a website: on iPhone, touch and hold the image in Safari. On Android, Chrome offers "Search image with Google", which opens Lens.
- A pairing code (WhatsApp Web, a TV, a smartwatch): it is meant to be read by another device. Use that device; a screenshot will not help.
- A WiFi code received as an image: Android reads it from Google Photos and offers to connect; on iPhone, Live Text shows the password to type in.
When the screenshot will not scan
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Code too small in the screenshot | Zoom in on the code before capturing |
| Blurry or compressed by a messaging app | Ask for the original image or the link as text |
| Part of the code hidden by a notification | Retake the screenshot without the banner |
| Ticket blocks screenshots | Use the organizer's app, built for this |
Be careful with codes received by message
A QR code texted or emailed by an unknown sender deserves more suspicion than a plain link: it hides the address until the last moment and slips past some phishing filters. Read the domain before opening, and never type banking credentials on a page opened this way. The FTC and FBI have both warned about QR code scams in 2025.
Frequently asked questions
Can I scan a QR code without a second phone?
Yes: screenshot, then Photos on iPhone or Google Lens on Android.
What about on a computer?
Use an online scanner that reads images, like QRTada's, or the Windows Camera app with a webcam.
My ticket will not scan from a screenshot. Why?
Some tickets rotate or block screenshots. Show it from the official app.
Is it safe to open a QR code I received by text?
Only if you know the sender and the domain shown is the right one.
Should I keep the screenshot after scanning?
Not necessarily. If the code is an access pass (ticket, parking), keep it until the event; otherwise delete it to keep your gallery tidy.
Sources
Ready to print a QR code that never dies?
7 days for $0, card required, a reminder 2 days before the first charge, cancel in 2 clicks.