Can I scan a QR code from a screenshot or photo?

Yes. On iPhone, open the photo and touch and hold the code. On Android, open the photo in Google Photos and tap Lens. Or upload the screenshot to susQR.com, which also checks whether the link is safe.

How do I scan a QR code that's on my own phone screen?

Take a screenshot, then scan the screenshot: touch and hold it in Photos on iPhone, use Google Lens on Android, or upload it to susQR.com.

How to Scan a QR Code

Q: Do I need an app to scan a QR code?

No. iPhones and almost all Android phones from the last few years scan QR codes with the built-in Camera app. Point the camera at the code and tap the link that appears.

Q: Why won't my phone scan a QR code?

The most common reasons are being too close or too far, glare or low light, a code that is damaged or printed too small, or QR scanning being switched off in camera settings. Move back a little, tilt the phone to avoid glare, and check that code scanning is on (iPhone: Settings > Camera > Scan QR Codes).

Q: Can I scan a QR code on a computer?

Yes. In Chrome, right-click the code and choose Search with Google Lens, or take a screenshot and upload it to susQR.com, which shows where the link goes and whether it's safe.

Q: Is it safe to scan any QR code?

Scanning itself is harmless. The risk is opening the link: fake QR codes on parking meters, in texts about unpaid tolls, and in emails lead to pages that steal passwords or card numbers. For any code you didn't expect, check it with a QR safety scanner before opening it.

On an iPhone, Android, or Samsung phone, from a screenshot, or on a computer

Last updated: September 2026 · By the susQR team · 6 min read

Quick answer: Open your phone's Camera app, point it at the QR code so the whole square is on screen, and tap the link that pops up. No app needed on iPhone or modern Android. If the code is in a screenshot or on your own screen, scan the picture instead. And for any code you didn't expect (parking meters, gas pumps, texts, emails), check it with susQR first: your camera opens links without checking whether they're safe.

📋 In this guide

Scan a QR code on an iPhone
Scan a QR code on Android
Scan a QR code on a Samsung Galaxy
Scan a QR code from a screenshot or photo
Scan a QR code on a computer
When a QR code won't scan
The one thing your camera doesn't do
Scan it the safe way with susQR
Questions

Scan a QR code on an iPhone

Every iPhone running iOS 11 or later reads QR codes with the regular Camera app.

Open Camera and make sure you're using the back camera in Photo mode.
Point it at the code from about 6 to 12 inches (15–30 cm) away, so the whole square fits on the screen. You don't press the shutter.
A small yellow link button appears showing the website name. Read it.
Tap the yellow button to open the link in Safari.

Faster: the Code Scanner button

iPhones also have a dedicated Code Scanner. Swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center and tap the QR-code icon. If it isn't there, add it: on iOS 18 and later, touch and hold an empty spot in Control Center and tap Add a Control; on older versions, go to Settings → Control Center.

Nothing happens? Go to Settings → Camera and turn on Scan QR Codes (on some versions it's called Scan Detected Text or sits under the camera's scanning options).

Scan a QR code on Android

Most Android phones sold in the last few years, including Google Pixel, Motorola, and OnePlus, read QR codes straight from the Camera app.

Open the Camera app and point it at the code.
Hold steady for a second until a link or a small QR icon appears on screen.
Tap it to open the link.

If your camera doesn't react: Google Lens

Open the Google app (or Chrome's search bar) and tap the Lens camera icon, then point it at the code and tap the link Lens finds. Many phones also have a Scan QR code tile in Quick Settings: swipe down twice from the top of the screen and look for it, or tap the pencil icon to add it.

Scan a QR code on a Samsung Galaxy

Open Camera and point it at the code; a link pops up at the bottom of the screen.
Tap the link to open it.

No pop-up? In the Camera app, tap the gear icon and switch on Scan QR codes. You can also swipe down twice from the top of the screen and tap Scan QR code in the quick panel.

Scan a QR code from a screenshot or photo

This is the one that trips people up: you can't point your camera at your own screen. If a QR code arrives in a text, an email, or a web page on the same phone, save it first, then scan the picture.

Take a screenshot (iPhone: side button + volume up; most Android phones: power + volume down).
iPhone: open the screenshot in Photos and touch and hold the QR code. A link option appears.
Android: open it in Google Photos and tap Lens, then tap the link Lens finds.
Or skip the menus: upload the screenshot to susQR.com. It reads the code and tells you whether the link is safe in the same step.

Codes that arrive by text or email deserve extra caution: the wave of fake traffic-ticket and toll texts uses exactly this trick, a QR code image instead of a link, to slip past spam filters.

Scan a QR code on a computer

QR code on a web page (Chrome): right-click the code and choose Search image with Google Lens. The link appears in the side panel.
QR code in a PDF or email: take a screenshot (Windows: Win+Shift+S; Mac: Cmd+Shift+4), then drop it onto susQR.com or paste it with Ctrl/Cmd+V.
QR code on paper: the phone is easier, but susQR's camera scanner also works with a laptop webcam.

When a QR code won't scan

Move back a littleToo close is the most common problem. The whole code, plus a little white border, should fit on screen.

Tilt to kill the glareShiny menus, laminated signs, and screens reflect light across the code. Change the angle slightly.

Add lightIn a dim restaurant or parking garage, turn on the flashlight or move closer to a light.

Hold still for a secondGive the camera time to focus. On newer iPhones, very close codes can look blurry; pull back and let it refocus.

Check scanning is oniPhone: Settings → Camera → Scan QR Codes. Samsung: Camera → gear icon → Scan QR codes.

Use a photo insteadTake a normal photo of the code, then scan the photo as described above, or upload it to susQR.

If a code still won't read, it may be damaged, printed too small, or not a QR code at all (barcodes on products are a different format).

The one thing your phone's camera doesn't do

Your camera is excellent at reading QR codes. What it doesn't do is check them. It shows a short preview of the link and opens it the moment you tap. That's fine for a code you trust, like your own Wi-Fi or the menu your server just handed you. It's a real risk for the rest:

The preview can mislead. It shows only part of the address, so a lookalike like paypa1-secure.com or a harmless-looking bit.ly link doesn't stand out.
You can't see where it really goes. Many links bounce through several sites before landing somewhere else entirely.
No safety check happens. The camera doesn't know that a site was created last week, is on a phishing blocklist, or has been flagged by security companies.
Fake codes look exactly like real ones. Scammers stick their own codes over the real ones on parking meters, gas pumps, and EV chargers. In September 2026 the FTC issued a fresh warning about exactly this.

More detail: susQR vs. your phone camera and how to safely scan a QR code.

Scan it the safe way with susQR

susQR reads the code for you, opens the link somewhere safe instead of on your phone, and gives you a plain answer before anything loads. It's free, runs in your browser, and there's nothing to install.

Go to susQR.com on your phone or computer. Tip: add it to your home screen so it's one tap away next time.
Tap "Scan with Camera" and point at the code. The scanner fills the screen, locks on by itself, and you can tap the code to focus. Or upload a photo or screenshot of it.
Read the answer. In about a second you get a clear verdict. If it's safe, tap Open. If not, susQR tells you why and doesn't give you a button to open it.

Scan a QR code with susQR →

Free · no app · no account · photos deleted after 24 hours

Phone camera vs. susQR

	Phone camera	susQR
Reads the QR code	✅ Yes	✅ Yes, from the camera, a photo, or a screenshot
Shows the real destination	⚠️ A short preview only	✅ The final website, after following every redirect
Checks with security companies	❌ No	✅ 90+ antivirus and reputation services
Checks phishing and malware blocklists	❌ No	✅ Google Safe Browsing, PhishTank, URLhaus, Cloudflare and Quad9 filters
Spots brand-new scam websites	❌ No	✅ Looks up how old the website is
Shows what the page looks like first	❌ No	✅ Screenshot from a safe, isolated test visit
Opens the link on your phone	Immediately when tapped	Only after you see the verdict and choose to
Cost	Free	Free

Use the camera for codes you trust. Use susQR for anything you didn't expect: stickers on meters and pumps, flyers, packages you didn't order, and any QR code that arrives by text or email.

Questions

Do I need an app to scan a QR code?

No. iPhones and almost all recent Android phones scan QR codes with the built-in Camera app. susQR also works without an app, in any browser.

Why won't my phone scan a QR code?

Usually you're too close, there's glare, the light is poor, or scanning is switched off in camera settings. See the fix list above.

Can I scan a QR code from a screenshot?

Yes. On iPhone, touch and hold the code in Photos. On Android, use Lens in Google Photos. Or upload the screenshot to susQR, which also checks the link.

How do I scan a QR code that's on my own phone?

Take a screenshot and scan the screenshot. You can't point a camera at its own screen.

Can I scan a QR code on a computer?

Yes. In Chrome, right-click the code and choose Search image with Google Lens, or screenshot it and paste it into susQR.com.

Is it safe to scan any QR code?

Scanning is harmless; opening the link is where the risk is. For anything you didn't expect, check it first. Is this QR code safe? explains what to look for.