QRCoderScan from an image
Scan a QR Code From a Screenshot or Photo
The QR code you need is often already on your phone — in a chat, an email, a PDF ticket or a web page. You cannot point your camera at your own screen, but you can scan the image directly.
Three ways to scan a code that is on your phone
1. Import a screenshot or photo
- Take a screenshot of the code (usually Power + Volume down).
- Open QRCoder and choose to scan an image.
- Pick the screenshot. QRCoder finds the code in the picture and shows the result.
2. Share the image to QRCoder
From your gallery, a chat or a file app, tap Share and choose QRCoder. The image is scanned directly — no need to save it or switch apps first. You can also share text or a link to QRCoder to turn it into a QR code.
3. Crop first when a page is busy
If the screenshot contains several codes or a lot of other graphics, crop it around the code you want. The scanner will read the right one first time.
Codes on another screen
For a code on a laptop, TV or kiosk, use the camera as normal. A few tips help with screens:
- Tilt slightly to avoid reflections and the moiré pattern screens create.
- Move back — codes on large monitors often scan better from 30–50 cm.
- Turn screen brightness up on the display showing the code, and turn off the flashlight: it adds glare on glossy screens.
- If it still fails, take a photo and import it.
What you can scan from an image
QRCoder reads QR codes and common barcodes: Data Matrix, Aztec (often on train and plane tickets), PDF417 (boarding passes, some ID cards), EAN and UPC product codes, Code 39, Code 93, Code 128, Codabar and ITF. Results can be links, Wi-Fi details, contacts, calendar events, phone numbers, SMS, email addresses, locations or plain text.
Screenshots of tickets and passes are sensitive. A boarding pass or event ticket code can contain your name and booking reference. Delete screenshots you no longer need and avoid posting them online.
Before you act on the result
A code from a message or email deserves the same care as one on a sticker. QRCoder shows the domain and full address of a link, with local warnings for suspicious links, before anything opens. Read our guide to checking a QR link for what to look for.
Privacy
Image scanning happens on the device. QRCoder needs camera permission only for camera scanning; importing an image does not require it. No account is required and scan history stays on your phone.
Frequently asked questions
How do I scan a QR code on my own phone screen?
Take a screenshot, open QRCoder and choose to scan an image, or share the screenshot to QRCoder from your gallery or chat app.
Do I need camera permission to scan a screenshot?
No. Camera permission is only needed for scanning with the camera. Importing a photo or screenshot works without it.
Why won't a QR code on my laptop screen scan?
Glare and moiré patterns are the usual cause. Tilt the phone, step back a little, increase the screen's brightness, or take a photo and import it.
How this article was created
This article was drafted with the help of artificial intelligence and edited against the app's published feature list. The independent developer is responsible for publication and accepts correction reports. Verify health, safety, legal, financial and official requirements with a primary source or qualified professional.
Questions and corrections: brightwaveapp@gmail.com. Legal and privacy information.