How to scan a QR code from a photo or screenshot
Sometimes the QR code is already on your screen — in a screenshot, a saved image, or a message someone sent you. You can't point your camera at your own screen, but you can still read it.
From a saved photo with Scan QR Code Master
- Save the image to your Photos (screenshot it, or long-press and save it from Messages or the web).
- Open Scan QR Code Master and choose the option to scan from your photo library.
- Pick the image that contains the QR code.
- The app reads the code and shows you the link or content to open, copy, or share.
On iPhone with Live Text
iOS can also detect a QR code inside a photo: open the image in the Photos app, and if a code is recognized a small icon appears that you can tap to act on it. This works for many standard QR codes but not for barcodes or harder-to-read images — a dedicated scanner is the reliable option.
FAQ
- Can I scan a QR code that's on the same phone's screen?
- Not with the camera — you can't point it at its own screen. Instead, screenshot the code and scan the screenshot from your photo library with Scan QR Code Master, or use iOS's built-in image detection in the Photos app.
- How do I scan a QR code someone texted me?
- Save the image to your Photos, then open Scan QR Code Master and scan it from your library. The app reads the code out of the picture just like a live scan.
Scan and create QR codes in a tap
Scan QR Code Master is a free, ad-free QR and barcode scanner and generator for iPhone, iPad, and Mac — with history and one-tap sharing.
Download on the App Store