How to scan a QR code on a Mac
A Mac doesn't have a rear camera to point at a code, but you'll usually meet QR codes on a Mac as images — in an email, on a web page, or in a document. Here's how to read them.
From an image on your Mac
- Take a screenshot of the QR code (press Shift-Command-4 and drag over it) or save the image.
- Open Scan QR Code Master on your Mac and scan the code from the saved image.
- Open, copy, or share the result.
Using Continuity with your iPhone
Because Scan QR Code Master runs across Apple devices, you can also scan a physical code with your iPhone and pick up the result on your other devices. On the Mac itself, the image-based method above is the quickest way to read a code already on screen.
FAQ
- Can I scan a QR code that's displayed on my Mac?
- Yes — screenshot it, then read the screenshot with Scan QR Code Master. You can't point a camera at the same screen, so scanning the image is the way to do it.
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