How to Scan a QR Code inside Phone without Using Another Phone?

QR codes are frequently shared in digital formats, like on websites, inside apps, or through screenshots. You might see a promotion on social media, receive a discount code from a friend, or get an event ticket emailed to you as a QR code image. In all these cases, the code exists on your phone, so you may wonder: “How do I scan a QR code without using a second device?”

I’ll walk you through each method in detail, and provide my direct insights so you can confidently say goodbye to the days of borrowing someone else’s phone to read a QR code.

Why Scan a QR Code on Your Own Phone?

Common Reasons:

• A friend sends you a screenshot of a ticket or coupon.
• You save an online QR code for later use.
• You spot a QR code inside an app or website, but you can’t physically point your camera at it.

Key Concept:

• Instead of using your phone’s camera to scan another screen, you’ll be using apps or tools that can interpret a code already stored on your phone.

5 Methods to Scan a QR Code Inside a Phone Without Using Another Phone

Method 1: Use an Online QR Code Reader (Works for Both Android & iPhone)

When this works: This is ideal if you don’t want to install anything new and just need a quick way to decode a single QR code image or screenshot. 

You simply upload the image to a trusted website, and it tells you what the code says or where it leads.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Save the QR Code Image: If you found a code on a webpage, take a screenshot. If someone sent you a code in a chat, download or save that image to your phone.
2. Open Your Web Browser: iPhone users: Safari or Chrome / Android users: Chrome, Firefox, or any default browser.
3. Go to a Reliable QR Reader Website: For instance, QRCodeDynamic’s “QR Code Reader.” You want to choose a reputable site to protect your data.

4. Tap “Upload” or “Choose File”: Navigate to where you stored the screenshot or image (e.g., your Gallery or Photos app). Select the file containing the QR code.

5. Wait for the Site to Decode the Code: Usually takes a few seconds. You’ll see the code’s text, URL, or action displayed on-screen.

6. Interact with the Decoded Data: Copy the QR code data to open it in new tab.

Method 2: Press-and-Hold on the QR Code in Your Gallery (If Supported)

When this works: Some Android phones (for example, certain Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo, or OnePlus models) offer a “press and hold” or “tap and hold” gesture in the gallery app. This gesture can trigger a built-in AI or scanning function that reads the QR code instantly.

Step-by-Step:

1. Open Your Gallery: Locate the screenshot containing the QR code.
2. Tap (or Press and Hold) on the QR Code Area: On some phones, a small popup appears with the link or data.

3. Select the Action: You might see “Open link,” “Copy text,” or similar.
4. Done: 🎉 No extra apps needed if your phone supports this feature.

Note: This method won’t work on all Android phones. If pressing/holding on the code does nothing, move on to the next methods.

Method 3: Use the Google Lens App Directly (Most Reliable)

When this works: While many guides suggest using Google Photos, it can fail on certain Android builds. Installing and opening the official Google Lens app often provides a more direct approach to scanning codes from your phone’s screenshots.

Step-by-Step:

1. Install or Update Google Lens: Go to the Play Store, search for “Google Lens”, install or update if you already have it.

2. Open the Google Lens App: Launch Lens from your app drawer (it might appear as just “Lens” or “Google Lens”).
3. Tap the Photo Gallery Icon: Typically at the bottom-left or bottom-right corner of the Lens interface. This opens your phone’s images and screenshots.

4. Select the QR Code Screenshot: Lens will automatically scan the code once the image is loaded.

5. View the Link/Data: A popup or banner appears with the decoded link. 

Method 3: Use Google Photos If It Works on Your Device

When this works: On some Android phones, opening a screenshot in Google Photos app and tapping the Lens icon at the bottom works perfectly. On others, it doesn’t detect the QR code at all. If you’ve tried it and it fails, jump to Method 2 or use your phone’s built-in gallery approach (Method 1).

Step-by-Step (if it does work)

1. Open Google Photos and find your screenshot.

2. Tap the Screenshot to view full-screen.
3. Tap the Lens Icon (usually at the bottom).

4. Wait while Lens tries to detect the code.
5. Open the Link if it appears.

If Google Photos fails to detect your code, install and open the Google Lens app (Method 2) or try the built-in “press-and-hold” approach in your gallery (Method 1).

Method 4: Use the Google App (For Android & iPhone)

When this works: If you don’t use Google Photos or want a quick alternative, the Google app itself has a built-in Lens feature to scan images stored on your phone.

Step-by-Step:

1. Install or Open the Google App: iPhone: Get it from the App Store. / Android: Usually pre-installed.
2. Tap the Camera (Lens) Icon: It’s near the search bar on the main Google App screen.

3. Select “Import” or Gallery View: You’ll see a small photo thumbnail icon, usually in the bottom-left or bottom-right corner. Tap it to open your phone’s photo library.
4. Choose the QR Code Image: Pick the screenshot or saved image containing the code.

5. Wait for Automatic Detection: The app will scan the code and present the recognized link or text.
6. Open or Copy: Tap to open in your browser or copy the data for future use.

Method 5: Use iPhone’s Live Text or Visual Lookup (iOS 15+)

When this works: While iPhone’s built-in camera is great for physical QR codes, scanning an internal image can be hit-or-miss. iOS 15 introduced Live Text, which can sometimes detect codes in saved images.

Step-by-Step:

1. Open the Photos App: Find the screenshot or image that shows the QR code.
2. Tap the “Info (i)” or Sparkle Icon: Depending on your iOS version, you might see an “i” icon with “stars” around it, indicating “Visual Lookup.” If the phone recognizes the code, a small link or pop-up might appear.
3. Tap the Recognized QR Code: If iOS successfully identifies the code, you’ll see “Open Link” or something similar.
4. What to Do If Not Detected: Try cropping the photo around the QR code. Increase the brightness or contrast slightly. Move on to a third-party scanner if Live Text still doesn’t pick it up.

Now that you know how to scan a QR code, you might be interested in creating one!

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Before You Leave…

So there you have it! Scanning QR codes has never been easier, thanks to the built-in camera features of our smartphones. With just a few simple steps, you can quickly and easily access information, deals, and more.

And the best part is, you don't even need to download any extra apps.

So go ahead and give it a try next time you come across a QR code.

They're everywhere these days, from product packaging to event tickets, and they're a convenient way to access information quickly and easily without having to type in a website or search for something manually. If you have encoding issues on your qr code when you scan, you may check the guide to fix qr encoding.

So happy scanning, and enjoy the convenience of QR codes!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a QR Code?

QR stands for "Quick Response" because it can be quickly scanned with a smartphone camera, and then your phone will take you to a website, show you some information, or do something else, depending on what the QR code was programmed to do.

Think of it like a digital barcode that stores information that can be read by your phone. You can find QR codes on products in stores, on posters, in magazines, and in many other places.

It's a convenient way to access information quickly and easily without having to type in a website or search for something manually.

2. How do I Scan a QR Code with WhatsApp?

WhatsApp allows you to scan other people’s WhatsApp QR codes to let you add each other easily. For this,

• Open WhatsApp on your phone, and tap the "More options" button (three dots in the top right corner).
• Select "Settings" from the options menu, and tap the QR icon located next to your name.
• Select "Scan Code" from the options menu.
• Hold your phone's camera over the QR code to scan it.
• Tap "Add" to confirm and complete the action.

3. How to scan a QR Code sent via WhatsApp, Instagram, etc.?

1. Save the QR Code Image

• WhatsApp/Instagram: Open the image → Save to gallery (or screenshot if downloading is blocked).

2. Scan Using Built-In Tools

• Android: Use Google Lens (app or via Google Photos).
• iPhone: Use Live Text (iOS 15+ in Photos app) or the Google app’s Lens.
• All Phones: Upload the image to an online QR reader.

Check These Out!

• 9 Best Dynamic QR Code Generators with Comparison