How to Effortlessly Scan QR Codes from Photos: A Comprehensive Guide

QR codes, those ubiquitous black and white squares, have become an integral part of our daily lives. They’re used for everything from sharing website links and contact information to accessing menus and making payments. While scanning a live QR code is straightforward with most smartphone cameras, things can get a little trickier when you encounter a QR code embedded within a photograph. This article provides a comprehensive, step-by-step guide on how to scan QR codes from photos, covering various methods and devices. Whether you’re using an iPhone, an Android phone, or a computer, we’ve got you covered.

Why Scan QR Codes From Photos?

Before we delve into the ‘how,’ let’s understand the ‘why.’ You might need to scan a QR code from a photo in several situations:

• Screenshots: You’ve taken a screenshot of a presentation or an online flyer containing a QR code.
• Images on Websites: You’ve found a QR code embedded within an image on a website or social media platform.
• Saved Photos: You have a photo in your gallery that contains a QR code you need to access.
• Printed Materials (Scanned): You’ve scanned a printed document with a QR code and need to access its content.
• Archived Content: You may find an older photo where a QR was important but the physical artifact isn’t present anymore.

Regardless of the scenario, the ability to extract information from a QR code in a photo is a valuable skill. Let’s explore how to do it efficiently.

Scanning QR Codes from Photos on iPhone

Apple has made QR code scanning incredibly seamless. Here’s how you can scan QR codes from photos on your iPhone:

Method 1: Using the Photos App (iOS 15 and Later)

Starting with iOS 15, the Photos app has a built-in feature for scanning QR codes directly from images. This is the easiest method for most users.

Steps:

1. Open the Photos App: Locate and open the Photos app on your iPhone.
2. Select the Photo: Find the photo containing the QR code you want to scan and tap on it to open it.
3. Tap the ‘Text Scanner’ icon: Look at the bottom right of the image (sometimes top right depending on the UI), you’ll find a small icon that looks like a document with lines or a square. Tap it. This is the visual lookup or text scanner icon.
4. Tap the QR Code Link: The iPhone will highlight the QR code within the photo if it can identify it. After highlighting, tap on the highlighted link. This action will typically open a popup or small banner with the decoded information or link.
5. Access the Content: If the QR code was a website link, a Safari window will open with that website. If it’s contact information, you’ll be prompted to add a contact. If it’s other content, the appropriate app will be used (like sending you directly to a wifi setup screen or showing text).

Troubleshooting:

• If the icon doesn’t appear: Ensure your iPhone is updated to iOS 15 or later. Also, sometimes this feature may not work on heavily compressed or small images of QR codes.
• If the scan fails: Try cropping the image in the Photos app so that only the QR code is visible. If the QR code is very pixelated or blurry, it may not be readable.

Method 2: Using the Camera App (Image Selection)

While the dedicated Photos app method is most effective, this alternative method can sometimes be helpful especially if you have an older iOS version that doesn’t have direct photo scanning capability.

Steps:

1. Open the Camera App: Launch the Camera app on your iPhone.
2. Position the camera for scanning: The Camera app in the default ‘Photo’ mode will attempt to scan a real-time QR code in view, but we’ll use it to access photos instead.
3. Tap the image icon (in the lower left): Instead of using the live view, tap the image icon that’s next to the shutter button on the bottom left of the screen. This will open up your gallery.
4. Select the photo with the QR code: Navigate through your photo library and select the picture that contains the QR code you want to scan.
5. Hold steady: The camera app may struggle with this method, but position the image in the live camera view and move it slowly, as if the camera app was trying to use the picture as a live view.
6. Wait for the yellow frame: When the camera app detects the QR code within the photo, a yellow frame will appear around it. If the app detects the code, a small preview banner will appear.
7. Tap the Banner: Tap the link or other preview information that shows on the yellow banner, this will access the URL, contact information, or other action coded in the QR.

Troubleshooting:

• If the QR code isn’t recognized: Make sure your phone’s camera is clean. Ensure the QR code is clear and not obscured. Also ensure the photo is in a landscape orientation and not portrait.
• Adjust lighting: If there’s not enough light or if the image is too dark or bright, it might affect scanning.

Method 3: Using a Third-Party QR Code Scanner App

If the above methods don’t work or if you prefer a dedicated scanner, there are many third-party QR code scanner apps available on the App Store. Some popular options include:

• QR Reader by Scan: A simple and free QR code scanner.
• iScanner: Offers more than just QR code scanning, including document scanning and editing.
• NeoReader: A versatile app that can scan various barcode types, including QR codes.

Steps:

1. Download and Install: Download and install your chosen QR code scanner app from the App Store.
2. Open the App: Launch the installed QR code scanner app.
3. Choose Photo from Gallery/Import Option: Most QR code reader apps have an import or choose from gallery option. Look for an icon (often a picture icon or gallery icon).
4. Select the Image: Navigate to the photo that contains the QR code and select it for scanning.
5. The App Will Decode the QR Code: The app will then scan the image you’ve selected and decode the QR code. The information will be displayed on your screen.
6. Tap to Open Content: Depending on the QR code content, you’ll be given the option to open the website, add a contact, etc.

Scanning QR Codes from Photos on Android

Android offers a variety of methods for scanning QR codes from photos. The specific steps might slightly vary depending on your Android device and software version. Here are a few methods:

Method 1: Using Google Lens

Google Lens is a powerful AI-powered image recognition tool integrated into many Android phones. It’s the primary way to easily scan QR codes from photos on Android.

Steps:

1. Open the Google App: Launch the Google app on your Android device. It usually has a multicoloured G logo.
2. Tap the Google Lens Icon: Locate and tap the Google Lens icon, usually a camera-shaped icon next to the search bar.
3. Switch to Images: Below the camera view, you’ll see an option to select an image. Tap this option ( it looks like a picture or gallery icon).
4. Choose the Photo: Choose the photo that contains the QR code you want to scan.
5. Google Lens Scans the QR Code: Google Lens will automatically detect and highlight the QR code within the image.
6. Tap the Popup/Link: After detection, it will provide a popup with a link, phone number, or any other information coded in the QR. Tap the link or popup.
7. Access the Content: Access the website or content associated with the QR code through the Google Lens interface.

Troubleshooting:

• If Google Lens doesn’t detect the QR code: Ensure you’re using the latest version of the Google app. Also, ensure that the image isn’t blurry and the lighting is good.
• Adjusting the image: Try cropping the image so that the QR code takes up a larger portion of the screen before rescanning using Google Lens.

Method 2: Using the Built-in Camera App (If Supported)

Some Android manufacturers, like Samsung and Xiaomi, include built-in QR code scanning functionality directly within their camera apps. The availability and steps may vary depending on your device. Here’s the common procedure:

Steps:

1. Open the Camera App: Open the Camera app on your phone.
2. Tap the Photo Option: In some cases, you may need to select an option to view your gallery before scanning.
3. Select the Photo: Open the photo with the QR Code that you wish to scan from the gallery.
4. Aim Camera at Image: The camera app may automatically try to scan the photo (as if it’s in the live view), or some phones require you to open the gallery view first and hold steady to let the camera scan the image.
5. Wait for Detection: The camera app will usually display a QR code icon, or a popup on screen to tell you that it’s detected a QR code
6. Tap the Preview: Tap the link that shows up on screen or the QR code icon itself to open the contents of the QR.

Troubleshooting:

• If your camera app doesn’t scan QR codes: Your device might not have built-in support. Use the Google Lens method, a dedicated app, or try the specific steps relevant to your phone manufacturer.
• Camera Focus Issues: Ensure the camera lens is clean and the lighting is good. Try adjusting zoom to get the QR in focus.

Method 3: Using a Dedicated QR Code Scanner App

Like iPhones, there are numerous free QR code scanning apps on the Google Play Store. Some of the popular and reliable apps include:

• QR Code Reader by Scan: Simple and reliable.
• Barcode Scanner by ZXing Team: A widely used, open-source scanner.
• QR & Barcode Scanner by Gamma Play: A highly rated and feature-rich option.

Steps:

1. Download and Install: Choose an app and download it from the Play Store.
2. Open the App: Launch the app.
3. Choose the gallery/import option: Most apps have a dedicated icon for browsing your photo gallery (or sometimes a menu option).
4. Select the Photo: Choose the photo that contains the QR code from your gallery.
5. App Scans and Decodes: The app will scan the QR and display the content on your screen
6. Tap the Content Link: A preview of the content or links will be displayed. Tap to access the decoded information.

Scanning QR Codes from Photos on a Computer

While scanning QR codes from photos is more common on phones, you can also do it on your computer. This is particularly helpful if the photo containing the QR code is already on your computer. This method utilizes online tools or browser-based solutions.

Method 1: Using Online QR Code Reader Websites

Several online websites provide QR code scanning functionality. These are useful when you have a QR code image saved on your computer. Here’s a simple process:

Steps:

1. Choose a Website: Some reputable websites to consider are webqr.com, onlineqrcodereader.com, or zxing.org.
2. Upload the Image: Most of these websites have a ‘Upload’ or similar button. Click on this button and choose the image file from your computer that contains the QR code.
3. Scanning: The website will analyze the image and scan the QR code, displaying the decoded information.
4. Copy or Use the Information: Copy the link, text, or other data decoded from the QR code.

Method 2: Using a Browser Extension

For convenience, consider using a browser extension if you often encounter QR codes in images while browsing the web. Some recommended browser extensions include:

• For Chrome: QR Code Reader (by Scan) or Simple QR Code Reader.
• For Firefox: QR Code Generator & Reader or QR Code Decoder.

Steps:

1. Install the Extension: Visit your browser’s extension store and install the QR code reader extension you’ve chosen.
2. Open the Image with the QR Code: Open the page that contains the photo (you may have to download the photo first).
3. Right-click the Image: Right-click on the image containing the QR code.
4. Select the QR code reading Option: In the context menu that pops up when you right-click, you’ll see an option from your browser extension (e.g. “Scan QR Code”)
5. View the Content: The browser extension will scan the image and display the decoded data within a pop-up or window.

Tips for Successful QR Code Scanning

To ensure successful scanning, keep these tips in mind:

• Good Lighting: Make sure the image is well-lit. Poor lighting can cause the QR code to be difficult to read.
• Clear Image: Ensure the QR code image isn’t blurry, heavily compressed, or pixelated. The clearer, the better.
• Crop the Image: If you’re struggling with the scanner picking up the QR code, try cropping the image so that only the QR code is visible.
• Adjust the Angle: Sometimes the scanner struggles with oblique angles. A straight on shot helps.
• Try Different Methods: If one method fails, try another. What works for one device or photo might not work for another.

Conclusion

Scanning QR codes from photos is a valuable skill to have in today’s world. With the built-in capabilities in smartphones and numerous free apps and online tools, you can easily access the information embedded within a photo’s QR code. Whether you’re using an iPhone, an Android, or a computer, the methods outlined in this guide will help you navigate through different scenarios and situations successfully. By mastering these techniques, you’ll be able to unlock the full potential of QR codes, enhancing your digital life and productivity.