4 Easy Ways to Scan a QR Code from Pictures on Your Phone

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Easily scan a QR code from an image saved to your phone

Written by Travis Boylls

Last Updated: June 17, 2024 Fact Checked

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Using Google Photos

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Using the Photos app on iPhone and iPad

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Using Google Lens on Android

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Using Qrafter on iPhone and iPad

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Video

If you have an image of a QR code saved to your phone, you may be wondering how to scan it without using a separate device. Luckily, both Google Photos and the Photos app on iPhone and iPad have the ability to scan QR codes. You can also use third-party apps to scan QR codes of images on your phone. This wikiHow article teaches you how to scan QR codes that are saved to your phone.

Quick Steps

Open the Google Photos app (make sure your photos are synced).
Tap the photo with the QR code.
Tap the ‘’’Lens’’’ icon at the bottom of the screen.
Tap one of the QR code options displayed at the bottom of the screen.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Using Google Photos

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1
Download Google Photos, if needed. Google Photos comes pre-installed on most Android devices. You can download it from the App Store on iPhone and iPad It’s also available from the Google Play Store if you don't have it on your Android device. ^{[1]
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- You can find the search feature in the App Store by taping the ‘’’Search’’’ tab at the bottom of your screen. Tap GET to download and install the app.^{[2]
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Open Google Photos. This app icon looks like a red, yellow, green, and blue pinwheel. You can find it on one of your Home screens or Apps menu.
- If prompted, log in using the email address and password associated with your Google account.
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Tap a photo with a QR code. This will display the photo in full-screen.
- If you don't see your photo gallery, make sure you have “Back up & sync” enabled. To enable it, tap your profile icon, followed by ‘’’Photo Settings’’’. Then tap ‘’’Backup’’’. Ensure the toggle switch next to “Backup” is enabled.
It's the camera lens icon that you'll see to the left of the trashcan icon at the bottom of your screen.^{[3]
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You'll see the QR details display at the bottom of the screen. Depending on the information on the QR Code, you might be able to call the number listed or open the website in a browser or relevant app. You can also copy the URL or share it.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Using the Photos app on iPhone and iPad

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It has an icon that resembles a colorful pinwheel. Tap the |Photos app icon on your Home screen to open the Photos app.
You will see a list of all your photos. Tap the photo that has a QR code to open it.
It's the icon that resembles a square with lines in the middle. It appears in the lower-right corner of the image once the QR code is detected.
You will be offered the option of opening the URL in the appropriate app, be it Safari, YouTube, etc. You can also copy the URL.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Using Google Lens on Android

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Download the Google Lens app. You can downlaod it for free from the Google Play Store. Search "Google Lens" in the search field (which is located at the top of the page in the Google Play Store) and download and install it.
- Google Lens is not available for iPhone and iPad.
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Open Google Lens. The Google Lens app has an icon that looks like a red, yellow, blue, and green outline of a camera lens that you can find on one of your Home screens, in the app drawer, or by searching.
- If prompted, log in using the email address and password associated with your Google account.
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Tap a photo with a QR code. You'll be able to browse through your files (including external storage like Google Drive) to find your image with the QR code.
- If you don’t see your images on-screen, tap the icon with your recent images in the lower-left corner.
You'll see the QR details display at the bottom of the screen. Depending on the information on the QR Code, you might be able to call the number listed or open the website in a browser or appropriate app. You can also copy the URL or share it.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Using Qrafter on iPhone and iPad

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1
Get Qrafter or Qrafter Pro. It’s available from the App Store on iPhone and iPad. They are both identical apps, but Qrafter is free with ads, while Qrafter Pro costs about $29.99.^{[4]
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- Tap GET or the price next to the app's title to initiate the download and installation process.
This app icon features a small QR code with a red (Pro) or blue background that you'll find on one of your Home screens.
It’s the large button in the center at the top of the page.
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Tap the photo with your QR code. You'll see a list of all your photo albums, such as recent.
- If you're using the free version of Qrafter, you'll most likely get an ad at this point in the process. Close it out to continue.
You’ll see a list of options ether to the left or at the bottom of the screen. You can open the URL, copy it, encrypt it, share it, or view the raw data. You can also tap your default web browser at the bottom to open it in a web browser..^{[6]
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