How to Scan a QR Code From a Screenshot
Decode on-screen codes you can’t point a camera at.
Takes about 1 minuteUpdated May 2026
When a QR code appears on the same screen you would scan with, the camera is useless. The solution is to screenshot the code and decode the image. This works on every device and keeps everything private when you use an in-browser scanner.
Take a screenshot
Capture the QR code using your device’s screenshot shortcut (iPhone: Side + Volume Up; Android: Power + Volume Down; Windows: Win + Shift + S; Mac: Cmd + Shift + 4).
Open a browser scanner
Go to an online QR scanner that accepts images.
Paste or upload the screenshot
Paste with Ctrl/Cmd + V or upload the file. The decoded link appears instantly.
Try it now
Frequently asked questions
- Can I scan a QR code from a screenshot?
- Yes. Upload or paste the screenshot into a browser-based scanner and it decodes the code without using your camera.
- Is it private?
- With an in-browser scanner the screenshot is processed locally and never uploaded to a server.