You don't need another phone to scan a QR code on your phone. We'll show you how to do it.
Do you need to scan a QR code on your phone screen and think you need another phone? That's a common misconception. In fact, you don't need another device or any assistance. Your phone is capable of reading QR codes without needing an external camera.
We'll show you the easiest, fastest, and most effective ways, for both Android and iPhone devices, to scan any QR code directly from your phone in seconds. Forget the hassle: you'll find the solution in a few simple steps.
How to scan a QR code on your mobile phone screen
To read a QR code on your phone, all you need is the Google Lens app. Here's a detailed, step-by-step guide on how to use it.
On most Android devices, Google Lens comes built-in, and you can use it in both the gallery app and the browser.
- Open the app or page that contains the QR code, then take a screenshot (usually by pressing the volume down button + the play button).
- Open the Google Photos app (which has a colorful windmill icon).
Find the screenshot you just took and open it.
- Click on the three vertical dots icon (⁝) in the upper right corner.
Choose Google Lens.
The phone will scan the image for one second. A box will appear above the QR code, and in the center of it will be a button containing a link or action (such as "Website"). Tap this button to go to the destination.
By the way, when a QR code contains a Wi-Fi network, Google Lens will show you a button that says "Join network." And if it's a contact, it will let you save it directly to your address book without having to type any information.