# How do you scan a QR code on your phone from that phone \[iPhone\] **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Tags:** computer-hardware\ **Created:** [February 18, 2026, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-scan-a-qr-code-on-your-phone-from-that-phone-iphone/1027805 "2026-02-18T20:54:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2026, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-scan-a-qr-code-on-your-phone-from-that-phone-iphone/1027805/1 "2026-02-18T20:54:38Z")
I’m frustrated. I decided to update my password for my Gmail account. I did it on my laptop computer. So now I get to work and try signing in on my phone. I enter my new password, and I get a screen that basically says ok, thanks but now scan this QR code to prove it’s you and a QR code appears on my screen. WTF? My real question here is: can I read this QR code on my phone screen with this same phone? Other questions I have are, If my password isn’t enough, what good is it? If someone steals my phone and somehow has my password, can’t they just scan the QR code too? This shit drives me crazy. Yes, I’m old and have trouble keeping up with technology. Now get off my lawn! ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2026, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-scan-a-qr-code-on-your-phone-from-that-phone-iphone/1027805/2 "2026-02-18T21:29:50Z")
Save it to photos and open Google Lens, tap the **All Photos** icon, and select the saved photo containing the QR code. ---
**Author:** ![zbuzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zbuzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zbuzz)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2026, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-scan-a-qr-code-on-your-phone-from-that-phone-iphone/1027805/3 "2026-02-19T03:02:16Z")
You should be able to long press (tap and hold) on the QR code itself and then tap “Open” in the menu that pops up. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2026, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-scan-a-qr-code-on-your-phone-from-that-phone-iphone/1027805/4 "2026-02-19T11:24:28Z")
That’s something we have to remind our clients occasionally. You don’t want to put QR codes on anything that’s only going to be viewed online. Print ads and PPT presentations, knock yourselves out. One of our Asian copy writers showed an analysis of how southeast Asians use the Internet. There’s four times as many Smartphone users as PC users because a) it’s cheaper, b) they spend a lot of time commuting, and c) they prefer scanning QR codes for instant results. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2026, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-scan-a-qr-code-on-your-phone-from-that-phone-iphone/1027805/5 "2026-02-19T12:35:54Z")
Thanks! I’ve always grumbled, opened the same app on my laptop (mail, text, whatever) and than scanned it with my phone. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2026, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-scan-a-qr-code-on-your-phone-from-that-phone-iphone/1027805/6 "2026-02-19T16:33:39Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > Save it to photos and open Google Lens, tap the **All Photos** icon, and select the saved photo containing the QR code. Can you elaborate? I saved it to photos, opened in google lens and it gave me this very long string of numbers - none of which were my password. Now what? When I get back to that page it generates a new QR code. > [@zbuzz](#): > > You should be able to long press (tap and hold) on the QR code itself and then tap “Open” in the menu that pops up. Thanks but but long press does nothing ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2026, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-scan-a-qr-code-on-your-phone-from-that-phone-iphone/1027805/7 "2026-02-19T16:42:19Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > Can you elaborate? I saved it to photos, opened in google lens and it gave me this very long string of numbers - none of which were my password All a QR code does is send you to a webpage. Tapping it in Google Lens should have taken you there.Can you copy the string of numbers and paste it into a browser? ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2026, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-scan-a-qr-code-on-your-phone-from-that-phone-iphone/1027805/8 "2026-02-19T17:02:14Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > All a QR code does is send you to a webpage. Not necessarily. QR codes may contain a URL, contact info, a WiFi password, or an eSIM identity. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2026, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-scan-a-qr-code-on-your-phone-from-that-phone-iphone/1027805/9 "2026-02-19T17:04:34Z")
I didn’t know that. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2026, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-scan-a-qr-code-on-your-phone-from-that-phone-iphone/1027805/10 "2026-02-19T17:09:55Z")
Yeah, a QR code is usually used to hold a URL, but it can conceivably have any sort of information in it. I remember around a decade ago when they were still a novelty, people were putting all kinds of things in them; contact info, a short story, etc. Over time people realized that it makes more sense to put a URL in them, and then the web site can have all kinds of content on it, so that has become the most common use for them (and when you see random QR codes on things, you should expect them to be URLs). But they can say just about anything. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2026, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-scan-a-qr-code-on-your-phone-from-that-phone-iphone/1027805/11 "2026-02-19T17:11:31Z")
Can you use two mirrors? ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2026, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-scan-a-qr-code-on-your-phone-from-that-phone-iphone/1027805/12 "2026-02-19T17:12:16Z")
Hmm, intriguing idea. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2026, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-scan-a-qr-code-on-your-phone-from-that-phone-iphone/1027805/13 "2026-02-19T17:37:48Z")
Wouldn’t the camera take over the screen? ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2026, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-scan-a-qr-code-on-your-phone-from-that-phone-iphone/1027805/14 "2026-02-19T17:51:37Z")
On my iPhone, there is a little bubble in the bottom-left corner showing the most recent picture I took. I found a screenshot of the app online where you can see it, again, it’s on the bottom-left corner. [![](https://i.redd.it/zvfub40xkjea1.jpg) ](https://i.redd.it/zvfub40xkjea1.jpg) So, I guess you’d still see a tiny version of the QR code; you _might_ be able to zoom in on it enough for the phone to pick it up. ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2026, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-scan-a-qr-code-on-your-phone-from-that-phone-iphone/1027805/15 "2026-02-19T21:35:48Z")
Here is a simple step by step video (less than 2 min long) that seems to use a different ordering of the steps to use google lens. [How to Scan a QR Code ON Your Phone (No Extra Device Needed) - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BcafdTeSHA&t=110s) ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2026, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-scan-a-qr-code-on-your-phone-from-that-phone-iphone/1027805/16 "2026-02-19T21:57:50Z")
Thank you, I appreciate the link, however… Apparently whatever is on the QR code is required for verification. So once I follow the instructions on that video and get that “info”, then go back to the verification screen, it generates a new QR code. It does that every time I leave the verification page and return. ---
**Author:** ![phs3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8491ac/32.png) [@phs3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phs3)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2026, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-scan-a-qr-code-on-your-phone-from-that-phone-iphone/1027805/17 "2026-02-19T22:38:39Z")
Tsk. You just take a screenshot, email that to yourself, go to a PC or Mac, print the email\*, and then scan the QR code from the printout! Easy! Srsly, though, I’ve seen this scenario and SMH over people [whoever created the QR code, not OP!] not thinking things through. \*Or perhaps even print it directly from your phone, depending on capabilities etc. ---
**Author:** ![zbuzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zbuzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zbuzz)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2026, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-scan-a-qr-code-on-your-phone-from-that-phone-iphone/1027805/18 "2026-02-20T02:57:49Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > Thanks but but long press does nothing Are you running iOS 15 or later? You can take a screenshot of the code, then open it in the Photos app and try the same long press on it. ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2026, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-scan-a-qr-code-on-your-phone-from-that-phone-iphone/1027805/19 "2026-02-20T03:27:05Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > it gave me this very long string of numbers If it’s just a long string of numbers, and not a URL, then you probably need to scan the QR code in a very specific app. I see this for security things, like scanning a QR code on the Google messages website with the Google messages app in order to login to Google messages. I’ve also seen this with Steam desktop and the Steam phone app, or when logging into Netflix on a TV. If that’s the case, then you’ve probably somehow ended up at the desktop gmail site, or something, where it thinks you’ll have a phone also logged into that Google account to use to verify it’s you. Usually there will be something to click that says “try another method to authenticate” or something like that, and it will send you a text. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2026, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-scan-a-qr-code-on-your-phone-from-that-phone-iphone/1027805/20 "2026-03-17T01:52:27Z")
I would argue you _can_ use a QR code, as long as it’s not the only method. At the very least, make them clickable. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-scan-a-qr-code-on-your-phone-from-that-phone-iphone/1027805.md?page=2)