A QR code already on your iPhone cannot be scanned by pointing that same phone’s camera at the screen. Fileso’s Scan QR Code tool reads codes from images, including a saved screenshot or photo, so you can inspect the encoded content directly.
Save a clear source image
Use the original image when available. Heavy compression, blur, or a code cropped too tightly can make decoding fail. Keep the complete square and its surrounding margin in view.
If a screenshot contains several codes, prepare an image that clearly identifies the one you intend to use. A label beside the code can help you confirm you selected the right source.
Decode it in Fileso
- Save the screenshot or photo to a supported input location.
- Open Tools → Scan QR Code.
- Select the image.
- Run recognition and inspect the decoded result.
- Copy or use the content only after checking what it contains.
The result may be a website address, plain text, or structured data. A decoded QR code is not automatically a web link, and visible text beside the code may describe something different from its payload.
When recognition fails
Try a higher-resolution source or crop away unrelated areas while preserving the entire code and its margin. Avoid using a photo taken at a steep angle if a direct screenshot is available.
OCR is a different operation: Image to Text can recognize printed words but is not a substitute for decoding the QR pattern itself. Renaming an image also has no effect on whether a code can be read.
Check the decoded destination
For a URL, read the domain and path before opening it. A code can encode a destination that differs from the surrounding advertisement or message. Decoding reveals the stored data; it does not verify that the destination is trustworthy or still available.
If you are creating a code for someone else, use Create QR Code and test its exported image with a separate scan. That catches cut-off margins, overly small display sizes, and unintended text before you distribute it.
Related guides
Ready to try it?
Fileso · File manager, PDF editor and powerful file tools
Free on the App Store