• Scanning a QR code or barcode from phone screen?

    From Anssi Saari@anssi.saari@usenet.mail.kapsi.fi to comp.mobile.android on Fri Feb 27 14:50:34 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android


    I'm looking for an app that can scan or more importantly, decode a
    barcode or QR code. Not with the camera, from a picture or document or
    on screen of the phone. Best case, I'd like the app to grab a screenshot
    and if any code found then stuff it on the the clipboard, silently and
    without a fuss.

    Need is to scan the occasional barcode that I get via email, never mind
    the whys and wherefores.

    I've looked but I haven't found any apps that can do that, they usually
    want to scan with the camera. Which means, the libraries exist to find
    and decode barcodes and QR codes from an image but not the apps, I
    think. Or maybe I just haven't found it yet?

    On a lark, I tried to feed a screenshot of a barcode to Gemini. It's too
    clunky in practice even if it worked but Gemini couldn't make heads or
    tails out of it. It did try and it got the type of barcode right but the
    end results from its decoding attempts were just crap every time.
    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Maria Sophia@mariasophia@comprehension.com to comp.mobile.android on Fri Feb 27 11:56:25 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    Anssi Saari wrote:
    I'm looking for an app that can scan or more importantly, decode a
    barcode or QR code. Not with the camera, from a picture or document or
    on screen of the phone. Best case, I'd like the app to grab a screenshot
    and if any code found then stuff it on the the clipboard, silently and without a fuss.

    I'm confused by your description, but as you requested, I won't ask more.

    I'll just recommend you take a look at this recent thread & respond here.
    Newsgroups: comp.mobile.android
    Subject: PSA: Free ad-free Android QR code generator apps
    Date: Tue, 24 Feb 2026 09:39:31 -0600
    Message-ID: <10nkgnj$2r8p$1@nnrp.usenet.blueworldhosting.com>

    Most of the generators also scan, so maybe you can make use of one of them.
    If not, I won't delve further as I don't really understand the requirement.

    Someone else may be able to help you better'n I can.
    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Andy Burns@usenet@andyburns.uk to comp.mobile.android on Fri Feb 27 18:03:41 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    Maria Sophia wrote:

    Someone else may be able to help you better'n I can.

    One obvious way the O/P could do what he wants is with two phones, or a
    phone and a tablet, barcodes in general read well from screens when the brightness is cranked-up.

    Other than that, I suspect it will be a fruitless search for an app that
    can process a QR code from a screen capture, since it's a very
    non-typical use case ...


    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Richmond@dnomhcir@gmx.com to comp.mobile.android on Fri Feb 27 18:16:03 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    Anssi Saari <anssi.saari@usenet.mail.kapsi.fi> writes:

    I'm looking for an app that can scan or more importantly, decode a
    barcode or QR code. Not with the camera, from a picture or document or
    on screen of the phone. Best case, I'd like the app to grab a
    screenshot and if any code found then stuff it on the the clipboard,
    silently and without a fuss.

    Need is to scan the occasional barcode that I get via email, never
    mind the whys and wherefores.

    I've looked but I haven't found any apps that can do that, they
    usually want to scan with the camera. Which means, the libraries exist
    to find and decode barcodes and QR codes from an image but not the
    apps, I think. Or maybe I just haven't found it yet?

    On a lark, I tried to feed a screenshot of a barcode to Gemini. It's
    too clunky in practice even if it worked but Gemini couldn't make
    heads or tails out of it. It did try and it got the type of barcode
    right but the end results from its decoding attempts were just crap
    every time.

    If you open google lens from google chrome, it opens the camera, but
    there is also an option from there to open a screen shot (to the left of
    the search button). I am not going to try it though, as it will send
    that screenshot to google I think.
    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Jeff Layman@Jeff@invalid.invalid to comp.mobile.android on Fri Feb 27 18:22:12 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    On 27/02/2026 18:03, Andy Burns wrote:
    Maria Sophia wrote:

    Someone else may be able to help you better'n I can.

    One obvious way the O/P could do what he wants is with two phones, or a
    phone and a tablet, barcodes in general read well from screens when the brightness is cranked-up.

    I don't know anything about Android split-screen "windows" (or even if
    they can exist!). Would it be possible to have the email with the QR
    code on half the screen, and the front-facing camera with a QR scanner
    on the other half, and use a mirror to let the QR scanner see the QR
    code on the other half of the screen?
    --
    Jeff
    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Jeff Layman@Jeff@invalid.invalid to comp.mobile.android on Fri Feb 27 18:28:14 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    On 27/02/2026 18:22, Jeff Layman wrote:
    On 27/02/2026 18:03, Andy Burns wrote:
    Maria Sophia wrote:

    Someone else may be able to help you better'n I can.

    One obvious way the O/P could do what he wants is with two phones, or a
    phone and a tablet, barcodes in general read well from screens when the
    brightness is cranked-up.

    I don't know anything about Android split-screen "windows" (or even if
    they can exist!). Would it be possible to have the email with the QR
    code on half the screen, and the front-facing camera with a QR scanner
    on the other half, and use a mirror to let the QR scanner see the QR
    code on the other half of the screen?

    Answering my own question about split-screen apps... <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=any.splitscreen&hl=en_GB>
    --
    Jeff
    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Andy Burns@usenet@andyburns.uk to comp.mobile.android on Fri Feb 27 18:53:25 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    Jeff Layman wrote:

    I don't know anything about Android split-screen "windows" (or even if
    they can exist!). Would it be possible to have the email with the QR
    code on half the screen, and the front-facing camera with a QR scanner
    on the other half, and use a mirror to let the QR scanner see the QR
    code on the other half of the screen?
    My old tablet had Huawei's version of split screen on Android 9, which
    went flaky if I used it "too often", now I have a samsung tablet with
    Android 16 and split screen is reliable. But you'd need to hae a "flip" option to make a QR code readable in a mirror, and i suspect it'd be a faff. --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From mummycullen@mummycullen@gmail-dot-com.no-spam.invalid (MummyChunk) to comp.mobile.android on Fri Feb 27 12:31:17 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    Anssi Saari wrote:
    I'm looking for an app that can scan or more importantly, decode a
    barcode or QR code. Not with the camera, from a picture or document or
    on screen of the phone. Best case, I'd like the app to grab a screenshot
    and if any code found then stuff it on the the clipboard, silently and without a fuss.

    Need is to scan the occasional barcode that I get via email, never mind
    the whys and wherefores.

    I've looked but I haven't found any apps that can do that, they usually
    want to scan with the camera. Which means, the libraries exist to find
    and decode barcodes and QR codes from an image but not the apps, I
    think. Or maybe I just haven't found it yet?

    On a lark, I tried to feed a screenshot of a barcode to Gemini. It's too clunky in practice even if it worked but Gemini couldn't make heads or
    tails out of it. It did try and it got the type of barcode right but the
    end results from its decoding attempts were just crap every time.



    f your phone has that built in screen search thing (the one where you long press the nav bar or do the gesture that lets you search what's on your screen), try that first. On a lot of phones it will recognize a QR code that's already on screen and let you copy the result without doing the whole camera routine. It's not always consistent with 1D barcodes, but for QR it's usually decent.

    For a proper app, Binary Eye is the one I keep coming back to because it can decode from an image file, so the workflow is just screenshot the email, open the screenshot in the app, it decodes it, then copy. It's still a couple taps, but at least it's not "take a picture of your screen with your camera" level of silly.

    Getting it completely silent and automatic is the hard part because Android doesn't really let random apps grab your screen and do stuff to the clipboard without you initiating something. The closest you'll get is a quick settings tile or share target where you send the screenshot to the decoder and it copies the result.

    Also not surprised Gemini failed. Barcodes are annoyingly sensitive to scaling and compression, and screenshots often get resized just enough that the decode becomes flaky even if the bars look fine to your eyes. QR codes tend to survive that better than 1D codes.


    This is a response to the post seen at: http://www.jlaforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=701970130#701970130
    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Maria Sophia@mariasophia@comprehension.com to comp.mobile.android on Fri Feb 27 14:41:19 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    MummyChunk wrote:
    For a proper app, Binary Eye is the one I keep coming back to

    Oh, the OP wants to scan a barcode/qrcode from a screenshot on the same
    phone as the barcode/qrcode? Is that what his goal is after all?

    Maybe I didn't understand 'cuz can't Google Lens already do that?
    Open Google Photos (or your Gallery if it has Lens built in).
    Tap the screenshot containing the QR code.
    Tap the Google Lens icon.
    Lens will detect the QR code and show the link or action.
    *How to read a QR code from a screenshot*
    <https://qrcodereader.net/blog/read-qr-code-from-screenshot/>

    If the OP has a dislike for Google products, then maybe a search for Many
    QR apps that let him choose an image from your gallery instead of using the camera.

    I ran a really quick search for apps with options like
    "Scan from image" or
    "Import from gallery.

    This came up which claims to do what the OP wants it to do, I think.
    <https://github.com/wewewe718/QrAndBarcodeScanner>
    <https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.example.barcodescanner/>
    "SCAN FROM IMAGES
    Scan codes from image files or directly using the camera."

    This too. Although the Google Play Store link seems to be dead.
    <https://github.com/czlucius/code-scanner/blob/main/README.md>
    <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.czlucius.scan>

    Probably plenty of others... which the OP can easily test for the team.
    --
    I invest energy in composing Usenet posts because I care greatly about
    people getting full & complete information so we improve our knowledge.
    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Alan@nuh-uh@nope.com to comp.mobile.android on Fri Feb 27 12:59:47 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    On 2026-02-27 10:03, Andy Burns wrote:
    Maria Sophia wrote:

    Someone else may be able to help you better'n I can.

    One obvious way the O/P could do what he wants is with two phones, or a phone and a tablet, barcodes in general read well from screens when the brightness is cranked-up.

    Other than that, I suspect it will be a fruitless search for an app that
    can process a QR code from a screen capture, since it's a very non-
    typical use case ...



    You suspect completely incorrectly.

    The number of methods that exist for dealing with a QR code that already exists as a digital image on a device is very large.
    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From VanguardLH@V@nguard.LH to comp.mobile.android on Fri Feb 27 18:06:29 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    Anssi Saari <anssi.saari@usenet.mail.kapsi.fi> wrote:

    I'm looking for an app that can scan or more importantly, decode a
    barcode or QR code. Not with the camera, from a picture or document or
    on screen of the phone. Best case, I'd like the app to grab a screenshot
    and if any code found then stuff it on the the clipboard, silently and without a fuss.

    Need is to scan the occasional barcode that I get via email, never mind
    the whys and wherefores.

    I've looked but I haven't found any apps that can do that, they usually
    want to scan with the camera. Which means, the libraries exist to find
    and decode barcodes and QR codes from an image but not the apps, I
    think. Or maybe I just haven't found it yet?

    On a lark, I tried to feed a screenshot of a barcode to Gemini. It's too clunky in practice even if it worked but Gemini couldn't make heads or
    tails out of it. It did try and it got the type of barcode right but the
    end results from its decoding attempts were just crap every time.

    Sorry, but I forget which app it was at the Play Store that mentioned it
    could scan images in the Gallery. Seems you could take a screenshot,
    and have the scanner app look at the image in the Gallery. It was an
    app found searching on "qr scanner screen" at the Play store. Think it
    was the first one, but look in the app descriptions to find one that
    says it can scan images in the Gallery.
    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Maria Sophia@mariasophia@comprehension.com to comp.mobile.android on Fri Feb 27 21:11:38 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    VanguardLH wrote:
    On a lark, I tried to feed a screenshot of a barcode to Gemini. It's too
    clunky in practice even if it worked but Gemini couldn't make heads or
    tails out of it. It did try and it got the type of barcode right but the
    end results from its decoding attempts were just crap every time.

    Sorry, but I forget which app it was at the Play Store that mentioned it could scan images in the Gallery. Seems you could take a screenshot,
    and have the scanner app look at the image in the Gallery. It was an
    app found searching on "qr scanner screen" at the Play store. Think it
    was the first one, but look in the app descriptions to find one that
    says it can scan images in the Gallery.

    We've all given the OP plenty of apps to test that do what he asks.
    Now it's time to see what the OP says after he's tried them out.
    --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Andy Burns@usenet@andyburns.uk to comp.mobile.android on Sat Feb 28 07:15:35 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    Alan wrote:

    You suspect completely incorrectly.

    The number of methods that exist for dealing with a QR code that already exists as a digital image on a device is very large.

    In which case, it's notable you haven't suggested one.

    --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Alan@nuh-uh@nope.com to comp.mobile.android on Fri Feb 27 23:33:37 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    On 2026-02-27 23:15, Andy Burns wrote:
    Alan wrote:

    You suspect completely incorrectly.

    The number of methods that exist for dealing with a QR code that
    already exists as a digital image on a device is very large.

    In which case, it's notable you haven't suggested one.


    I have to do all the work, do I?
    --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Alan@nuh-uh@nope.com to comp.mobile.android on Fri Feb 27 23:35:15 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    On 2026-02-27 19:11, Maria Sophia wrote:
    VanguardLH wrote:
    On a lark, I tried to feed a screenshot of a barcode to Gemini. It's too >>> clunky in practice even if it worked but Gemini couldn't make heads or
    tails out of it. It did try and it got the type of barcode right but the >>> end results from its decoding attempts were just crap every time.

    Sorry, but I forget which app it was at the Play Store that mentioned it
    could scan images in the Gallery.-a Seems you could take a screenshot,
    and have the scanner app look at the image in the Gallery.-a It was an
    app found searching on "qr scanner screen" at the Play store.-a Think it
    was the first one, but look in the app descriptions to find one that
    says it can scan images in the Gallery.

    We've all given the OP plenty of apps to test that do what he asks.
    Now it's time to see what the OP says after he's tried them out.

    So you can turn around and tell everyone how much help you were?
    --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From VanguardLH@V@nguard.LH to comp.mobile.android on Sat Feb 28 02:22:27 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:

    Andy Burns wrote:

    Alan wrote:

    You suspect completely incorrectly.

    The number of methods that exist for dealing with a QR code that
    already exists as a digital image on a device is very large.

    In which case, it's notable you haven't suggested one.

    I have to do all the work, do I?

    Yes. Provide just one of your plethora of answers different than
    suggested by others you claim are possible. Keeping them secret
    evidences you don't know of one.
    --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Carlos E.R.@robin_listas@es.invalid to comp.mobile.android on Sat Feb 28 13:35:41 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    On 2026-02-27 19:16, Richmond wrote:
    Anssi Saari <anssi.saari@usenet.mail.kapsi.fi> writes:

    I'm looking for an app that can scan or more importantly, decode a
    barcode or QR code. Not with the camera, from a picture or document or
    on screen of the phone. Best case, I'd like the app to grab a
    screenshot and if any code found then stuff it on the the clipboard,
    silently and without a fuss.

    Need is to scan the occasional barcode that I get via email, never
    mind the whys and wherefores.

    I've looked but I haven't found any apps that can do that, they
    usually want to scan with the camera. Which means, the libraries exist
    to find and decode barcodes and QR codes from an image but not the
    apps, I think. Or maybe I just haven't found it yet?

    On a lark, I tried to feed a screenshot of a barcode to Gemini. It's
    too clunky in practice even if it worked but Gemini couldn't make
    heads or tails out of it. It did try and it got the type of barcode
    right but the end results from its decoding attempts were just crap
    every time.

    If you open google lens from google chrome, it opens the camera, but
    there is also an option from there to open a screen shot (to the left of
    the search button). I am not going to try it though, as it will send
    that screenshot to google I think.

    In my Motorola G62, open the camera, then the camera gallery. Choose the photo, then three dot menu, google lens. It detected a bar code, so I
    assume will also detect a QR code.

    I don't know if the photo was sent to google or not.
    --
    Cheers, Carlos.
    ESEfc-Efc+, EUEfc-Efc|;
    --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Arno Welzel@usenet@arnowelzel.de to comp.mobile.android on Sat Feb 28 16:40:09 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    Anssi Saari, 2026-02-27 13:50:


    I'm looking for an app that can scan or more importantly, decode a
    barcode or QR code. Not with the camera, from a picture or document or
    on screen of the phone. Best case, I'd like the app to grab a screenshot
    and if any code found then stuff it on the the clipboard, silently and without a fuss.

    Need is to scan the occasional barcode that I get via email, never mind
    the whys and wherefores.

    Binary Eye can also decode image files, not just images with the camera:

    <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.markusfisch.android.binaryeye>

    Just open the "..." menu on the top right and select "Pick image file",
    then you can also choose to decode a screenshot which you saved as file
    before.
    --
    Arno Welzel
    https://arnowelzel.de
    --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Maria Sophia@mariasophia@comprehension.com to comp.mobile.android on Sat Feb 28 08:51:05 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    Arno Welzel wrote:
    Binary Eye can also decode image files

    At this point, each of us, save for the troll Alan Baker, has proposed at
    least one solution, probably all of which will work just fine for the OP.

    It's up to the OP to test out our kind heart-felt thoughtful suggestions.
    If the OP doesn't report back, then the proposed solutions appear to be:

    1. <de.markusfisch.android.binaryeye>
    2. <com.google.ar.lens>
    3. <com.example.barcodescanner>
    4. <com.czlucius.scan
    5. <any.splitscreen>

    Note: The Alan Baker troll has never owned an Android phone in his life.
    His only goal is to troll us and gloat over supposed Apple superiority.
    --
    Usenet allows people with shared interests to discuss topics of import.
    --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Alan@nuh-uh@nope.com to comp.mobile.android on Sat Feb 28 10:22:14 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    On 2026-02-28 08:51, Maria Sophia wrote:
    Arno Welzel wrote:
    Binary Eye can also decode image files

    At this point, each of us, save for the troll Alan Baker, has proposed at least one solution, probably all of which will work just fine for the OP.

    It's up to the OP to test out our kind heart-felt thoughtful suggestions.
    If the OP doesn't report back, then the proposed solutions appear to be:

    1. <de.markusfisch.android.binaryeye>
    2. <com.google.ar.lens>
    3. <com.example.barcodescanner>
    4. <com.czlucius.scan
    5. <any.splitscreen>

    Note: The Alan Baker troll has never owned an Android phone in his life.
    His only goal is to troll us and gloat over supposed Apple superiority.

    Wow.

    You really are completely obsessed with me, aren't you?

    :-)
    --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Richmond@dnomhcir@gmx.com to comp.mobile.android on Sat Feb 28 18:50:38 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    Jeff Layman <Jeff@invalid.invalid> writes:

    On 27/02/2026 18:03, Andy Burns wrote:
    Maria Sophia wrote:

    Someone else may be able to help you better'n I can. One obvious
    way the O/P could do what he wants is with two phones, or a phone and
    a tablet, barcodes in general read well from screens when the
    brightness is cranked-up.

    I don't know anything about Android split-screen "windows" (or even if
    they can exist!). Would it be possible to have the email with the QR
    code on half the screen, and the front-facing camera with a QR scanner
    on the other half, and use a mirror to let the QR scanner see the QR
    code on the other half of the screen?

    How about two mirrors, one in front of the phone, and one behind. Then
    the front of the phone could scan its own display. Possibly the QR would
    be backward at this point, I can't work it out.
    --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Anssi Saari@anssi.saari@usenet.mail.kapsi.fi to comp.mobile.android on Mon Mar 2 16:59:49 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

    mummycullen@gmail-dot-com.no-spam.invalid (MummyChunk) writes:

    f your phone has that built in screen search thing ...

    Ah, Circle to Search. I've never used before it although I do use
    Samsung's similar "AI select", usually for text recognition from
    non-selectable text on screen which it usually does very well but it
    knows nothing about barcodes or QR codes.

    With a quick try "Circle to search" worked and it has a "copy text"
    button to get the decoded digits onto the clipboard. So this is a level
    of clunkiness that I find reasonable.

    As you said, it's not always good, I tried a couple of more times and it
    was fine one, failed the other. As in, got an image search for bar codes,
    not a decoding of the bar code.

    Still, thanks a lot MummyChunk, this is good!
    --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2