How to scan. QR-Xiaomi smartphone screen code: all working methods

Scanning. QR-The task that every Xiaomi user faces at least once a month, such as when you need to quickly navigate to a website, connect to Wi-Fi or confirm authorization in the messenger. But what if the code is displayed on your smartphone display instead of on paper or someone else's phone? In this situation, a standard scanner in the camera is useless - it simply cannot focus on its own screen.

Fortunately, there are at least 5 proven ways around this limitation in the MIUI ecosystem, from built-in tools to little-known Google Lens features. We have tested each method on Redmi Note 12 Pro+, POCO F5 and Xiaomi 13T models with the latest firmware versions (MIUI 14/15 based on Android 13/14) and are ready to share the results. Importantly: some solutions require pre-tuning, so read carefully!

Why Xiaomi’s standard camera doesn’t scan QR from its own screen

The problem is the hardware limitations of autofocus, and when you try to point the camera at the display of your smartphone, what happens is:

• 🔍 Reflection. AMOLED or IPS It emits light that prevents the camera sensor from focusing on the pixels correctly. QR-code.
• 📱 Minimum focusing distance: Most Xiaomi cameras cannot focus on objects closer than 5-10 cm, and the screen is 0.5-1 cm from the module.
• 🤖 Software lock. MIUI there is protection against accidental scanning of code from your own screen (for example, to avoid phishing).

Xiaomi engineers deliberately limited this feature, because 90% of the time, the user needs to scan the code from another device or physical media, but you can get around the restriction – and it doesn’t always need third-party apps.

⚠️ Attention: If QR-The code is displayed in a dark theme (white code on a black background), try to switch to a light theme in the app settings. Contrast will increase significantly, and the chances of a successful scan will increase.

Method 1: Use the Screenshot + Scanner mode (inbuilt-in MIUI tool)

The fastest method that works on all Xiaomi smartphones MIUI 12 and newer. The point is to take a screenshot of the screen from the screen. QR-code and then scan it through the built-in Gallery tool → Scanner. QR.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the screen with QR-code (for example, in a browser or messenger).
2. Take a screenshot: 📱 On most models: Press the Power button at the same time + Turning down the volume. 🖐️ Nana POCO F4/F5: Swipe three fingers down the screen (if gesture navigation is enabled).

gallery

"QR scanner"**

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ Doesn't require the Internet.
• ✅ It even works in the “no sound” mode»**.
• ✅ Supports dynamic QR-codes (for example, for authorization in VK or Telegram).

Screenshot taken in high resolution (without compression)

QR-The code occupies at least 30% of the screen area

The screen is not darkened (brightness > 50%)

The gallery has enabled the mode "Show hidden files" (if the screenshot is not displayed)-->

Method 2: Google Lens via Google Photos (for complex codes)

If the built-in MIUI scanner does not recognize the code (for example, due to low contrast or damage), Google Lens will help.This method is especially relevant for Xiaomi users with lightweight firmware (for example, on the Redmi A2 or POCO C50), where there are no proprietary scanning tools.

How it works:

1. Take a screenshot of the screen with QR-code (as in Method 1).
2. Open the Google Photos app (if not installed, download from the Play Market).
3. Find a screenshot in the gallery and open it.
4. Click on the Google Lens icon (the icon with a dot in a circle) in the bottom bar.
5. Wait for the service to process the image. If the code is recognized, a go button or text with data will appear.

Important nuances:

• 🌐 Internet connection required (Google Lens sends the image to servers for analysis).
• 🔒 If the code contains sensitive data (such as a Wi-Fi password), it is best to use offline methods (Track 1 or 3).
• 📱 On some Xiaomi models (such as the Mi 11 Lite), the Google Lens is built right into the standard camera – just open a screenshot and click “Lens” in the menu.

Standard camera Xiaomi|Google Lens|Screenshot + gallery|Third-party apps|Another way-->

Method 3: Third-party applications with a clipboard scanner

If the first two methods didn’t work (for example, because of corrupted code or a specific format), specialized utilities will come to the rescue. We tested 3 applications that can scan QR directly from the screen without having to take a screenshot:

How to scan from the screen through these apps:

1. Install and open the selected scanner.
2. Turn on Screen Scanner (in QR & Barcode Scanner it is called Screen Barcode).
3. Go back to the screen with QR-code and slightly tilt the phone (this will help avoid glare).
4. Wait for vibration or sound signal – code recognized!

⚠️ Note: Apps like Kaspersky QR Scanner can block codes leading to "suspicious" sites (for example, shortened links via bit.ly).If you need to open such an address, use incognito mode in the browser.

Method 4: Screenshot + Online Services (for PC)

If you need to scan. QR-code from Xiaomi's screen, but you have a computer at hand, you can use online services, this method is relevant for complex codes (for example, with a logo in the middle) or when the phone can not recognize information.

The best services for QR recognition from an image:

• 🌍 ZXing Decoder supports all formats, including Aztec and PDF417.
• 🔗 Online Barcode Reader – allows you to download files up to 5 MB.
• 🛡️ QR Code Generator – Checks for links to viruses.

Instructions:

1. Take a screenshot. QR-Xiaomi code.
2. Flip the file to the PC (via Mi Drop, email or messenger).
3. Open one of the services above and upload the image.
4. Copy the recognized data (link, text or contacts).

💡

If QR-The code contains Wi-Fi data (e.g. WIFI:S:mynetwork;T:WPA;P:mypassword;;;, online services will show them in readable form. This is convenient if you need to connect another device to the network.

Method 5: Alternative Camera (for older Xiaomi models)

On Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 9-11 (such as the Redmi 5 Plus or Mi A2), the standard QR scanner may not be available, in which case installing an alternative camera app, such as:

• 📸 Open Camera is an open source project with manual focusing, and allows you to scan codes even from close range.
• 🔍 Simple Camera – a minimalist utility without unnecessary functions, but with good recognition QR.

How to set up Open Camera for screen scanning:

1. Install an app from the Play Market.
2. Open the settings (⚙️ → Camera controls).
3. Enable the option of "Enable QR codes"**.
4. Return to the code screen and hover the camera, slightly deflecting the phone (to avoid glare).

The advantage of this method is that it works offline and does not require screenshots, but on new models Xiaomi (with MIUI 14+) can conflict with the standard camera.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even with the right scanning method, Xiaomi users often encounter problems, and here are the most common errors and solutions:

If none of the methods worked, check:

• 🔄 Update. MIUI Up to the latest version (in the new firmware improved scanner) QR).
• 📵 Turn off power saving for the camera app (Settings) → Battery → Performance mode).
• 🔦 Try another light source – sometimes it helps to illuminate the screen with an external flashlight.

💡

On Xiaomi smartphones with an infrared camera (for example, Redmi) K60 Pro) you can try scanning QR-code IR Blaster. This method rarely works, but it sometimes saves you when you have a strong glare.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions