How do you count? QR-Home > Code from the screen of your phone Xiaomi: all working methods

Scanner. QR-Xiaomi has long been an indispensable tool, from paying for purchases to logging into Wi-Fi networks. But what if you don't need to read the code from paper, but directly from the screen of another device? MIUI often refuses to recognize QR From a display due to glare, low contrast, or algorithm features, in this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to bypass the limitations and successfully scan code from your Redmi screen, POCO Xiaomi – even if you have an older version of the firmware.

The problem is relevant for all models, from the budget Redmi Note 10 to the flagship Xiaomi 13 Ultra. The fact is that the scanner in the Camera or Quick Settings is optimized for printing on paper, where the clarity of lines and contrast is higher. On the screen, the pixels can “stick together”, and the backlight can cause interference. Fortunately, you can get around this without installing additional applications, you just need to know the hidden functions of MIUI and a few technical tricks.

Why does a standard scanner not see QR from the screen?

Before we get to the solutions, it's important to understand why the failure is happening, and 80 percent of the time, it's not the smartphone itself that's the problem, but the setting.

• 🔦 Brightness of the screen: Too dim or, conversely, blinding display "blinds" the camera, which makes the scanner unable to distinguish the boundaries of the code.
• 📱 Permission QR. Screen codes are often low resolution (e.g, 300×300 px instead of the recommended 500×500 px).
• 🔄 Screen refresh rate: On displays with 120 Hz (e.g, POCO F5) There may be a flicker that interferes with the scanning.
• 📸 Camera autofocus: Xiaomi's standard software sometimes gets "hungry" on the background, not the code itself.

In addition, MIUI 12 and later has a software limitation: the scanner in Quick Settings (Notification Panel → QR icon) blocks code recognition from screens by default, and this is done to protect against phishing attacks, where scammers show a victim a fake QR on their phone.

Method 1: Use the hidden screen scanner function in MIUI

Few people know, but MIUI 13/14 has a built-in tool to scan codes directly from the screen, without the camera, called Screen QR Scanner, hidden in the settings lab. Here's how to activate it:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 5 times on the MIUI version until the notification “You became a developer” appears.
3. Return to the main Settings menu and select Additional → For Developers.
4. Find the option to Enable the QR scanner from the screen (or Screen QR Scanner) and activate it.

Now, to scan the code:

1. Open the screen with QR-code (for example, in a browser or messenger).
2. Swipe down from the top of the screen to open the Notification Panel.
3. Slip the QR icon and hold it for 2 seconds – the Scan from the screen option will appear.

Increase the brightness of the screen to 80-100% |

Turn off adaptive brightness in settings|

Make sure that QR-The code takes up at least 30% of the screen|

Turn your phone horizontally for a better view.-->

Important: The feature doesn’t work on all models. If the Screen QR Scanner is not in the Developer Settings, try updating the firmware or using alternative methods from the following sections.

Method 2: Screenshot + contrast editing

If the built-in scanner refuses to work, you can go a workaround: take a screenshot QR-And then we can use code and process it to improve readability, and this is a method that works for all versions. MIUI, including the old Redmis 4X or Mi A1.

Instructions:

1. Take a screenshot of the screen with QR-code (at the same time press the volume down) + Nutrition).
2. Open the screenshot in the standard Gallery app.
3. Slip on the Edit icon (pencil at the bottom of the screen).
4. Select the Correction tool and increase the settings: Contrast to +30-50% Clarity to +20% Shadow to -20% (to remove the gray background)

Camera.

Google Lens

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If QR-code on a dark background, invert colors in the gallery editor: Tools → Inversion. It'll dramatically increase the contrast for the scanner.

This method is particularly effective for codes with transparent backgrounds or low resolution, such as if you are trying to count QR from Telegram or WhatsApp, where the code is often displayed against a color background.

Method 3: Google Lens is a universal solution

Google Lens (built into Google Photos or Google Assistant) will do the job even where Xiaomi’s standard scanner is powerless, using AI to improve images and recognize distorted codes.

How to use:

1. Install Google Lens from the Play Market (if not already installed).
2. Open the screen with QR-code.
3. Press the Home button (or swipe diagonally from the corner) to call Google Assistant.
4. In the bottom panel, select the Lens icon (stylized camera).
5. Put the camera on QR-code – Lens automatically recognizes it and suggests an action (clicking on a link, saving a contact, etc.).

Google Lens recognizes QR-codes even with an angle of inclination up to 45° In low light, this is one of the key advantages over a standard scanner. MIUI.

Method 4: Third-party applications – when nothing helps

If the built-in tools didn't work, we'll have specialized tools to help, and we tested 10 apps and selected the 3 most reliable ones for Xiaomi:

• 📱 QR & Barcode Scanner (from Gamma Play) – recognizes codes from screens in 1-2 seconds, there is a history of scanning.
• 🔍 Kaspersky QR Scanner – Checks security links before opening (relevant to codes from unknown sources).
• 🖼️ QR Code Reader (from Scan) – Supports scanning from gallery and screen at the same time.

How to use (example: QR & Barcode Scanner):

1. Download the app from the Play Market.
2. Open it and allow access to the camera.
3. In the main menu, select Screen QR (or Screen Scan).
4. Point the camera at the code – the application will automatically recognize it.

Warning: Avoid apps with names like “Super Fast QR Scanner” or “Ultra QR” – they often contain advertising software or collect data. Check reviews and ratings before installing (should be at least 4.5).

Method 5: Alternative methods for older models

If you have Xiaomi on MIUI 10/11 (like Redmi 5 or Mi 8), the standard methods may not work.

• 📷 Document mode in the camera: open the Camera, select Document mode (paper icon) and hover on QR. This mode improves the clarity of lines.
• 🔄 Screen flip: If the code isn't scanned in portrait orientation, turn the phone horizontally - sometimes it helps bypass autofocus bugs.
• 🌓 Night mode: turn on Night mode in the camera (even during the day!) - it increases exposure and can "pull out" low-contrast QR.

For models without Google Services (such as the Chinese version of Xiaomi), use the browser scanner:

1. Open up. QR-screen-code.
2. Take a screenshot and upload it to the ZXing Decoder website.
3. The service recognizes the code and displays the content.

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On older Xiaomi smartphones (before 2019), the standard scanner often fails to recognize QR from the screen due to a weak processor, in which case prioritize third-party apps or online services.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even with the right scanning method, users often face problems. TOP-5 mistakes and their solutions:

1. The code is recognized but the link is not opened The reason is that QR encodes text, not URL. Copy it manually or use an application that shows the contents of the code (for example, QR Code Reader).
2. The scanner “hangs” on the black screen Solution: restart the phone or clear the Camera app cache (Settings → Apps → Camera → Clear the cache).
3. QR-The code on the screen is recognized as a set of characters, which means that the code is encoded in vCard or Wi-Fi format. Use specialized scanners, such as Wi-Fi. QR Scanner.

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If QR-The code from the screen is displayed in a mirrored form (e.g., in Zoom or Microsoft Teams), take a screenshot, mirror it in the editor and then scan it.

Warning: Never scan. QR-codes from unknown sources (such as street stickers or messages from strangers) are often masked by phishing links. URL for typos (e.g., for example, paypa1.com instead of paypal.com).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions