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How to scan barcodes from the mobile screen itself?

Edit on Mar 10, 2020: I am also looking to do the same for QR codes.

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  • Google Goggles can do this, you would probably have to take a screenshot, but you could then select the image using the gallery function in Goggles.
    – znewman
    Dec 5, 2012 at 14:57
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    Hello user1014639. I see that you validated an edit that was in contrast to your original stated objective. While your objective may have broadened with time so as to approve that edit, I request you to take into consideration the effects approving an edit would have on existing answers. Often times, a subsequent edit made or approved later in time invalidates or reduces the comprehensiveness of the existing answers, and that can be deemed as a disrespect for the work and efforts those answerers invested in your question...
    – Firelord ♦
    Mar 10, 2020 at 10:24
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    ...Even if you must make or approve such an edit, consider mentioning the date since when the new objectives were introduced. Since I went ahead with the proposed solution, let my suggestion be an advise for you for future edits. :)
    – Firelord ♦
    Mar 10, 2020 at 10:24
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    Further to what @Firelord said, one could have down voted the answers as they don't meet the criteria of QR codes. His edit now would hopefully prevent that. Ideally, you should be asking a separate question linking this in background as reference
    – beeshyams
    Mar 10, 2020 at 11:04
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    As FYI, I raised this example on site meta and @Firelord replied and edited your question
    – beeshyams
    Mar 10, 2020 at 11:22

2 Answers 2

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As already described in above comments, this would require taking a screenshot and saving it as an image file. Havind done that, there are several barcode scanners available in the playstore supporting "loading" of barcodes from image files, as e.g. QR BARCODE SCANNER or mentioned Google Goggles. I don't know of any barcode scanner capable of "scanning your screen directly".

EDIT: QR Droid seems to be capable of what you're looking for:

Scan QR codes from your camera, browser, SD card, or saved image

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    Just realized you could probably long press on the image of the barcode itself and save it instead of taking a screen shot.
    – znewman
    Dec 5, 2012 at 15:56
  • Wow -- didn't think of that. A very good point for those amongst us with unrooted pre-ICS non-Samsung devices missing the screenshot functionality. Thanks for the hint!
    – Izzy ♦
    Dec 5, 2012 at 15:57
  • This is another one QR Scanner. play.google.com/store/apps/…
    – Mark
    Jun 28, 2020 at 11:28
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I'm frequently using Manatee Works 'Barcode Scanners' app towards such a purpose. Here's the Google Play Store demonstration application link, recently updated:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.manateeworks.barcodescanners

The app supports wide variety of 1D/2D codes, scans very fast and its free. The only downside is that the option to manipulate with the results are few, namely either copy or email, because its a mere demonstration.

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  • Care to elaborate more instead of just providing linkys?
    – t0mm13b
    Feb 15, 2013 at 15:56
  • Besides, according to the playstore description this is only a demonstration of some API?
    – Izzy ♦
    Feb 15, 2013 at 16:04
  • The OP asked if there are any tools that can scan barcode images from mobile screen and I provided link to such a tool. Whether its a demonstration or not, it shows full result of a successful scan which you can copy or email it. On top of it, its free.
    – Vangel Ivanov
    Feb 15, 2013 at 18:33

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