QR Code Scanner Online

Scan a QR code from an image, screenshot or your camera. Decoding happens in your browser.

Drop a QR code image here

or choose a file, paste from your clipboard, or use your camera

Nothing is uploaded. Decoding runs in your browser.

A QR code scanner that runs in your browser

Most QR scanner apps ask for a camera permission and quietly keep working in the background. This one is a web page: it reads the code you give it, shows you what it says, and does nothing else. There is no app to install and no account to create.

It works the same way whether you have a physical code in front of you, a screenshot on your phone, or a QR code someone emailed you as an image. You can also use it to double-check a code before you send it to a printer, since it decodes exactly what a phone camera would see.

How to scan a QR code online

  1. Drop an image file onto the box above, or click “Choose file”.
  2. Or paste an image straight from your clipboard with Ctrl+V or Cmd+V.
  3. Or click “Use camera” and point your device at a physical QR code.
  4. Read the decoded content, check the type badge, and copy or open it.

When you would use an online scanner instead of your phone’s camera

Your phone’s built-in camera can scan most QR codes, but a browser-based scanner covers cases the camera app can’t: a code embedded in a PDF or slide deck you only have on a laptop, a code in an old photo you need to check months later, a batch of codes exported as images you want to spot-check one at a time, or a shared computer where you would rather not scan with a personal phone.

It is also useful for verifying a code you just generated. If you made a QR code with Quick QR Maker and want to confirm it encodes what you think it does before printing hundreds of copies, scanning the downloaded file here is faster than printing a test sheet.

Reading the result

The scanner labels what kind of content it found — a website link, WiFi network details, a contact card, an email address, a phone number, a text message, or plain text. For links, it shows the destination hostname and flags whether the connection is HTTPS. If you are checking a code meant for print, try the QR code tester, which adds a print-readiness checklist on top of the same decoder.

If a code does not scan here, it likely will not scan reliably for other people either. Common fixes include increasing contrast, enlarging the printed size, or regenerating it with our custom QR code design studio, which shows a live scannability score as you adjust colors and logo size.

Frequently asked questions

Is it safe to scan a QR code?

Scanning is safe; the risk is in what happens after. A QR code can point to any link, so treat it like a link in an email: check the address before you tap it. This scanner shows you the decoded content and the destination hostname first, so you can decide before visiting anything.

Why won't my QR code scan?

Common causes are low contrast between the code and its background, a print too small for the scan distance, glare or motion blur from a camera, and a quiet zone (the blank border) that got cropped off. Try a clearer photo, more light, or a larger printed size.

Does this scanner upload my image anywhere?

No. The image is decoded entirely in your browser using JavaScript. It is never sent to a server, so a photo of a private document or a code from an unpublished flyer stays on your device.

Can I scan a QR code from a screenshot?

Yes. Drop the screenshot file onto the drop zone, choose it from a file picker, or paste it directly from your clipboard with Ctrl+V or Cmd+V. PNG, JPG, WEBP and SVG images all work.

Does this work on mobile?

Yes. On a phone or tablet you can use the camera button to scan a code live, or upload a photo from your gallery. The page works the same on iOS and Android browsers.