A free QR code scanner that runs in your browser
This QR scanner reads the code from an image file or straight from your camera, then shows you the text hidden inside. It handles links, Wi-Fi details, email addresses, phone numbers, locations and plain text. You don't install an app or create an account.
It's handy when the code is already on your screen. A screenshot, a PDF page or a photo someone sent you can't be scanned with a phone camera, but you can scan it here. Most people use a QR code scanner on their phone, yet a desktop browser works just as well.
Why use this online QR scanner
- Scan from a file. Read a QR code from a screenshot, download or photo without pointing a camera at your monitor.
- Camera mode too. Use your phone, tablet or webcam when the code is on paper or a sign.
- No signup, no app. Open the page and scan.
- Links never open on their own. You see the full address first, then decide.
- Private processing. The image stays in your browser tab.
- Result type shown. The tool labels links, Wi-Fi, email, phone, SMS, locations, contacts and text, and it splits Wi-Fi codes into name, password and security type.
Want to make a code instead? Use the QR Code Generator.
Step-by-step: how to scan a QR code
Scan a QR code from an image
Drag the image into the box, or click it to pick a file. A preview appears. Click Scan QR code. If the code is small inside a large photo, try the Crop Image tool first so the code fills more of the picture.
Scan a QR code with your camera
Click Use camera and allow access when your browser asks. Point the camera at the code. The scanner checks the live video several times a second and stops as soon as it finds one. Click the button again if you want to stop earlier.
Read and use the result
The result box shows the type and the exact content. Click Copy result to put it on your clipboard. For web links, check the domain name carefully before you click Open link.
Scan another code
Click Reset / Start over, then drop in the next image.
Supported inputs, formats and limits
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Code type | QR codes only. Other barcodes aren't read by this tool. |
| Image files | Common types your browser can open, such as JPG, PNG, WebP and GIF |
| Maximum file size | 20 MB |
| Camera | Live scanning through your browser. It needs permission and a secure (HTTPS) page. |
| Codes per scan | One. If an image has several, the first one found is shown. |
| Result types labeled | Link, Wi-Fi, email, phone, SMS, location, contact card, plain text |
| Reading engine | Your browser's built-in barcode detector when it has one. Otherwise a small open-source reader loads from jsDelivr when you click Scan or Use camera. |
Large images are scaled down before scanning, and the tool retries at smaller sizes if the first attempt finds nothing.
QR code scanner use cases
- Remote workers scan a QR code from a screenshot of a meeting invite or login prompt.
- Shoppers read a coupon or product QR code saved as an image.
- Travelers decode a boarding pass or ticket QR code from a photo to see what's in it.
- Small business owners check that their printed QR code points to the right page before ordering a batch.
- Teachers read QR codes from worksheets or slides on a laptop with no phone handy.
- Cautious users look at a suspicious code's link as plain text before anyone visits it.
- Guests pull the Wi-Fi name and password out of a router label photo.
Key features and benefits
- Scan from an uploaded image or a live camera
- Drag and drop with a preview of your image
- Automatic result type detection
- Wi-Fi codes split into network name, password and security
- One-click copy, and links open only when you click
- Friendly messages for missing codes, blocked cameras and oversized files
- Works on phones, tablets and desktops, with keyboard support
- Light and dark themes that follow your device
Expert tips and common mistakes
- Scan the full code. Cropping off the white margin around a QR code often breaks detection. Leave a clear border.
- Use sharp images. Blurry photos and heavy compression make the small squares hard to separate.
- Avoid glare. Shiny paper and screens reflect light. Tilt the code until the reflection moves away.
- Fill the frame, but not too much. About half to two-thirds of the camera view is a good target.
- Read shortened links carefully. A short link hides its real destination. Be extra careful with codes found on stickers, flyers or random emails.
- Don't scan and sign in. If a code leads to a login page, type the website's address yourself instead.
- Check payment codes. A payment QR code can include an amount or account. Review it in your banking app before you confirm anything.
If an image is huge or dark, the Resize Image tool can help prepare it.
Privacy and security
When you choose an image, your browser reads it and decodes the QR code on your device. The image isn't sent to a server. Camera mode works the same way: video frames are analyzed in your browser, not recorded and not uploaded.
One honest detail: if your browser has no built-in barcode detector, this page downloads a small open-source reader (jsQR) from the jsDelivr CDN the first time you click Scan or Use camera. Only that library file is downloaded. Your image and your camera feed stay on your device.
A QR code can lead to a harmful site, so this tool never opens a link automatically. It only opens http and https links, and only when you click the button.
This tool vs. alternatives
| This browser tool | Phone camera app | Server-based scanners | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scans from an image file | Yes | Usually no, or via a gallery option | Yes |
| Scans with a live camera | Yes | Yes | Varies |
| Install needed | No | Built in | No |
| Where the image is processed | Your browser | Your phone | Their server |
Your phone's own camera is the fastest QR scanner for a code on a wall. This one is better for codes already stored as images, or when you're on a computer.
Troubleshooting
"No QR code found" message
Use a sharper, larger image with the whole code and its white border visible. Crop away clutter, and try a screenshot instead of a photo of a screen.
The camera won't start
Allow camera access in your browser's site settings. Close other apps that may be using the camera. The page also needs HTTPS for camera access.
Permission was denied by mistake
Click the lock icon next to the address bar, reset the camera permission, and reload the page.
The code is on a screen and keeps failing
Lower screen brightness a little and avoid moiré patterns by moving the camera slightly closer or farther. Or take a screenshot and scan the file.
My file won't open
Some formats, like HEIC, may not open in every browser. Convert the photo with our HEIC to JPG Converter, then try again.
The library couldn't load
This only happens on browsers without a built-in detector. Check your connection, disable any blocker that stops jsDelivr, and click Scan again.
The result looks like random characters
The code may hold encoded or encrypted data meant for a specific app. This tool shows the raw content exactly as stored.
Glossary
- QR code: a square grid of black and white modules that stores text, usually a link.
- Finder pattern: the three large corner squares that tell a scanner where the code is and how it's rotated.
- Quiet zone: the blank border around a QR code that scanners need.
- Error correction: extra data that lets a code still scan when part of it is dirty or damaged.
- Payload: the actual content stored in the code.
- Barcode Detection API: a browser feature that finds codes in images. See the MDN documentation.
QR code scanner FAQ
Is this QR code scanner really free?
Yes. This online QR scanner is free to use with no trial, paywall or hidden limit. You can scan as many codes as you like, from images or your camera. You don't have to create an account, enter an email address or install anything.
Is it safe to scan a QR code here?
Scanning only reads the text inside the code. The risk is where that text leads. This tool never opens a link by itself, so you can read the address first. Be cautious with codes from unknown stickers, flyers or messages, and don't enter passwords on pages you reached that way.
Do I need to sign up or download an app?
No. Open the page in a modern browser, drop in an image or click Use camera, and scan. There's no registration and no app to install. It works on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS wherever your browser allows camera access and file selection.
Are my images uploaded to a server?
No. The image is decoded inside your browser and isn't uploaded. Camera frames are also processed on your device and aren't saved. If your browser lacks a built-in detector, only a small reader library is downloaded from a CDN. Your pictures never leave your device.
Can I scan a QR code from a screenshot or PDF?
Yes, for screenshots and image files. Save or screenshot the page, then drop the image into the box. For a PDF, take a screenshot of the page with the code, or convert the page to an image first, and scan that image.
Does this QR scanner work on mobile?
Yes. On phones and tablets you can choose a photo from your gallery or use the camera. Your browser will ask for camera permission the first time. Hold the phone steady, keep the code well lit, and the scanner should pick it up within a moment or two.
Does it work offline?
Partly. Once the page has loaded, scanning works without a connection if your browser has a built-in barcode detector. If not, the reader library needs one download from the CDN on first use. After that, scanning in the same session works from the loaded library.
Why does it say no QR code was found?
The image may be too blurry, too small, cropped too tightly or reflected by glare. Use a sharp image that shows the full code with its white border. A screenshot works better than a photo of a screen. Also confirm it's a QR code, since other barcodes aren't supported.
What kinds of QR codes can it read?
It reads standard QR codes containing text, web links, Wi-Fi details, email addresses, phone numbers, SMS, locations and contact cards. It labels each result type and shows the raw content. It doesn't read other barcode types, and it only reads one code per scan.
Why won't the camera work?
Usually the browser permission was blocked, another app is using the camera, or the page isn't on HTTPS. Reset the camera permission from the lock icon next to the address bar, close other camera apps, and reload. As a backup, take a photo and scan it as a file.
Scan your QR code now
You don't need a special app to scan a QR code. Drop an image above or use your camera, and the QR code scanner shows what's inside. Bookmark this free online scanner for the next time a code shows up on your screen. You can learn more about how the format works on Wikipedia's QR code page.