Online QR Code Scanner
Free QR code reader: upload an image or a screenshot, or use your camera · No app · Nothing is sent to a server
Click to choose an image or drag and drop a file here
(PNG, JPG, WEBP)
How to scan a QR code online
Our online QR code reader decodes any QR code right in your browser, with no app to install. It takes three steps:
- From an image: click “Upload an image” and choose a photo, a screenshot or a PNG, JPG or WEBP file. You can also drag and drop the file onto the upload area.
- Or with the camera: open the “Use the camera” tab, allow access when your browser asks, and hold the QR code inside the frame. It’s read automatically.
- The content appears immediately: copy it in one click or, if it’s a link, open it.
Read a QR code from a screenshot or an image
This is the most common case on a computer: a QR code you received by email or saw in a PDF, on a website or in a presentation, when your phone isn’t at hand. Take a screenshot (Cmd + Shift + 4 on Mac, Windows + Shift + S on Windows), then upload it here. The scanner finds the QR code in the image, even if it only fills part of it.
Same idea for a QR code you received on WhatsApp or by text message: save the image to your gallery, then upload it from your phone.
Scan a QR code on PC, Mac, iPhone or Android
The scanner works in all recent browsers: Chrome, Safari, Firefox and Edge.
- On PC and Mac: upload a screenshot, or use your webcam to read a QR code that is printed or shown on another device.
- On iPhone and Android: use the rear camera, or upload an image from your gallery.
No sign-up and no usage limit: scan as many QR codes as you like.
Check a QR code before opening it
QR code scams (“quishing”) are on the rise: fake QR codes stuck on parking meters or EV chargers, and QR codes received by email or text that lead to fake banking or delivery sites. A QR code doesn’t show where it leads: you only find out after scanning it.
With this reader, you see the full content before opening anything. Check that the address matches the site you expect (spelling of the domain name, https) and be wary of shortened links or unknown domains. Never enter a password or bank details on a page opened from a QR code you’re not sure about.
What the QR code reader recognises
- Web links (URLs), with a button to open them directly
- Plain text
- WiFi networks (
WIFI:T:WPA;S:…;P:…;;): the network name and password are shown in plain text - Contact cards (vCard and MeCard)
- Emails, phone numbers and text messages (
mailto:,tel:,sms:) - Geographic coordinates (
geo:)
Privacy: nothing leaves your device
Decoding happens entirely in your browser: no image is sent to a server. If you scan a QR code containing sensitive information (WiFi access, payment details, personal data), it never leaves your device.
Need to create your own QR code? Use our free QR code generator, or the QR Code Designer for a custom QR code.
Frequently asked questions
How do I scan a QR code on a PC without a phone?
Take a screenshot of the QR code and upload it with the “Upload an image” button. If the QR code is printed, hold it in front of your computer’s webcam in the “Use the camera” tab.
Can I scan a QR code inside a PDF?
Yes. Open the PDF, take a screenshot of the area with the QR code, then upload that image to the scanner. The content appears instantly.
Is the QR code scanner free?
Yes, completely free, with no sign-up and no limit: you can scan as many QR codes as you like.
Are my images sent to a server?
No. The image is analysed entirely in your browser (client-side). No image, photo or camera feed is sent to our servers or to third parties.
Does the scanner work offline?
Once the page has loaded, decoding works without an internet connection because it runs locally in your browser with JavaScript. Only the initial page load needs a connection.
Which image formats are supported?
PNG, JPG/JPEG and WEBP are supported. For best results, use a sharp image in which the QR code fills a good part of the frame, without glare or blur.
Why isn’t my QR code detected?
Check that the image isn’t blurry, that the lighting is good and that the QR code isn’t too small in the picture. If possible, crop the image around the QR code before uploading it. The scanner only reads QR codes: regular barcodes and Data Matrix codes are not recognised.
Can I recover the WiFi password from a QR code?
Yes. A WiFi QR code contains the network name (after S:) and the password (after P:). Once scanned, both are shown in plain text and you can copy them.
Can I scan a QR code shown on another screen?
Yes, either with the camera (by filming the screen) or by taking a screenshot and uploading it. Avoid screen glare, which can interfere with detection.
More free QR code tools
Explore all our QR code generators and tools: