QR Code Reader
Scan a QR code from an image or your camera, free and online.
Upload an image, paste a screenshot, or use your camera to read any QR code. The content is decoded privately in your browser, so nothing is ever uploaded. Copy the result in one click, and open links only when you trust the source.
Scan with camera
Upload or paste an image
Drag and drop, click to browse, or paste an image
.png, .jpg, .jpeg, .svg, .webp · up to 20 MB
Images are decoded privately in your browser. Nothing is uploaded to a server.
Three ways to read a QR code
Scan from an image
Upload, drag and drop, or paste a screenshot or photo of a QR code. The reader decodes PNG, JPG, SVG, and WEBP files instantly.
Scan with your camera
Use your phone or laptop camera for live scanning. The code is detected automatically, with the rear camera preferred on mobile.
Private by design
Everything is decoded on your device in the browser. No image and no camera feed is ever uploaded to a server.
What does a QR code reader do?
A QR code reader, sometimes called a QR code scanner, looks at the black and white pattern of a QR code and turns it back into the data it stores. That data might be a website link, a block of plain text, WiFi login details, a contact card, a phone number, or an email address. The reader detects the pattern, decodes it, and shows you the exact content so you can act on it.
This online QR code scanner works two ways. You can scan a QR code from an image, which is ideal when the code is in a screenshot, a saved photo, a PDF you have exported to an image, or a design file. Or you can scan with your camera for a code printed on a poster, menu, package, or screen in front of you. Both methods run in the browser, so there is nothing to install.
Scan from an image vs scan with your camera
Scanning from an image is the fastest option when the QR code already exists as a file. Drag the image into the upload box, browse for it, or paste it straight from your clipboard. The reader accepts PNG, JPG, JPEG, SVG, and WEBP files up to 20 MB and decodes them on the spot. SVG files are rasterized to a canvas first so they read reliably.
Scanning with your camera is best for a physical code in the real world. Start the camera, allow access when your browser asks, and hold the code steady inside the frame. On phones the rear camera is preferred for a sharper view. The reader detects the code automatically and stops the camera the moment it succeeds, so the camera light does not stay on.
Private by design
Privacy is built in. Every QR code you read here is decoded locally on your own device using your browser. Your uploaded images and your live camera feed never leave your device and are never sent to our servers. That means you can scan sensitive codes, such as WiFi passwords or payment details, with confidence that the data stays with you.
Common uses for a QR code reader
- Open a website or campaign link printed on a flyer, poster, or package.
- Read the details inside a code before you scan it with your phone in public.
- Recover the content of a QR code from an old screenshot or design file.
- Check where a suspicious QR code actually points before opening the link.
- Connect to guest WiFi by reading the network name and password from a code.
- Save a contact from a vCard QR code on a business card or email signature.
QR code reader FAQ
How do I scan a QR code from an image?
Open the reader, then drag and drop your image into the upload box, click to browse for a file, or paste an image you copied. The QR code is decoded in your browser and the result appears right away. Supported formats are PNG, JPG, JPEG, SVG, and WEBP up to 20 MB.
Can I scan a QR code with my camera?
Yes. Tap Start camera and allow camera access, then point your device at a QR code. On phones the reader uses the rear camera and detects the code automatically. The camera stops as soon as a code is found or when you press Stop camera.
Is my image or camera feed uploaded anywhere?
No. All decoding happens locally in your browser using your device. Your images and camera stream never leave your device and are never sent to our servers, so reading a QR code here is completely private.
Which QR code formats can the reader decode?
It reads standard QR codes containing links, plain text, WiFi credentials, contact cards, phone numbers, email addresses, and more. Whatever data the QR code holds is shown as raw text, and links are made clickable for convenience.
Is it safe to open a link from a scanned QR code?
Treat scanned links the way you would treat any unknown link. A QR code can point anywhere, including malicious sites, so only open a link when you trust where it came from. The reader shows the full destination before you choose to open it.
Do I need to install an app to read QR codes?
No. The reader runs entirely in your web browser on desktop and mobile, so there is nothing to download or install. You can bookmark this page and use it any time you need to scan a code.
Need to create a QR code instead?
If you want to make your own code rather than read one, use the free generator. It supports links, text, WiFi, vCards, payments, and more, with custom styling and dynamic codes you can edit after printing.