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QR code reader

Read the QR codes in a screenshot or photo, several at once, and see where a link goes before you open it. No camera or app, and nothing is uploaded.

  • Runs in your browser
  • Nothing is uploaded
  • Free, no sign-up

or drop it here, or paste a screenshot with Ctrl+V (⌘V on a Mac). PNG, JPEG, WebP, HEIC, SVG and most other images, up to 50 MB. Nothing is uploaded.

How it works

Your browser opens the picture and looks for the three squares in the corners that every QR code has, then reads the pattern between them. Large photos are read at a working size first and again at close to full size, so small codes in big photos are found too. Several codes in one picture are read one at a time.

The page then works out what the code holds and shows it plainly. A link shows the website it goes to, with a warning when something about the address is worth a second look. A Wi-Fi code shows the network name and password, a contact card can be saved to your phone or computer, and anything else is shown as text to copy.

Questions

How do I scan a QR code from a screenshot or a photo?

Choose the picture, drop it on this page or paste it with Ctrl+V (⌘V on a Mac). The page reads every QR code in it and shows what each one holds: a link, a Wi-Fi password, a contact or plain text.

Is it safe to open the link in a QR code?

Not always: fake QR codes on posters, parking meters and emails lead to look-alike sites. This page shows the address a code goes to before anything opens, and points out tricks like an @ sign in the address, look-alike letters and short links that hide the real destination. Nothing opens unless you choose to.

Can it read several QR codes in one picture?

Yes. Every code found is listed, numbered from the top left, and outlined with its number on the picture, so you can tell which is which. It reads up to 30 codes in one picture.

Can I scan with my camera here?

No, this page reads pictures only. On a phone, the camera app reads QR codes directly. To check a code first, take a photo or a screenshot of it and open that here.

Limits

It reads QR codes only, not barcodes, Data Matrix, Aztec or Micro QR codes. A code that is blurred, cut off, covered by glare or printed very small in a large photo may not be found; cropping close to the code usually helps. Pictures can be up to 50 MB (SVG up to 5 MB).

The warnings about links look at the address only. They can't tell whether a website is safe, and a short link's real destination is only known once it opens.

Privacy

This tool runs entirely in your browser. The files you open and what you type are never sent to a server, and nothing is stored after you close the page. See the privacy page.

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