QR Code Scanner

Scan from an image or your camera

Upload or paste a QR code image and the decoder reads it instantly, or switch on your camera to scan a code in real time. Detected URLs get a one-tap open link, and any text can be copied with one click.

Decoding happens entirely in your browser, so scanned data is never sent anywhere.

Works with

• QR codes in screenshots and saved photos
• Live camera scanning on phones and laptops
• URLs, text, Wi-Fi and contact QR payloads

Key features at a glance

• Scan from an uploaded image or your live camera
• Decodes the content instantly in your browser
• One-tap open button for detected links
• One-click copy of the decoded text
• Reads URL, text, Wi-Fi, and contact payloads
• 100% in-browser — scanned data is never uploaded

How QR codes store information

A QR (Quick Response) code is a two-dimensional barcode that stores data in a grid of black and white squares. Unlike a traditional barcode that holds a number, a QR code can encode hundreds of characters of text, a URL, contact details, Wi-Fi credentials, and more. The three large squares in its corners are position markers that let a scanner find and orient the code from any angle.

QR codes also include built-in error correction, which is why they still scan when partly damaged, dirty, or covered by a small logo. The pattern encodes redundant data so a reader can reconstruct the content even if some squares are unreadable. This robustness, combined with the large data capacity, is what made QR codes ubiquitous for everything from menus to payments.

Scanning from an image versus a camera

There are two practical ways to read a QR code, and this tool supports both. Scanning from an uploaded image or screenshot is ideal when the code arrives digitally — embedded in a PDF, sent in a message, or saved as a picture — where pointing a camera is impossible. You simply load the image and the decoder reads it.

Live camera scanning suits physical codes in the real world: a poster, a product, a printed menu. The tool reads the code in real time through your device's camera, just like a dedicated scanner app. Having both methods in one place means you can decode a QR code whatever form it takes, without switching between an app for physical codes and another tool for digital ones.

Why decode QR codes safely

QR codes are convenient, but they also hide their destination — you cannot read a URL squeezed into a grid of squares by eye. That opacity has been exploited in scams where a malicious code leads to a phishing site or an unwanted download. Decoding a code to reveal its content before acting on it is a sensible security habit.

Because this scanner decodes entirely in your browser and shows you the raw text or link, you can inspect exactly where a code leads before opening it, rather than being whisked off to an unknown site. The scanned data is never sent to a server, so even codes containing sensitive information stay private. Seeing the decoded content first puts you in control of whether to follow it.

Tips for scanning QR codes

• Upload a screenshot to scan a code you cannot point a camera at
• Use camera mode for physical codes on signs and products
• Always read the decoded URL before opening it, to avoid scams
• Ensure the whole code, including its corner markers, is in frame
• Copy the decoded text when you need the content rather than the link

Why choose our QR code scanner?

Our scanner is completely free with no signup, no limits, and no subscription. Decoding happens entirely in your browser, so scanned data is never sent anywhere, results are instant, and image scanning works offline.

It is one of more than 200 free tools on ToopTools, and you can pin it to your My Workspace, a personalized workspace where you keep the tools you use most in a single dashboard. Beside the barcode generator and QR code generator, it covers reading and creating codes in one place.

Common use cases

People use the QR code scanner to read codes from screenshots and saved images where a camera cannot reach, to scan physical codes on posters, menus, and products with their device camera, and to check where a code leads before opening it. It handles both digital and real-world codes.

It is also used to extract Wi-Fi credentials, contact cards, and text payloads encoded in QR codes, and by developers to verify that a code they generated decodes correctly. The copy and open buttons make acting on the result quick.

Is the QR code scanner free?

Yes. It is completely free with no account, no sign-up, and no usage limits. Scan as many codes as you like at no cost.

Can I scan a QR code from a screenshot?

Yes. Upload or paste the image and the tool decodes the QR code from it instantly, which is ideal for codes you receive digitally and cannot scan with a camera.

Does it work with my camera?

Yes. You can switch on your device camera to scan physical codes in real time, on both phones and laptops, with the tool reading the code live as you frame it.

Is scanning private?

Yes. Decoding happens entirely in your browser, so the scanned content is never sent to a server. Image scanning also works without an internet connection.

What types of QR codes can it read?

It reads standard QR codes carrying URLs, plain text, Wi-Fi credentials, and contact details, decoding the payload and showing it so you can copy the text or open a link.

Why won't my QR code scan?

Usually the code is partly out of frame, blurry, or low contrast. Make sure the entire code including its corner markers is visible and well lit, and try a clearer image if scanning from a file.

How do I scan a QR code from an image file?

Upload a screenshot or photo containing a QR code, and the scanner instantly decodes it and shows the contents — a link, text, Wi-Fi details, and more. You can also use your device camera to scan a code in front of you.

Does the QR code scanner work offline?

Yes. Decoding happens entirely in your browser, so once the page has loaded the tool works without an internet connection, and your images and camera feed are never uploaded — everything stays private on your own device.