Screenshots and saved photos
A code shared in a chat, a social post or an email arrives as an image. Screenshot it and read it here instead of hunting for a second device.
Free QR code reader
QR Code Reader Online
Scan a QR code from an image or with your camera, right in your browser. Upload a screenshot, paste it or drop it here – the image never leaves your device, and you see where a link goes before you open it.
The decoded content appears here.
This is a link. Check the address carefully before opening it.
How to scan a QR code from an image
Use whichever input you have at hand. The reader works on phones, tablets and computers without installing an app.
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Choose an image or start the camera
Pick a photo or screenshot from your device, drag it onto the reader, or paste it with Ctrl+V (Cmd+V on a Mac). On a device with a camera, allow camera access and hold the code in view.
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Read the decoded content
The reader shows the text stored in the code. That can be a web address, plain text, Wi-Fi settings, a contact card or a pre-filled message.
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Check links before you open them
If the code contains a link, you see the full destination together with a reminder to check it. Open it only when the domain is the one you expect.
Private by design: decoded in your browser
Many online QR readers upload your picture to a server to decode it. This one does not. Decoding runs in your browser, so a screenshot of a boarding pass, a payment slip or a colleague's contact card stays on your device. Nothing is stored and nothing is sent to our servers.
Camera scanning works the same way: the video is processed locally and only while the reader is open. Stop the camera or close the tab, and access ends.
When a QR code reader for images helps
Your phone camera cannot scan a code that is already on your phone's screen. That is where an image-based reader comes in.
Proofing before print
Confirm that finished artwork decodes to the right link or text before it goes to the printer.
Inspecting a suspicious code
Found a sticker on a parking meter or a flyer in your mailbox? Read the destination first, then decide calmly whether to visit it.
Laptops and desktops
With a webcam, read a code on a letter or an invoice without reaching for your phone.
QR code safety tips before you open a link
A QR code is just a way to deliver text. The risk lies in where that text takes you. Our QR code security guide goes deeper; these checks cover most everyday cases.
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Read the whole domain
Look at the part right before the first single slash. “yourbank.example.com” belongs to example.com, not to your bank.
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Be careful with unknown short links
A short link hides its final destination. If a code in a public place leads to a short link you don't recognize, open it only if you trust whoever put the code there.
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Look for stickers on top of codes
On parking meters, posters and tables, a fake code is sometimes pasted over the real one. Check the surface before you scan.
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Don't sign in or pay on a page you didn't expect
If a scanned page asks for a password or card details, close it and go to the service by typing its address yourself.
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Question downloads and app installs
Genuine codes rarely start a file download. Be cautious with any code that wants you to install something.
What the QR code reader can decode
QR codes hold more than links. The reader shows the raw content, so it helps to recognize the common formats:
- Links start with https:// or http:// and open a website.
- Wi-Fi settings start with WIFI: and include the network name and password.
- Contact cards start with BEGIN:VCARD and list a name, phone number and email.
- Email and SMS codes start with mailto:, SMSTO: or sms: and carry a recipient and a message.
- Plain text is anything else, such as a serial number or a short note.
Trouble scanning with the camera?
Glare, blur and codes that are too small cause most failures. Our guide on how to scan a QR code walks through iPhone, Android and the usual fixes.
Making codes for others?
A dynamic QR code lets you fix a wrong destination after printing. For simple website codes, start with a URL QR code.
Need a QR code of your own?
Create a free code for a link, Wi-Fi, WhatsApp or a contact card – no account and no watermark.
How do I scan a QR code from an image?
Upload the image, drag it onto the reader or paste it from your clipboard. The decoded text appears right away, and links are shown in full before you open them.
Is my image uploaded to a server?
No. The image is decoded in your browser and never sent to our servers. Nothing is kept after you close the page.
Can I scan a QR code that is on my own screen?
Yes. Take a screenshot, then upload or paste it here. It is the easiest way to read a code you received in a chat or an email.
Does the reader work with my camera?
Yes, on devices with a camera and a browser that allows camera access. Your browser asks for permission first, and the video is processed only on your device.
Why can't the reader find the QR code in my image?
Crop the image so the code fills most of it, and make sure it is sharp and evenly lit. Very low contrast, strong distortion or no blank margin around the code can make it unreadable.
Is this QR code reader free?
Yes. It is free, needs no account and has no daily limit, because all the work happens in your browser.
Is it safe to open a link from a QR code?
The code itself cannot harm your phone, but the page it points to might. Check the domain the reader shows and leave any page that unexpectedly asks for a password or payment.
Can I see the password inside a Wi-Fi QR code?
Yes. A Wi-Fi code stores the network name and password as text after WIFI:, and the reader displays it. Only read codes for networks you are allowed to use.
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