QR code scanner online

Read a QR code on your computer, no phone needed

A QR code in an email, on a PDF ticket or in a screenshot is awkward to scan with the phone in your hand. This QR code scanner online works on the computer itself: it decodes the image, shows the raw text and lays it out according to what it is, such as a link, a Wi-Fi network, a contact card, a calendar event or a GPS position.

Everything runs inside your browser. The image and the camera preview are not uploaded anywhere, and no link ever opens by itself: you see the address first and decide.

How to use it

1. From an image: click “Choose an image”, drop the file into the box, or use “Paste from clipboard”. A screenshot can also be pasted with Ctrl+V.
2. With the camera: click “Turn on camera”, allow access and hold the code inside the frame. On a phone the rear camera is preferred; the “Camera in use” list lets you switch, and a “Flashlight” button appears when the device supports it.
3. As soon as a code is read, the camera stops. The content appears under “Result”, with a “Copy text” button.
4. To keep track of what you scanned, tick “Keep a history of scans on this device”. If the box is not ticked, nothing is stored.

If one picture holds several QR codes, for example a sheet of labels, each one is outlined in green, numbered and decoded separately.

What the scanner recognises

A QR code only stores text. The shape of that text tells you what it is for:

• Link: https://…. The site name is shown in large type under “Destination site”, and the “Open” button takes you there only when you click it.
• Wi-Fi network: WIFI:T:WPA;S:Guest;P:…;; gives the network name, the security type and the password, hidden behind dots until you click “Show”.
• Contact card: vCard or MECARD, laid out as a card (name, phone, email, address) with “Download contact (.vcf)” to add it to your address book.
• Email, phone, text message: mailto:, tel: and SMSTO: are split into their fields.
• Location: geo:51.5007,-0.1246 is also shown in degrees, minutes and seconds: 51° 30′ 2.5″ N, 0° 7′ 28.6″ W.
• Event: a VEVENT block shows the title, start, end and location, and can be saved as an .ics file.

Check the address before you open it

A QR code does not tell you where it leads. There have been reports of fake QR codes stuck over real ones on parking meters, car chargers and posters, sending people to a copied payment page. Before clicking “Open”, read the site name and make sure it matches the organisation you expect. The tool adds a warning when the address is not encrypted (http), points to an IP address, contains a misleading “@” or uses international characters that can imitate another name. When in doubt, type the official address yourself.

Product barcodes

When your browser has a built-in barcode detector, the tool also reads EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC, Code 128, Code 39 and Data Matrix. For an EAN-13 it checks the last digit: 5012345678900 is valid, while 5012345678901 points to a misread or damaged code. Without that detector, only QR codes are recognised.

Frequently asked questions

Are my images sent to a server?

No. The image is analysed in the browser's memory and is gone when you close the page. The history, if you turn it on, stays on this device, and unticking the box deletes it.

Why is no code found?

The picture is usually too small, blurry or cropped. Crop around the code, leave a light margin around it and avoid glare. A light code on a dark background is accepted too.

Does the camera stay on?

No. It only starts when you click, and it stops as soon as a code is read, when you click “Stop camera” or when you switch to another tab.

Can I read the password of a Wi-Fi network shared by QR code?

Yes. The password stays hidden; “Show” reveals it and “Copy password” puts it on the clipboard so you can type it on a laptop.