QR Code Scanner
Decode QR codes from an uploaded image or your camera, right in your browser.
Why use this tool?
Read QR codes with your device camera or from a photo or screenshot - without installing an app.
How to use it
- Click 'Scan with camera' or upload an image.
- Point the camera at the code or wait for the image to be decoded.
- Copy the content, and check any link before opening it.
Two ways to scan
Use your device camera to scan a code in front of you, or upload a photo or screenshot that contains one. Uploading is useful when the code is on your own screen, such as in an email, a PDF or a social media post, where pointing a camera at it isn't practical.
Decoding happens in your browser. The camera feed and images aren't uploaded, and the camera only runs after you allow it and while the scanner is open.
Check before you open
QR codes are a common way to hide malicious links, a scam sometimes called "quishing": fake parking-payment stickers placed over real ones, or codes in phishing emails. The scanner shows you the decoded content first instead of opening it automatically, so look at the full address before visiting.
Be suspicious of misspelled domains, link shorteners where you'd expect an official site, and any page that asks for passwords or payment details right after scanning. For payments, type the organisation's address yourself instead of following a code on a sticker.
When a code won't scan
Most failures come from blur, glare or a code that fills too little of the picture. Hold the camera steady at a slight angle to avoid reflections, move closer so the code fills more of the frame, and make sure there's light on it.
For screenshots, crop around the code and upload again. Very small, damaged or low-contrast codes may be unreadable; the error-correction data in a QR code can only compensate for limited damage.
Frequently asked questions
Is the camera image sent anywhere?
No. Scanning runs in your browser and nothing is uploaded.
Can I scan a QR code from a screenshot?
Yes. Upload the image instead of using the camera.
Is it safe to open the link?
Check the decoded address first. Only open links whose domain you recognise, and never enter passwords or card details on a page reached from an unknown code.