Free QR Code Scanner
Scan any QR code online in seconds. Point your camera at a code, or upload a photo or screenshot and we decode it instantly. The scanner recognises WiFi, links, contact cards, payments and plain text, and everything is read in your browser — the images you scan are never uploaded.
Start the camera and hold a QR code inside the frame.
Decoded in your browser. Camera frames and images are never uploaded.
Scan result
Scan a QR code and its contents will appear here — we detect the type and lay the details out in plain English.
How to scan a QR code online
- 1Choose Camera to scan live, or Upload image to read a photo, screenshot or saved QR code file.
- 2Allow camera access when your browser asks. The video stream stays on your device and is never recorded.
- 3Hold the QR code steady inside the frame until it is detected — or drag and drop an image onto the upload area.
- 4Read the decoded result. We detect the type and lay out WiFi, contact, payment and link details in plain English.
- 5Copy the content or open the link. Always check the address before opening a link from a code you did not create.
Benefits
- Scan with your camera or read a QR code from any saved image, photo or screenshot.
- Decoding runs entirely in your browser — nothing you scan is uploaded to a server.
- Automatically recognises WiFi, links, vCard contacts, email, SMS, phone, location and crypto codes.
- Works on iPhone, Android, Windows and Mac in any modern browser — no app to install, no signup.
What our QR code reader can decode
The scanner reads any standard QR code, and it recognises the common formats so you get labelled fields instead of a wall of raw text.
Website links
The most common QR code of all. We show the full destination and the domain before you open anything, so you can check a link is genuine. Make your own with the URL QR code generator.
WiFi networks
Scan a guest WiFi card and we read out the network name, security type and password in plain text — handy when you need the password on a device that cannot scan. Create one with the WiFi QR code generator.
Contact cards
vCard and MeCard codes are unpacked into name, job title, company, phone, email and website. Build your own digital business card with the vCard QR code generator.
Calendar events
Event codes show the title, start and end time, location and description before you commit them to your diary. Generate them with the event QR code generator.
Scan with your camera, or read a QR code from an image
Two ways to scan, because the right one depends on where the code actually is.
Camera scanning
Best for codes in the real world — a poster, a menu, a business card or a printed WiFi sign. Your browser asks for camera permission the first time, and on phones we request the rear camera automatically. Hold the code flat, roughly 10–30 cm away, and keep it fully inside the frame. Detection is instant once the pattern is sharp.
Scan from an image
Best when the code is already on a screen — in an email, a PDF, a web page or a photo you were sent. Pointing a webcam at your own monitor rarely works because of glare and moiré, so take a screenshot and paste it in with Ctrl+V instead. You can also drag and drop an image file or browse for one.
When a browser QR scanner helps
Scan QR codes safely
A QR code is just a pattern — it is impossible to tell a genuine one from a malicious one by looking at it. That is exactly why decoding a code before acting on it, as this scanner does, is worth the extra few seconds.
Check the domain, not the design
A QR code cannot tell you where it leads — only the decoded link can. Read the domain we show you and make sure it matches the company you expect. Look out for lookalike spellings and unfamiliar top-level domains.
Be wary of stickers over stickers
The most common real-world attack is a printed sticker placed on top of a legitimate code — on a parking meter, a restaurant table or a delivery locker. If the code looks like an add-on, treat it with suspicion.
Never enter credentials from a cold scan
A code that leads straight to a login or payment form you did not expect is a red flag. Navigate to the site yourself instead of trusting the link.
We never open anything automatically
This scanner decodes and displays. Nothing opens, downloads or connects until you choose to act on it — and the decoding happens on your device, so what you scan stays private.
For the full picture — including how quishing scams work and what to do if you have already scanned something suspicious — read our guide to whether QR codes are safe.
QR code scanner FAQ
How do I scan a QR code online?
Open the scanner above and choose Camera to scan a code in front of you, or Upload image to read a QR code you already have as a photo or screenshot. The code is decoded the moment it is recognised and the result appears underneath — no app and no signup required.
Can I scan a QR code from an image or screenshot?
Yes. Switch to the Upload image tab, then drop in a file, browse for one, or simply paste a screenshot with Ctrl+V (Cmd+V on Mac). This is the easiest way to read a QR code that is already on your screen, in an email or in a PDF, because you cannot point a camera at your own display reliably.
Do I need to install an app to scan a QR code?
No. This scanner runs in your web browser on any modern phone, tablet or computer. Most recent iPhones and Android phones can also read QR codes straight from the native camera app, but a browser scanner is useful on desktops and for reading codes stored as image files.
Is it safe to scan QR codes here?
The scanning itself is private: your camera frames and uploaded images are processed on your device with JavaScript and are never sent to our servers. Be careful with what a code contains, though. QR codes can hide malicious links, so we always show you the full destination and never open anything automatically — check the address before you tap through.
Why won't my QR code scan?
The most common causes are blur, glare and low light. Hold the camera 10–30 cm away, keep the code flat and fully inside the frame, and make sure there is good even lighting. Low contrast codes (light dots on a dark background, or a busy logo over the pattern) and damaged or partially covered codes can also fail. If a live scan will not lock on, take a photo and use the Upload image tab instead.
How do I scan a QR code on a laptop or PC?
If your computer has a webcam, choose Camera and hold the printed code up to it. If the code is already on your screen — in an email, a PDF or a web page — take a screenshot and paste or upload it in the Upload image tab, which is far more reliable than pointing a webcam at a monitor.
Which QR code types can the scanner read?
Any standard QR code. On top of the raw content, we automatically recognise and lay out website links, WiFi network credentials, vCard and MeCard contacts, calendar events, email, SMS, phone numbers, map locations and Bitcoin payment requests.
Is the QR code scanner free?
Yes — completely free, with no signup, no scan limit and no watermark, exactly like every generator on EasyQRTools.
Create a QR code instead
Scanning is only half the job. Explore all free QR code generators to make your own — WiFi, WhatsApp, payments, contact cards and more.