Scan a QR code in three ways
- With your webcam - hold the code up to your laptop or desktop camera.
- With your phone or tablet - open this page in the browser and point the rear camera at the code. Tap Switch camera if the front camera opens first.
- From an image - choose Scan an image to read a QR code from a screenshot, a photo or a downloaded picture. Useful when the code is on the same screen you're using.
The scanner reads continuously, so there's no button to press: as soon as a code is in view, the frame turns green and the decoded content appears in the result panel.
Scan safely: see the link before you open it
A QR code is just a short piece of text, and very often that text is a link. You can't tell where a link goes by looking at the code, which is exactly why scammers use them. This scanner is designed around that risk:
- Links are never opened automatically. You always see the content first.
- The destination domain is shown large and clear, so
paypa1-login.exampledoesn't hide behind a tiny address bar. - Unencrypted links are flagged. If the link starts with
http://instead ofhttps://, you'll see a warning not to enter passwords or payment details. - The raw content is always shown, so you can see tracking parameters and anything else hidden in the code.
Signs a QR code might be a scam
- A sticker placed over another code, on parking meters, EV chargers, restaurant tables or posters.
- A code in an unexpected email or letter asking you to log in, pay, or "verify" an account.
- A domain that's almost right - extra words, swapped letters, or an unusual ending.
- Pressure to act immediately - fines, deliveries on hold, accounts about to be closed.
If anything looks off, don't open the link. Type the company's address yourself instead.
What the scanner can read
| Content | What you see |
|---|---|
| Website link | The domain, a security note for http:// links, and an Open link button |
Wi-Fi network (WIFI:) |
Network name, password and security type |
| Contact card (vCard / MeCard) | The contact's name, with every field in the raw content |
Email (mailto:) |
Address, subject and message |
Phone number (tel:) |
The number |
Text message (SMS: / SMSTO:) |
Number and message |
Location (geo:) |
Coordinates |
Calendar event (VEVENT) |
The event title, with every field in the raw content |
| Plain text | The full text |
Whatever the type, the full raw content is shown underneath, and you can copy it to your clipboard with one tap.
Tips for codes that won't scan
- Fill about a third of the frame. Too far away and the squares blur together; too close and the camera can't focus.
- Hold steady for a second. Webcams use slow shutter speeds in dim light, and movement causes blur.
- Avoid glare. Tilt the code or the screen slightly so reflections don't cover the squares.
- Add light. Low light means noise, and noise breaks up the pattern.
- Use the rear camera on phones. It focuses closer and has higher resolution than the front camera.
- For tiny or printed codes, take a photo with your phone's camera app, then use Scan an image - the full-resolution photo often reads when the live view doesn't.
- Damaged codes may still scan: QR codes contain error correction, so a scratch or small logo usually doesn't matter. A large tear or fold can.
How the scanner works
Where your browser has a built-in barcode detector (Chrome and Edge on many platforms, for example), the scanner uses it - it's fast and handles difficult codes well. Other browsers use a QR decoder that runs inside the page. Either way, decoding happens on your device.
Private by design
The camera image is analysed in your browser, and decoded content is shown only to you. Neither the image nor the content is sent to our servers - that includes Wi-Fi passwords and contact details. Images you choose with Scan an image are read locally and never uploaded.