2D codes
QR code, Micro QR, rMQR, Data Matrix, PDF417, Aztec and MaxiCode. Accented letters and other special characters show up correctly, so it also works as a Data Matrix reader online.
QR & Barcode Scanner
Upload a photo or screenshot, or turn on your camera. The code is read right on your device, and your image never leaves it.
Scan a code from an image
JPG, PNG, WebP or GIF. You can also paste a screenshot with Ctrl+V (Cmd+V on Mac).
Scan with your camera
Point your camera at the code. The video is processed only in your browser and is never sent anywhere.
Codes found
Upload an image or turn on your camera, and any codes found will show up here.
How to scan a QR code or barcode online
- 1 Upload a photo or screenshot of the code. You can drag it in or paste it with Ctrl+V (Cmd+V on Mac).
- 2 On a phone or a laptop with a camera, turn on scanning and point the camera at the code.
- 3 The scanner finds every code in the image at once and marks each one in the preview.
- 4 Copy the result, open the link, or check the details, like the name and password of a WiFi network.
A QR code reader without an app and without signing up. Works on desktop and mobile.
Your images and video stay on your device
Codes are read right in your browser using the zxing-cpp library. Your photo, screenshot or camera feed never leaves your device, so you can safely scan codes that hold passwords or personal details.
When a code won't scan
- Take the photo up close and in focus. The code should fill at least a third of the image.
- Add more light and avoid glare on shiny packaging or screens.
- Crop the image to just the code if the photo has lots of other things in it.
- Flatten a wrinkled label, and use a higher resolution for small codes.
- If your iPhone saves photos as HEIC and the image won't open, save it as a JPG or take a screenshot instead.
Which codes the scanner reads
Product barcodes
EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A and UPC-E. Next to the number you'll see which GS1 office issued it and whether the check digit is correct.
Industrial and shipping codes
Code 128, GS1-128, Code 39, Code 93, Codabar, ITF-14 and GS1 DataBar from warehouses, parcels and shipping cartons.
What you can get from a code
- A web link is shown in full before you open it, so you can see where it leads.
- For a WiFi QR code, you'll see the network name and password, ready to copy to your computer.
- A contact card (vCard or MeCard) shows the name, phone number and email.
- For a payment QR code (European EPC or Czech SPAYD), you'll see the account, amount and message for the recipient.
- For an EAN barcode lookup, you get the GS1 prefix and whether the check digit is valid.
- GS1-128 and GS1 Data Matrix shipping codes show their application identifiers, such as the batch number or expiration date.
When the scanner comes in handy
A QR code on your computer screen
You can't point your phone at a QR code from an email, PDF or website when it's on that same phone. Take a screenshot and paste it here instead. It works the same way on a PC or laptop, no phone needed.
WiFi password from a QR code
The QR code on a router sticker or a cafe table holds the WiFi password. The scanner shows it, so you can connect from your laptop too.
Checking a product barcode
Take a photo of the barcode and you'll see the number, the GS1 prefix and whether the check digit is valid. A handy barcode reader from a photo, no handheld scanner needed.
Testing codes before printing
Check codes from the barcode generator or the QR code generator here before you print them. If the scanner can read them from the preview, a regular scanner will usually read them too.
Fake QR codes and quishing: how to check if a QR code is safe
Quishing is QR code phishing (QR plus phishing). A scammer replaces or covers a real QR code with their own, and it leads to a page that looks like a bank, a payment page or a delivery service. They're after your login details, your card number or a payment to their account. A QR code works well for this because you can't see the address at a glance.
The most common QR code scams
- Parking meters and EV chargers
- In a typical QR code parking scam, a sticker is placed over the original code and leads to a fake payment page. You pay the scammer, and your parking still isn't paid.
- Parcels, fines and invoices
- A text, an email or a note on your windshield with a QR code to pay a delivery fee, a parking fine or an unpaid invoice. Real companies and government offices don't collect money this way.
- Emails asking you to verify your account
- The message asks you to scan a QR code to verify your account or reset your password. A link hidden in an image gets past spam filters and opens on your phone, where the address is harder to see.
- Online marketplaces
- A fake buyer on Facebook Marketplace or a similar site sends you a QR code to "receive payment". In reality, it leads to a page that asks for your card details.
- Restaurants, posters and flyers
- A malicious QR code stuck on a table or poster opens a page that asks for a payment, a login or an app install instead of the menu or contest you expected.
QR code safety check before you open the link
- 1 Check whether the code is a sticker placed over the original, especially on parking meters and chargers.
- 2 Read the full address before opening it. Look for typos in the domain name, extra hyphens and unusual endings.
- 3 When paying or logging in, don't open shortened links that hide where they lead.
- 4 Never enter a password or card details on a page you opened from a QR code. Open your bank or operator app directly instead.
- 5 Don't install apps from a link in a QR code. Use only the official app store.
This scanner never opens a link on its own. Upload a photo or screenshot of the code and you'll see the full address first. Then you decide whether to open it.
Read more about scanning safely in Are QR codes safe?
Related Tools
More generators for test data, codes and placeholder content.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How do I scan a QR code from an image or photo?
Upload the image to the scanner or drag it onto the page. You can also paste a screenshot with Ctrl+V (Cmd+V on Mac). The scanner finds every code in the image and lists what each one contains.
Can I scan a QR code on my PC or laptop without a phone?
Yes. Take a screenshot of the QR code and paste it here, or turn on your webcam. There's nothing to install.
Is this QR code scanner online really free?
Yes, with no sign-up and no limit on how many codes you scan. It works in your browser on both desktop and mobile.
Are my images uploaded to a server?
No. Codes are read right on your device. Your images and camera feed are never sent anywhere or stored.
How do I get the WiFi password from a QR code?
Take a photo of the WiFi QR code or upload a picture of it. The scanner shows the network name, security type and password, which you can copy.
Which barcodes does the scanner support?
QR code, Micro QR, rMQR, Data Matrix, PDF417, Aztec, MaxiCode, EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A, UPC-E, Code 128, GS1-128, Code 39, Code 93, Codabar, ITF-14 and GS1 DataBar.
Can I look up the country from a barcode?
For EAN and UPC codes, the scanner shows the GS1 office that issued the number based on its prefix, for example GS1 US for 000-139 or GS1 China for 690-699. That's not the country of origin, though. A company can register with GS1 in one country and make its products somewhere else. Look for "Made in" on the packaging instead.
Does the scanner show the product name or price?
No. The scanner works offline in your browser and doesn't query any product database, so it shows only what is in the code itself: the number, the GS1 prefix and the check digit.
Why didn't the scanner find my code?
Usually it's a blurry or dark photo, glare, a code that is too small, or a HEIC image your browser can't open. Take the photo up close in good light, crop it to just the code, and try again.
Why isn't my camera working?
Your browser needs permission to use the camera. If you blocked it, allow it again in the site settings. Another app that is using the camera right now can also block it.
Can it read several codes at once?
Yes. The scanner reads every code it finds in a single image and marks each one in the preview. When you scan with the camera, new codes are added to the list as they appear.
Is it safe to open a link from a QR code?
Not always. In a scam called quishing (QR code phishing), a fake QR code leads to a page that imitates a bank or a payment page. The scanner only shows the link first, so you can check the address before you open it.
Can the scanner read a payment QR code?
Yes. For EPC (European SEPA) and Czech SPAYD payment codes, it shows the account, amount and message. Other national payment QR formats are read too, and their text is shown as is. To actually pay, use your bank app.