Online QR code scanner
Drop an image or turn on your camera: the QR code content shows up at once, with a check of the link before you open it. Everything runs in your browser.
Updated September 24, 2026
Read a QR code
From an image, a screenshot or your device's camera.
Decoded 100% in your browser: no image is uploaded or stored.
When an online scanner helps
- The QR code is on your own screen: in an email, a PDF or a screenshot on your phone. You cannot point a camera at itself.
- You are on a laptop with no phone nearby, or only a webcam.
- You want to see the raw content before opening a link: a code on a parking meter, a flyer under your wiper, a package you never ordered.
- You need to check a code before printing: what it really holds, not what the mockup says.
How decoding works
The tool uses jsQR, an open-source library, the same one our designer uses to re-read every QR code before download. The image is drawn in your browser, analyzed pixel by pixel, then forgotten: no image is sent to QRTada or stored. With the camera, the tool reads several frames per second and stops as soon as it finds a code. The camera only turns on when you click.
| Source | Formats | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Image | PNG, JPG, WebP, GIF, BMP | Crop around the code if the image is large |
| Screenshot | PNG, JPG | Zoom in on the code before capturing |
| Camera | Webcam or rear camera | Well-lit code, 8 to 16 inches away |
Link check: the signals to watch
When the code holds a web address, the tool shows the domain, tells you whether the connection is encrypted (https) and flags link shorteners, which hide the real destination. The link never opens on its own: you decide.
That caution is not theoretical. The FTC warned in January 2025 about unexpected packages carrying a QR code "to find out who sent it", and the FBI's IC3 issued a similar alert in July 2025. Fake codes stuck on parking meters lead to fake payment sites. A domain that does not match the city, the operator or the brand you expect should stop you. The glossary covers these scams under quishing.
Why a code will not scan
- The image is blurry or tiny: each module needs at least 2 to 3 pixels. Retake the photo closer and straight on.
- The code is cut off: the three large corner squares must be fully visible.
- There is no white margin: artwork touching the code confuses detection. Crop with some background around it.
- It is not a QR code: Data Matrix, regular barcodes and Spotify codes are not read here.
If you are preparing your own codes, the QR code checker goes further: contrast, margin, module size and density, with the thresholds to meet before printing.
Scanning without an online tool
On a phone, the camera app is enough in most cases, and Google Lens or iPhone Live Text also read codes inside photos you already took. Our step-by-step guides cover iPhone, Android, screenshots and Windows PCs.
Frequently asked questions
Are my images uploaded anywhere?
No. Decoding happens entirely in your browser; no image leaves your device.
Do I need an account?
No, the tool is free with no sign-up.
Why does my browser ask for camera access?
Only when you click "Turn on the camera". You can decline and use an image instead.
Can it read several codes in one image?
It reads the first code it finds. Crop around each code to read them one at a time.
Sources
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