Read a QR code from a picture

How it works

1. Drop the picture: a screenshot of a code on screen, a photo of one on a poster or a letter, or a saved image.
2. Press Read code. The picture is scanned in your browser by jsQR, a 0.25 MB open-source decoder; nothing is uploaded.
3. The text appears ready to copy. If it is a link, read it before you open it.

Frequently asked questions

Why read a code here instead of with my phone camera?

Two reasons. The code may be in a screenshot or an email on the same screen, where a camera cannot see it. And a phone camera usually offers to open the link straight away, while this shows you the text first, which is the point when the code arrived in a letter about an unpaid bill or on a sticker over a real one.

Nothing came back. Why?

An empty result means no code could be read. The usual causes are a blurred or angled photo, a code that is too small in the frame, heavy glare, or a code that is damaged or partly covered. Crop to the code and try again, or take the picture straight on with the code filling more of the frame.

Does it read barcodes too?

No, this reads QR codes. A shop barcode, an EAN or a UPC, is a different kind of code; this tool does not decode those. To make a barcode, the barcode generator is on this site.

Is the picture uploaded?

No. The decoder runs in your browser and the picture and its contents stay on your device. That matters here: QR codes carry wifi passwords, payment links, boarding passes and door codes.

Can it read several codes in one picture?

It returns one code per picture: the first one the decoder locates, which is usually the largest and sharpest. If a page has several, crop each one and read them separately, three at a time on the free plan.

What are the free limits?

The free plan handles 3 pictures per run, 20 MB each and 10 runs per day. Pro removes these limits.

Is it safe to open the link it finds?

Reading it here is safe: the text is decoded as data, and nothing in the code runs. Whether to trust the link is the same judgement as with any link in an email. Look at the domain, and be wary of a code stuck on top of another one in a public place, which is a common trick.