QR Code Scanner

How to use QR Code Scanner

1. Choose an image, drop one on the page, or press Ctrl+V to paste a screenshot. Or press Camera and then Start camera.
2. Wait a moment while the code is read. A green box marks the code that was found.
3. Read the result and its type, such as URL, Wi-Fi, email or text.
4. Copy the text, or for a link check the address and press Open link if you trust it.

How scanning works

The tool looks for the three square markers that every QR code has, works out how the dark and light squares are arranged, and turns them back into text. For a picture it tries the image at several sizes and also with the colours inverted, which helps with light-on-dark codes and large or small images.

For the camera it grabs a frame about ten times a second and stops after it finds a code. Where your browser has a built-in barcode detector it uses that first and falls back to a bundled reader otherwise.

What the result types mean

The tool labels what it reads so you can act on it safely.

• URL: a web address. Check it before opening.
• Wi-Fi: a network name, password and security type, shown as separate rows with copy buttons.
• Email, phone and SMS: an address, number or message, shown as text you can copy.
• vCard: a contact card, with name, phone and email picked out.
• Text: anything else, shown as it was read.

Tips for a good scan

• Keep the whole code in view with a blank border around it.
• Use a sharp, well-lit image, and avoid glare on screens or glossy paper.
• Crop a screenshot closer to the code if it is small in the picture.
• On a phone, hold steady and let the camera focus.
• Only open links you trust.

Limits

Scanning happens in your browser and nothing is uploaded. It cannot promise to read every code, especially damaged, blurred or tiny ones. Only one code is shown at a time. Camera scanning needs a browser that allows camera access and a secure connection. The history is kept in memory only. Reading is done with the open source jsQR library and, where available, your browser's own barcode detector.

Why use this qr code scanner tool

• Image or camera. Scan a saved picture, a pasted screenshot or a live camera view, using the rear camera on phones when there is one.
• Understands what it reads. Links, Wi-Fi logins, email addresses, phone numbers, SMS and contact cards are labelled, and Wi-Fi details are split into network, password and security.
• Careful with links. A link is never opened automatically. You see the full address with a warning to check it, and only web links can be opened.
• Private and free. Images and camera frames are processed on your device and are never uploaded. There is no account and no watermark.

Frequently asked questions

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