How to Read a QR Code from an Image
- Upload the image — a screenshot, a saved photo, a scanned flyer, or a downloaded ticket. Any common format (JPG, PNG, WEBP) works.
- The decoder scans automatically. It locates the three corner finder patterns, corrects for tilt and perspective, and extracts the encoded data.
- Read the result safely. The decoded content — a URL, Wi-Fi credentials, contact card, or plain text — is displayed as text before you act on it, so you can inspect a link before ever opening it.
Why Decode On-Screen Codes with an Upload Tool?
Phone cameras can't scan a QR code that's displayed on the same phone — the classic problem with codes received in WhatsApp messages, emails, or PDFs you're reading on-screen. Take a screenshot and upload it here instead. The same applies on desktop: a QR code in a webinar slide, a PDF invoice, or a website can be captured with a screenshot tool and decoded in seconds without ever involving a second device.
Decoding runs entirely in your browser via JavaScript — the image is never uploaded to a server, which matters when the code contains a Wi-Fi password, a payment reference, or a private event link.
QR Safety: Check Before You Tap
"Quishing" — phishing via QR code — works because a code is opaque: humans can't read it, so attackers paste malicious stickers over legitimate codes on parking meters, restaurant tables, and posters. A reader that shows you the raw URL first is your defense. Before opening a decoded link, check that the domain matches who supposedly published it, be suspicious of URL shorteners in physical-world codes, and treat any decoded link that immediately asks for login credentials or payment as hostile until proven otherwise. Codes from unknown sources that decode to app-download pages are a red flag.
Want to understand what's inside the different code types — URL, vCard, Wi-Fi, event? Our guide to QR code types breaks down each format, and the QR Generator lets you create your own.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why won't my QR code scan?
The usual culprits, in order: the image is too small or blurry (retake the screenshot at full size), poor contrast between the code and background, part of the code is cut off or covered, or the image is actually a different barcode type. A clean screenshot at 200+ pixels across almost always decodes.
Can it read damaged or partially covered codes?
Often yes — QR codes carry Reed–Solomon error correction that can reconstruct up to 7–30% damage depending on the code's correction level. That's the same mechanism that lets designers put logos in the middle of codes.
Is the decoded Wi-Fi password or link sent anywhere?
No — decoding is fully client-side. Neither the image nor its contents leave your device.
Can I decode multiple QR codes in one image?
The reader returns the clearest code it finds. If a poster has several codes, crop the image around each one (our Image Cropper makes this quick) and decode them separately.
What data can a QR code contain?
Up to about 4,000 characters of text: URLs, plain text, phone numbers, SMS templates, vCard contacts, calendar events, and Wi-Fi network credentials are the common payloads. The reader shows you exactly which type you've got.