How to Scan a QR Code Online — From Camera or an Image

Not every phone has a reliable built-in QR scanner, and sometimes you have a QR code as a picture rather than something physical in front of your camera. Our free QR Code Scanner handles both cases — scan live with your camera, or upload an image that contains a QR code.

How to Use It

Open the QR Code Scanner and choose "Upload Image" or "Use Camera."
To scan from an image: click the upload box and choose a photo or screenshot containing a QR code.
To scan live: click "Start Scanning," allow camera access, and point your camera at the QR code.
The result appears automatically once a code is detected — no extra button to press.
Copy the result, or click "Open Link" if it's a website URL.

Common Use Cases

Checking where a QR code leads before scanning it with an app that opens links automatically — useful for verifying an unfamiliar poster or flyer.
Reading a QR code from a screenshot someone sent you, without needing to print it or point a phone camera at a screen.
Connecting to WiFi encoded in a QR code shared by a host or workplace.
Extracting contact details or event info from a QR code on a business card or invitation.

Safety Tip

Because this scanner shows you the decoded text before opening anything, you can review a link before clicking "Open Link" — a good habit whenever you scan a QR code from an unfamiliar source. Both the camera feed and any uploaded image are analyzed locally using the jsQR library, so nothing is sent to a server.

Try it now with the free QR Code Scanner, or create your own codes with our QR Code Generator.

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