Skip to content

Online QR Code Decoder

Decode a QR code from an image or screenshot by choosing, dropping or pasting it. Review the encoded URL and hostname before opening a link; the image stays in your browser and is never sent to a server.

Runs in Browser Free
Your image is decoded locally in this browser and is not uploaded.

Drop a QR code image here

Choose, drop or paste one image

You can also paste a screenshot

PNG, JPEG, WebP or GIF · up to 10 MiB

What Is an Online QR Code Decoder?

An online QR code decoder reads the square QR symbol inside an existing image or same-device screenshot and reveals the encoded payload without requiring a second phone. This page accepts a chosen, dropped or pasted image, decodes it locally, and organizes recognized URL, WiFi, vCard, email, SMS and geo fields while retaining the original text. It reads one QR result rather than generic barcodes or a live camera feed. After reviewing the result, you can copy it to the QR code generator to create a replacement code.

QR Decoder Features

Local image processing

Image pixels stay in the browser; there is no image upload during decoding.

Screenshot-friendly input

Choose, drop or paste PNG, JPEG, WebP and GIF images up to 10 MiB.

Structured payload fields

Recognized URL, WiFi, vCard, email, SMS and geo values are separated without hiding the raw content.

Visible destination cues

Protocols, hostnames and explainable URL notices help you review a destination before opening it.

Copy and rebuild workflow

Copy the exact payload or carry it into the QR generator after inspection.

QR Code Decoding Examples

Read a URL from a screenshot

Screenshot containing https://example.com/account
URL · HTTPS · example.com

The decoder displays the original payload and separates the protocol and hostname, so you can inspect the actual destination before choosing to open it.

Inspect a WiFi QR image

PNG containing WIFI:T:WPA;S:Guest;P:example-pass;;
WiFi · Guest · WPA

Recognized WiFi fields are presented separately while the raw text remains available. Password display stays hidden until you explicitly reveal it.

How to Decode a QR Code from an Image

  1. 1

    Add one QR image

    Choose, drag and drop, or paste a PNG, JPEG, WebP or GIF file no larger than 10 MiB.

  2. 2

    Read the decoded fields

    Wait for local decoding, then compare the raw payload with any recognized URL, WiFi, vCard, email, SMS, geo or text fields.

  3. 3

    Review before acting

    Check the hostname and any warning, then copy the payload, open a reviewed link, rebuild it in the generator or scan another image.

Why a QR Code Image Will Not Scan

Unsupported or oversized file

A format outside PNG, JPEG, WebP or GIF, or a file above 10 MiB, is rejected before decoding.

✗ Wrong 
20 MiB TIFF file
✓ Correct 
6 MiB PNG screenshot

QR cropped too tightly

Removing the pale margin or cutting a corner makes finder patterns harder to detect.

✗ Wrong 
Crop touches the black modules
✓ Correct 
Entire square plus an even margin

Code is too small or blurred

Heavy resizing and compression merge neighboring modules so their grid is no longer distinct.

✗ Wrong 
Tiny QR enlarged from a chat thumbnail
✓ Correct 
Original high-contrast screenshot

QR appears after the first GIF frame

Animated frames after the first are not searched by this decoder.

✗ Wrong 
First frame blank, code on frame five
✓ Correct 
Still PNG exported from the frame containing the code

When to Scan a QR Code from an Image

Same-device screenshots
Read a QR shown in a saved screenshot without pointing another device at the screen.
Link destination review
See the decoded URL and hostname before deciding whether to open a code received in a message or document.
WiFi and contact recovery
Inspect a saved QR containing network details or a vCard while keeping sensitive fields on the device.
Print proof checks
Decode a rendered proof to confirm that its payload matches the intended text before distribution.

How Local QR Decoding Works

Supported input boundary
PNG, JPEG, WebP and GIF files are accepted up to 10 MiB; only the first frame of a GIF is decoded.
Bounded canvas
The image is rendered to a browser canvas and reduced when necessary so its longest decoding side is at most 4096 px.
Single QR result
jsQR examines the pixel data for one QR result. The tool has no camera capture and does not decode generic one-dimensional barcodes.
Text-derived notices
URL notices are calculated from the decoded text. There is no domain reputation service, remote verdict or promise that a link is safe.

Tips for Reliable and Safer QR Scanning

Keep the full quiet zone
Include the light margin around all four sides; tight cropping can remove the boundary needed to locate the code.
Prefer a sharp source
Use the original screenshot or image instead of a repeatedly compressed preview when small modules look blurred.
Inspect sensitive fields
Reveal WiFi passwords only when needed and check contact, message and location values before copying them elsewhere.
Treat warnings as context
Verify unexpected hostnames independently; cues are not reputation checks and cannot establish whether a destination is trustworthy.

QR Code Decoder FAQ

Are QR code images uploaded?
No. The selected image is decoded in your browser and is not sent to an upload endpoint. This local processing includes potentially sensitive screenshots and WiFi payloads.
Which image formats and sizes work?
The input accepts PNG, JPEG, WebP and GIF files up to 10 MiB. For GIF files, only the first frame is examined, so move the code to the first frame or save a still image when needed.
Can it scan with my camera or read barcodes?
No. This tool reads one QR code from an image you choose, drop or paste. It does not access a camera and it is not a generic barcode reader.
Why does a clear QR still fail to decode?
The code may be too small, blurred, cropped through its quiet zone, strongly tilted, low contrast or outside the first GIF frame. Try a sharper crop that keeps a margin around the entire square. No decoder can guarantee every damaged image will scan.
Do link warnings mean a site is malicious?
No. HTTPS, HTTP, credential-like URLs, punycode and IP-address notices are explainable cues derived from the text itself. The decoder performs no reputation lookup, so a warning is not a verdict and no warning is a safety guarantee.
Can I turn the decoded content into a new QR code?
Yes. Copy the decoded payload and continue to the QR code generator. Review the copied content first, especially passwords, contact data and destinations.

Related Tools

View all tools →

Base64 Decoder & Encoder

Encoding & Formatting

Decode and encode Base64 online for free. Real-time conversion with full UTF-8 and emoji support. 100% private — runs in your browser. No signup needed.

Base64 to Image Converter

Encoding & Formatting

Decode a Base64 string or data URI back into an image in your browser. Preview, read dimensions & MIME, then download as PNG, JPG, GIF, SVG. No upload.

CSV to JSON Converter

Encoding & Formatting

Convert CSV to JSON in your browser. RFC 4180, type inference, header row, big-int safe. 100% private, no upload.

.env to JSON Converter

Encoding & Formatting

Paste a .env file, get JSON instantly. Your database passwords, API keys and tokens never leave your browser — 100% private, no upload, free dotenv parser.

Free HTML Entity Decoder — Unescape HTML

Encoding & Formatting

Decode HTML entities and unescape HTML online — free, no signup, 100% in your browser. Converts named, decimal & hex references back to characters; never uploaded.

Free HTML Entity Encoder — Escape HTML

Encoding & Formatting

Encode HTML entities and escape special characters (< > & " ') online — free, no signup, 100% in your browser. Named, decimal, or hex output; never uploaded.