Read a code. Keep it private.
A free QR code and barcode reader for images and live camera scans. Choose a picture, drop a batch, or paste an image.
Scan an image or use your camera
From an image
or drag and drop images here
Paste an image with Ctrl+V / Cmd+V.
Multiple files welcome · 20 MB per image
From your camera
Point at one code in good light. Camera access starts only when you ask for it.
QR · UPC-A · UPC-E · EAN-13 · EAN-8 · Code 128 · Code 39 · ITF · Data Matrix. One code per image.
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Results
Your decoded text and format will appear here. Links never open automatically.
How to scan a QR code from an image on your computer
You do not need to point your phone at your computer screen to read a QR code. Save the picture or take a screenshot, then choose that image in this QR code reader. The scanner examines the image in your browser and displays the text or link it finds. You can copy the result without opening an unfamiliar website.
For a screenshot, include the whole QR code and a little empty space around it. Avoid cropping right up to its edges. A clear, original image usually works better than a small preview copied from a message or a photograph of another screen.
You can select several images for a batch scan. Each image is checked for one code, so use separate pictures when you need to read several codes from the same document. For a code on paper, the camera option is another choice when your browser permits camera access.
How to read a barcode from a photo
A barcode reader can also extract a code from a product photo, packaging image or screenshot. Choose a picture that shows the entire barcode, including the blank space on both ends. Keep the camera square to the label when taking the photograph, and make sure the thin lines are sharp rather than blurred together.
The result is the information encoded in the barcode. For many retail products, that is an identification number. Reading that number does not automatically identify the product, verify that an item is genuine or provide its current price.
If a shopping search link is available, you can choose to search for the decoded number. The external destination receives that code only after you click the link. Review the number first, especially when working with shipping labels or other codes that might contain information you do not want to share.
QR codes, one-dimensional barcodes and Data Matrix
A traditional one-dimensional barcode uses a sequence of parallel bars and spaces. The scanner reads that sequence to recover the encoded value. You will often see this format on shop products, books and labels. The printed digits underneath may help you check a result, but the scanner needs a readable barcode pattern.
A QR code is a two-dimensional barcode: its small squares form a pattern across both the width and height of the symbol. QR codes can contain website links, plain text and other information. A decoded link is still just a link; successful scanning does not establish whether its destination is trustworthy.
Data Matrix is another two-dimensional format, separate from QR. It often has a solid border along two adjoining sides. This reader uses ZXing to recognize supported barcode formats locally. A symbol's appearance, print quality and encoding all affect whether it can be read.
Why your scan images are not uploaded
Decoding happens on your device, inside your browser. Your selected scan images and decoded results are not uploaded to a scanning server. The tool does not store your scans, and it does not use analytics or cookies. This makes it useful when you want to read a code without sending the picture to an online decoding service.
Local scanning does not mean the website makes no network requests. You need an internet connection for the first load, including the scanner library supplied through a content delivery network. The website host and that network receive ordinary requests needed to deliver the page and its resources. Do not rely on the tool being available offline, even if a previously opened page sometimes continues to work.
External shopping links are optional and send the decoded code to their destination after you click. That destination has its own privacy practices. The current tool has no advertising network; if advertising is added later, an ad network may introduce cookies and additional requests. Those changes would need an updated privacy explanation.
Troubleshooting a QR code or barcode that will not scan
Start with a sharper image. Blurry focus, glare, shadows, low contrast and very small codes can hide the pattern the reader needs. Retake the photograph with even lighting, or use the original picture instead of a compressed messaging preview. Keep the entire symbol and its surrounding blank margin visible.
If a picture contains multiple codes, crop a separate image for each one while preserving its margin. Batch scanning accepts multiple images, but each image is checked for one code. Enlarging a tiny image may make it easier to see without restoring the missing detail needed to decode it.
Try JPG, PNG or WebP first. GIF uses the first frame, and BMP or other image formats depend on browser support. For camera scanning, use the site over HTTPS and allow camera access. If permission is blocked or the camera is unavailable, choose a saved image instead.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I scan a QR code from a screenshot?
- Yes. Choose the screenshot in the reader. Include the full code and some blank space around it, and use a sharp image large enough to show the pattern clearly.
- Which image formats can I use?
- You can use JPG, PNG and WebP images. GIF scanning uses the first frame. BMP and other image formats work when your browser supports them.
- Can I scan several barcodes at once?
- You can select multiple images for batch scanning. The reader checks for one code per image. If a photo contains several codes, make a separate image for each code.
- Are my images or results uploaded or saved?
- No. Scan images and decoded results are processed locally and are not uploaded or stored by the tool. The host and scanner-library CDN still receive ordinary page requests. Clicking an optional shopping link sends the code to that external destination.
- Does the reader work without an internet connection?
- An internet connection is needed for the first load, including the scanner library. Decoding then happens locally, but offline availability is not guaranteed.
- Why will camera scanning not start?
- Camera scanning requires HTTPS, browser camera support and your permission. Check the site's camera permission and whether another app is using the camera. You can also scan a saved image instead.