TinySandyFree Online Tools

QR Code Reader

Upload a picture or screenshot that contains a QR code and read what it says, or point your camera at a code. The decoded text is displayed as plain text. If it is a web link you get a clearly labelled Open link button that only works when you click it, so nothing opens by surprise.

Codes & Scanning Runs in your browser

Read a QR Code

Images are decoded in your browser and never uploaded. The camera starts only when you press Start camera, and needs a secure (https) page or localhost.

Drag and drop a QR code image here, or click to browsePNG, JPG, WebP, GIF or BMP, up to 15 MB. Screenshots work well.

How to Use the QR Code Reader

  1. Choose or drop an image that contains one QR code, then press Decode (the image is also read automatically once added).
  2. Or press Start camera, allow access when your browser asks, and hold the code in view. The camera stops as soon as a code is read.
  3. Read the decoded text and the description of what it is (link, Wi-Fi, contact and so on).
  4. For a link, check the address carefully, then use Open link if you trust it.

About This Tool

Anyone who wants to check where a QR code leads before visiting it, people who received a code as an image, and developers verifying codes they generated.

Input: Image (PNG, JPG, WebP...) or camera  ·  Output: Decoded text.

Features and Limitations

Features

  • Reads QR codes from PNG, JPG, WebP, GIF and BMP images, including inverted (light on dark) codes.
  • Optional live camera scanning that you start and stop yourself; all camera tracks are stopped afterwards.
  • Shows decoded text as plain text, never as HTML.
  • Links are never opened automatically; the Open link button uses rel=noopener noreferrer.
  • Recognises Wi-Fi, email, phone, SMS, vCard and map codes and shows their fields.

Limitations

  • Only one code per image is read; if a picture contains several codes, crop it to the one you need.
  • Blurry, very small, heavily distorted or low-contrast codes may not be found; try a sharper or larger image.
  • Camera access needs HTTPS or localhost and your permission. It does not work on plain http pages, and some embedded browsers block it.
  • Only QR codes are read, not barcodes such as EAN or Code 128.
  • The tool cannot tell you whether a link is safe, only what it says.
  • Processing happens on your device, so very large files depend on your browser's available memory.

Example

A screenshot of a code for https://example.com shows the type “Web link (URL)”, the address as text, and an Open link button that stays inactive until you click it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to scan unknown QR codes here?

Reading the code is safe because the result is shown as plain text and never opened automatically. Be careful when you open a link: check the address, especially the domain name, because QR codes are sometimes used for phishing.

Why does the camera not start?

Browsers allow cameras only on secure pages (https:// or localhost) and after you grant permission. If you denied it earlier, allow camera access for this site in your browser settings and try again.

Is my image or camera video uploaded?

No. Decoding is done by a script in your browser. Video frames are analysed on your device and are not recorded or sent anywhere.

Why was no QR code found in my image?

The code may be too small or blurry, cropped so the quiet border is missing, or damaged. Try a larger, sharper image with some white space around the code.

Can it read barcodes?

No. This tool reads QR codes only.

Related Tools

More like this: all Codes & Scanning tools, all Productivity tools or the TinySandy home page.