QR Code Decoder
Read any QR code from a screenshot or photo. Upload, drop or paste the image and QRPixel decodes the payload on your device — nothing is ever uploaded.
How to decode a QR code image, step by step
Step 1 — get the code into an image file. A screenshot of a code on screen, a photo of a printed code, or a PNG or SVG export from a generator all work. Aim for the pattern filling a decent part of the frame with a little clear space around it.
Step 2 — hand it to the decoder above. Drag and drop the file, click the area to browse, or press Ctrl+V (Cmd+V on a Mac) to paste from your clipboard, which is the fastest route for screenshots.
Step 3 — read the result. The decoded payload appears as text along with its detected type, so a WiFi code shows the network and password fields rather than the raw encoded string.
Step 4 — copy or act on it. Use the copy button to move the content into a document or ticket, or open the reset control and decode another image.
When a decoder is the right tool
Proofing before print is the most common use: decode the exported artwork and check the destination exactly matches what you intended, including https, trailing slashes and campaign parameters.
Recovering content from an old code is another — a legacy flyer, a supplier label or an archived design file where nobody remembers where the code pointed. Decoding the artwork answers it in seconds.
Auditing a code you did not create is the safety case. Instead of scanning a suspicious code with your phone, decode the photo here and inspect the URL as text first.
Working on a desktop without a camera also matters — a laptop with no webcam, or a locked-down work machine, can still read codes through an image file.
Privacy: what happens to your image
The decoder reads pixel data from the file in the browser, so there is no upload, no temporary storage and no account. Closing the tab removes everything, and the preview object URL is released as soon as you reset or leave the page.
Because nothing is transmitted, the tool also works offline once the page has loaded — useful on a venue WiFi network you would rather not send a WiFi credential code across.
Ready to try it?
Frequently asked questions
How do I decode a QR code from an image?
Drag the image into the drop area, click to browse for a file, or paste a screenshot straight from your clipboard. The decoder locates the pattern, reads the payload and shows the decoded content with a copy button — no upload step and no waiting on a server.
Which QR code types can it read?
Anything encoded in a standard QR code: plain URLs and text, WiFi credentials, vCard contact details, email and SMS templates, WhatsApp links, phone numbers, geographic coordinates and calendar events. Recognised types are labelled so you can see at a glance what the code would do when scanned.
Is the image I upload sent anywhere?
No. Decoding runs entirely in your browser using the local canvas and a JavaScript decoder, so the file never leaves your device. That matters when the code holds a WiFi password, a private link or contact details you would rather not hand to a third-party service.
Why does a QR code fail to decode?
The usual causes are a blurred or motion-shaky photo, a code cropped so tightly that its quiet zone is missing, extreme angle or glare, or a heavily stylised code with too little contrast. Retake the photo straight on with even lighting, include a little white space around the pattern, and try again.
Can I check a QR code before printing it?
Yes, and it is worth doing on every print run. Export the finished code, decode it here, and confirm the payload character for character — a typo in a URL is far cheaper to catch before a thousand flyers than after.
Should I trust a link a QR code decodes to?
Read the decoded URL before opening it. Decoding a code you found on a poster or parking meter is a safe way to inspect the destination without your phone jumping straight into a browser, which is exactly how QR phishing ("quishing") attempts work.
Related tools and guides
- QR code generator — Create a new QR code for a URL, WiFi network, vCard, text and more.
- Bulk QR generator — Generate many codes from a CSV, then spot-check a few of them with this decoder.
- Barcode scanner — Use your camera to read barcodes and QR codes live instead of from a file.
- Print QR code generator — Print-ready export settings for codes you have just verified.
- How to test a QR code before printing — The full proofing routine, from decoding the file to scanning a physical sample.
- QR code security and quishing — Why inspecting a decoded URL before opening it is a sensible habit.