QR Code Decoder: Read QR Codes from Photos & Images Online
QR code decoder online: read QR codes from images and screenshots, extracting URLs, WiFi configs, vCards, and plain text.
Updated 2026-08-26
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Features
- Decode QR codes from images, screenshots, or photos: paste, drag and drop, or browse to open
- Paste a QR screenshot from your clipboard with Ctrl+V on Windows or Cmd+V on Mac
- Reads URLs, WiFi credentials, vCard contacts, email addresses, phone numbers, and plain text
- Automatic retry passes enhance low-contrast or blurry codes with grayscale and contrast boost
- Large images are scaled down before decoding, keeping results fast and accurate
- Copy the decoded content with one click, or open detected URLs directly in a new tab
- Supports PNG, JPG, WebP, BMP, and the first frame of GIF images
- Pairs with QR Code Generator: generate a code, then decode it here to verify the content
How to Use
- 1Drop a QR code image onto the workspace, or click the file area to browse for one.
- 2Press Ctrl+V (Cmd+V on Mac) anywhere on the page to paste a QR code screenshot from your clipboard.
- 3Or use the Paste from clipboard button if your browser supports reading images directly.
- 4The image preview appears and decoding starts automatically.
- 5The decoded result is shown with its detected type: URL or text.
- 6Click Copy to copy the result, or Open link to visit a detected URL in a new tab.
- 7Decoding a WeChat screenshot? Crop the QR code region in any image editor first for the best hit rate.
- 8Decoding a business card? Scan the vCard QR code to get the contact details as text.
- 9Verify codes you generated: create one with QR Code Generator, then decode it here to confirm it works.
- 10If decoding fails, try a sharper photo, a larger crop, or a closer shot of the code, then reload.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I decode a QR code from an image?
Open the tool, then drop the image file onto the workspace, click to browse for it, or copy a QR screenshot and press Ctrl+V (Cmd+V on Mac). Decoding starts automatically once the image is loaded.
How do I get the WiFi password from a QR code?
WiFi QR codes store their data in a standard format like WIFI:T:WPA;S:MyNetwork;P:secret123;;. Decode the image and the password is the value after P:. This is handy when you lost a password but still have the login sticker or a photo of it. Only do this for networks you own or have permission to access; scanning someone else's network QR hands you their credentials, and some networks rotate them.
Why does my QR code decode to garbled text or an empty result?
The decoder returns the raw payload the code was encoded with. Garbled characters usually mean the content is not UTF-8 text; it could be binary data, a compressed payload, or text encoded in a legacy charset such as GBK or Shift-JIS. An empty-looking result can also come from a code that stores only whitespace or control characters. If the code comes from a payment or membership app, those payloads are often proprietary and not meant to be human-readable.
Which image formats are supported?
PNG, JPG, WebP, BMP, and the first frame of GIF images. Any image your browser can display can be drawn to the decoding canvas, so other image types usually work too.
Why can't my QR code be decoded?
Common causes are blurry photos, damaged or partial codes, or crops that cut off the three finder squares in the corners. Try a sharper, larger image, or crop closer to the code; the small squares in the corners are the most important part.
Can this tool decode a QR code with a logo in the middle?
It depends on how much of the code the logo covers. Most QR codes have error correction that tolerates some damage, so a small logo usually still decodes. If the logo covers too many modules, the code becomes unreadable; use the original code without the logo.
Can it decode WeChat or Alipay QR codes?
Standard QR codes used by WeChat, Alipay, and most payment apps can be decoded here. Some promotional codes with heavy styling, gradients, or decorative elements may fail; those are often still standard QR codes underneath, so a sharper screenshot often helps.
Can you decode a QR code from a video?
No, this tool decodes a single still image. Take a screenshot of the video frame where the code is fully visible and sharp, then decode the screenshot.
Is the decoded content safe to use?
The decoded text itself is harmless, but a QR code can point anywhere, including malicious sites. Don't blindly open links from codes you don't trust, and be cautious about WiFi credentials or contact data from unknown sources.
Can I decode multiple QR codes at once?
No. This tool decodes one image at a time. Each image gets full processing, including the automatic retry pass with contrast boost, which matters most for blurry or low-contrast codes. For batch decoding, use a phone scanning app or desktop software that processes folders of images.
How is this tool related to QR Code Generator?
They form a closed loop: QR Code Generator creates codes from URLs, text, WiFi, or vCard data, and this decoder reads them back. Generate a code, then decode it here to verify the content is correct.
What kind of content can be stored in a QR code?
QR codes can hold URLs, WiFi credentials, vCard contacts, email addresses, phone numbers, coordinates, and any plain text up to roughly 2,953 bytes; the practical length depends on the version and error correction level of the code.
What's the difference between decoding here and just scanning with my phone's camera?
Your camera app acts on the content immediately: it opens links, joins WiFi, or saves contacts without showing you the payload first, which is exactly how phishing QR codes work. This tool shows the decoded text before anything happens: you decide whether to open the link, and you can inspect a WiFi payload before it touches your network. For codes you trust, the camera is faster; for codes you don't, decode first, act second.