What is a live QR code scanner?
A live QR code scanner uses your camera to find a QR code in real time and read the information inside it. Many phones can do this in their built-in camera app. A browser-based scanner is useful when you are on a laptop, when your phone has no scanner, or when you want to see exactly what a code contains before opening it.
How to scan a QR code with your camera
- Press Scan with camera above.
- When your browser asks, choose Allow for camera access.
- Hold the QR code steady, with the whole code in view.
- When the code is read, the camera stops and the text or link appears. Press Copy Text to copy it.
You do not need to install anything, and there is nothing to sign up for.
Tips for a fast scan
- Light: use even light. Avoid glare from a screen or glossy paper.
- Distance: hold the code so it fills a good part of the picture, and move closer or further away if it is not read.
- Steady hands: rest your elbow on something, or put the code on a table.
- Whole code: keep the full square and the empty border around it in view.
- Clean lens: wipe the camera lens if the picture looks foggy.
Camera not working?
- Permission blocked: open your browser's site settings, allow the camera for this page, and reload.
- Opened inside another app: some in-app browsers block the camera. Open the page in Chrome or Safari.
- Another app is using the camera: close video calls and camera apps, then try again.
- No camera on the device: use the image option and select a screenshot or photo of the code.
Is it private and safe?
The camera picture is processed on your device. It is not uploaded, recorded or shared. The scanner shows the content as text and does not open links by itself, which gives you a chance to check the address first.
Be careful with codes in public places and unexpected messages. Look at the domain name, be wary of shortened or misspelled links, and never enter passwords or card details on a page you reached from a code you do not trust.
Scanning from a screenshot or photo
If the code is already saved as an image, use the QR Code Reader to decode it from the file. Need to make a code? Try the Link to QR Code or Text to QR Code tool.
Questions
Do I need an app to scan a QR code?
No. This scanner runs in your browser. Press Scan with camera and allow camera access.
Is the scanner really live?
Yes. It reads the camera picture continuously and stops as soon as it finds a QR code.
Why does my camera not start?
Camera access may be blocked. Allow it in your browser settings and try again. If you opened the page inside another app, open it in Chrome or Safari instead. Also close other apps that may be using the camera.
Is my camera video uploaded or saved?
No. The picture is processed on your device and nothing is recorded or sent to us.
Does it open the link automatically?
No. It shows the text first, so you can check the address before you visit it.
Does it work on a laptop or desktop?
Yes, with a webcam. It also works on phones and tablets.
What if the camera cannot read the code?
Move closer or further away, improve the light, and hold steady. You can also take a screenshot or photo and use the image option instead.
Is this QR scanner free?
Yes, with no signup and no limit.
More tools
Compress to 50 KBCompress to 100 KBCompress to 200 KBCompress to 500 KBCompress Photo from CameraResize to 413×531JPG to PNGPNG to JPGWebP to JPGLink to QR CodeText to QR CodeCompress PDFMerge PDFSplit PDFImage to PDFCamera to PDFExcel to CSVCSV to ExcelExcel to PDFQR Code Reader