QR code scanner
Read a QR code right here.
Use your camera, or drop in a screenshot, photo or PDF export. The code is decoded on your own device and the destination is always shown before you open it.
Camera preview
Your browser can’t decode QR codes natively. Chrome, Edge, Android and Safari 17+ all can — or upload an image of the code instead.
Reading codes safely
Always look before you tap
A QR code is just encoded text — it cannot install anything by itself. The danger is where it sends you. Scammers print stickers and place them over legitimate codes on parking meters, restaurant tables and public posters, a practice sometimes called quishing. Scamwatch has warned about it repeatedly.
That is why this scanner never navigates automatically. It shows you the full address and waits.
Signs a code is worth distrusting
- A sticker sitting on top of a printed code, or peeling at the edges.
- A domain that nearly matches a real one — extra words, odd spelling, unfamiliar endings.
- A page asking for card details, a one-time code, or a login straight after scanning.
- Urgency: a fine to pay immediately, an account about to close.
When in doubt, type the organisation’s address into your browser yourself rather than following the code.
When a code won't read
| Symptom | Usual cause |
|---|---|
| Nothing detected | Image too small or blurry — retake it closer and in focus |
| Works on paper, not on screen | Screen glare, or the code is rendered too small |
| Never scanned since printing | The quiet zone was cropped, or contrast is too low |
| Reads on Android, not iPhone | Often an inverted code — light modules on a dark background |
Straight answers
Scanner questions
Do I need an app to scan a QR code?
No. On iPhone (iOS 11 and later) and Android 10 and later, the built-in camera app reads QR codes. This page is useful when you are on a laptop, when you have a screenshot or photo of a code, or when your camera app is not cooperating.
Is my camera feed uploaded anywhere?
No. Decoding happens on your device using your browser's built-in barcode reader. No frame, photo or decoded result is sent to us, and nothing is stored.
Can I scan a QR code from a screenshot?
Yes. Upload the image, drag it onto the page, or simply paste it with Ctrl+V or Cmd+V. This is the quickest way to read a code that arrived in an email or a PDF.
Why won't my code scan?
The usual causes are a blurry or low-resolution image, a cropped quiet zone (the blank border), poor contrast, or glare on a printed code. Try a sharper photo taken straight on, with the whole code and its white border in frame.
Are QR codes dangerous?
The code itself is only text and cannot run anything. The risk is the destination. Scam codes stuck over parking meters and on posters have been reported across Australia, so this page always shows you the full address and never opens it automatically.