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QR code decoder (read a QR code from an image)

Published 7 September 2026

Runs entirely on your device. Nothing you enter or upload is sent to a server.

What you get

The raw text inside the code, a plain-English guess at what it is, and the number of bytes it holds. Links are shown as text so you can read the domain before deciding to open it.

In practice

A QR code on a parking meter, a poster or a delivery note is just a sticker. Anyone can put one there. Reading the address before you open it is the single most useful safety habit; the security explainer has the rest.

Try it yourself

Curious what the decoder is doing? It finds the three finder patterns, reads the format bits to learn the mask and error-correction level, unmasks the data, and runs Reed–Solomon correction before handing you the text.

How decoding works

Frequently asked questions

Why would I decode instead of just scanning?

To see the destination before you commit, to read a code in a screenshot on the same phone, or to check the exact text your generator produced.

Can it read codes from a screen?

Yes, take a screenshot and upload it. The iPhone Camera app cannot scan a code that is already on the same phone; this tool can.

It says no code found.

Try a sharper image, more white space around the code, or crop closer. Very stylised codes with heavy logos sometimes need a real phone scanner with better error handling.

Related reading

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