Free Online QR Code Scanner

Yes, QRLynx's Online QR Code Scanner is completely free to use for both personal and commercial purposes. There are no scan limits, no hidden fees, and no account registration required to use the basic scanning features.

No app installation is required. Our web QR scanner runs entirely within your browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge). This saves storage space on your device and allows you to scan codes instantly on any desktop, iPhone, or Android device directly from the web.

Scanning with QRLynx is secure. For camera scanning, we use local browser APIs so your video stream never leaves your device. For image uploads, files are processed in temporary memory and are not permanently stored on our servers. However, always verify the URL content before clicking unknown links.

Our scanner is a universal decoder. It supports QR Codes (URLs, WiFi credentials, vCards, Email, SMS, Text) and 1D Barcodes (UPC-A, UPC-E, EAN-8, EAN-13, Code 39, Code 128). It is perfect for checking product prices or accessing digital menus.

Camera access might be blocked. Please ensure you've clicked 'Allow' when the browser asked for permission. On iOS/Android: Go to Settings > Privacy > Camera and check your browser permissions. On Desktop: Check the lock icon in the address bar to manage site permissions.

Yes! Switch to the 'Upload Image' tab on the scanner. You can upload any screenshot, photo, or saved image file (PNG, JPG, WEBP, BMP). Our advanced algorithm will locate and decode the code even if it's slightly blurry or angled.

We never store your scans on our servers. The scanner now keeps an optional local history of your last 50 scans in your browser's localStorage so you can re-copy a code you decoded earlier in the session — this list stays entirely on your device and is never transmitted. You can copy, delete, or clear individual entries (or the whole history) from the 'Recent Scans' panel below the scanner. Clearing your browser data wipes it instantly.

If the scanner is struggling, try these troubleshooting tips: Move your camera closer or further away to find focus. Ensure there is sufficient lighting on the QR code. Clean your camera lens. If uploading an image, try cropping it to just the QR code area.

Yes. Our scanner decodes WiFi QR codes (the format starts with WIFI:T:WPA;S:..;P:..;;) and reveals the Network Name (SSID), password, encryption type (WPA, WPA2, WPA3, WEP, or open), and whether the network is hidden. After scanning, copy the password and add the network manually in Settings → WiFi on iPhone or Android, or run rfkill / nmcli on Linux.

Yes — WIFI:T:WPA;S:NetworkName;P:Password;H:false;; is the standard ISO/IEC 18004 format used by every WiFi QR generator. T is the security type (WPA / WPA2 / WPA3 / WEP / nopass), S is the SSID, P is the password, and H is true if the network is hidden. Our scanner parses this format and shows each field separately.

Point your camera at the vCard QR code (the raw format starts with BEGIN:VCARD) or upload a saved image. Our scanner extracts the name, phone, email, company, and address. On iPhone tap the parsed contact to import via the Contacts app; on Android tap to add via the People app. Desktop users can copy the fields and paste into their email client.

Yes — that's one of the safest reasons to use an online scanner. Upload a screenshot or photo of the QR code and our decoder reveals the full URL without opening it. Quishing (QR phishing) attacks have grown 1,400% since 2021 according to Microsoft Security; previewing the URL on desktop before tapping is the simplest defense.

Calendar QR codes use the ICS standard with BEGIN:VEVENT ... END:VEVENT. Our scanner extracts the event title, date/time, location, and description. On iPhone tap to add to Calendar; on Android tap to add to Google Calendar; on desktop copy the .ics block and import into Apple Calendar / Outlook / Google Calendar.

QR codes themselves cannot infect your phone — they are passive matrix images that encode text. The risk is what the encoded content does. A malicious QR code can link to a phishing site, trigger an automatic download (which still requires your tap to install), or pre-fill an SMS/email that could be a scam. Defenses: scan with our online tool to PREVIEW the URL before tapping, watch for stickers placed over legitimate codes (a common physical attack), and never enter credentials on a site you reached via QR. Sources: Microsoft 365 quishing guide, Kaspersky QR safety primer, Duke University Information Security.

Use your phone's native camera (iOS 11+ or Android 9+) for everyday scanning of physical codes — it's the fastest path. Use our online scanner when you want to: (1) decode a QR code from a saved screenshot or image, (2) preview the URL on a desktop before tapping it on your phone, (3) extract the raw WiFi password / vCard / event data without acting on it, or (4) use a desktop computer that doesn't have a built-in QR reader.

The printed text near a QR code is just a label — it's not encoded in the QR. A common quishing tactic is to print 'menu.example.com' next to a QR code that actually points at a different domain. Always trust what the scanner decodes, not what's printed alongside the code. If they don't match, the code may have been replaced (a sticker placed over the legitimate QR is the most common physical attack).

Absolutely. Our scanner is built with responsive HTML5 technology that works natively on iOS (iPhone/iPad) and Android devices using Safari, Chrome, Samsung Internet, or Firefox. No need to visit the App Store or Play Store.

Yes, unlike many simple QR scanners, QRLynx supports linear barcodes found on retail packaging (UPC, EAN). You can scan a product to quickly copy its serial number or search for it online.

While scanning, you won't notice a difference, but technically: Static QR codes contain fixed data directly. Dynamic QR codes contain a short URL that redirects to the destination, allowing the creator to track scans and update the content later. Our scanner works perfectly with both.

BarcodeDetector is a native browser API (part of the W3C Shape Detection Web Standard) currently shipped in Chrome, Edge, Opera, and Samsung Internet. It runs the QR-code-finding algorithm in compiled C++ inside the browser engine and can use the device's GPU or dedicated image-signal processor — that's typically 5-10x faster than a JavaScript decoder and uses less battery on mobile. QRLynx Scanner tries BarcodeDetector first on every scan attempt; if your browser doesn't ship it (Firefox and older Safari versions don't yet), we fall back to the html5-qrcode JavaScript library and a second jsQR pass for tricky images. Either way the work happens inside your browser — nothing is sent to a server.

Yes. Copy any image containing a QR code to your clipboard — using the macOS Cmd+Shift+4 region screenshot, Windows Snipping Tool, or by right-click → Copy Image on any web image — and press Ctrl+V (Cmd+V on Mac) anywhere on the scanner page. The pasted image is decoded immediately and the result is recorded in your local scan history. No file dialog needed.

Yes — if your device exposes more than one camera, a Switch Camera button appears below the viewfinder while scanning. Most phones expose a front and rear camera; many tablets and recent flagship phones (Pixel 8 Pro, iPhone Pro line) expose three or more, and the button cycles through all of them. The scanner keeps running across the switch so you don't lose your scanning context.

Yes, on devices that support the MediaTrack torch capability — primarily Android Chrome and Edge on the rear camera. When supported, a Flashlight button appears next to the Switch Camera button while scanning; tap to toggle. iOS Safari does not currently expose the torch API to web pages, so iPhone users won't see the button. The torch is turned off automatically when you stop scanning or leave the page.