How to use the QR Code Scanner
- Click Start camera and allow camera access, then hold the QR code in the frame. Or click Scan an image, paste a screenshot (Ctrl+V) or drop a file.
- The result appears as soon as the code is read, with a beep if sound is on.
- Check the link before you open it, or copy the text, Wi-Fi password or contact details.
- Earlier scans are listed underneath until you close the page.
Scan a QR code on your screen
To read a QR code that's on your own screen, in an email, a PDF or a website, take a screenshot (Windows + Shift + S on Windows, Cmd + Shift + 4 on Mac), then paste it here with Ctrl+V or Cmd+V. No phone needed.
Stay safe with QR codes
Scammers stick fake QR codes on parking meters, posters and restaurant tables ("quishing"). This scanner never opens a link by itself: it shows the full address first, highlighting the actual website, so you can spot a lookalike before you tap. Be careful with codes that ask you to log in or pay.
What the codes can contain
- Links: shown in full, with an Open button.
- Wi-Fi: network name, security type and password, ready to copy.
- Contacts (vCard), email addresses, phone numbers, text messages and plain text.
Want to make your own? Use the QR code generator.
Frequently asked questions
Can I scan a QR code from a screenshot or image online?
Yes. In curlytab's QR Code Scanner, paste a screenshot with Ctrl+V, drop an image or choose a file, and the code is read in your browser without uploading anything. You can also scan with your laptop or phone camera. Links are shown in full before you open them.
Is my camera feed uploaded?
No. The video is read frame by frame in your browser and never leaves your device. The camera turns off when you stop scanning or leave the page.
Why can't it read my code?
Hold it steady and fill about half the frame, avoid glare, and make sure the whole code including its white border is visible. For screenshots, crop to the code if the image is huge.
Does it read barcodes too?
QR codes work in every browser. In Chrome and Edge on Android and Mac, ordinary barcodes like EAN and UPC are read too.
Do I need an app?
No. Phone cameras can usually read QR codes on their own, but this works on laptops and for screenshots too.
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