Two ways to scan, and when to use each
This page reads a code from a live camera or from an image file. Both end the same way: the text stored in the code appears on screen, and you decide what to do with it.
Use the camera when the code is on paper, a box or another person's phone. Use an image when the code is already on your own screen, which is the usual case on a laptop. You cannot point a webcam at the screen it sits on, but you can take a screenshot and paste it in.
With the camera
- Open the Scan with camera tab.
- Choose a camera. On a phone that is normally the back one.
- Press Start camera and allow access when the browser asks.
- Hold the code in view about 15 to 30 cm away until it sharpens. The result shows as soon as it is read.
- Press Stop to switch the camera off.
With an image
Open the Upload image tab, then pick a file, drag it onto the page, or copy a screenshot and press Ctrl+V. A photo works, but a screenshot is better than a photo of a screen, because it has no glare or moire.
What you see after a scan
A QR code is just text. The page works out what kind of text it is and shows it in a form you can read:
| Inside the code | What the page shows |
|---|---|
| A web link | The full address, before anything is opened |
| WiFi details | Network name, security type and password, each with a copy button |
| A UPI link | Payee name, UPI ID and amount |
| A contact card | Name, phone, email and company |
| Email, phone, SMS | The address or number |
| Anything else | Plain text with a Copy button |
The link view matters most. Fake codes stuck over real ones on parking meters, posters and restaurant tables are a known trick. Read the domain first. If a parking sticker leads to a name you do not recognise, walk away.
The UPI view helps in the same way. Before you pay, check that the payee name and ID match the shop in front of you.
Barcodes it can read
You do not pick a format. The scanner works it out from the image.
- 2D codes: QR Code, Data Matrix, Aztec, PDF417
- Retail: EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A, UPC-E
- Industrial: Code 128, Code 39, ITF, Codabar
Books use EAN-13 as well, so an ISBN barcode comes out as a 978 or 979 number.
What a product barcode number does and does not tell you
People often hope a barcode scan will reveal the price or prove a product is genuine. It will not, and it is better to know why.
A retail barcode holds only a number, such as 8901234567890. This page reads that number correctly. It does not look the number up in any product or price database, and it cannot check authenticity. Anyone can print a copy of a real barcode, so no reader can prove a product is original from the bars alone.
The first digits do carry some meaning. They are a GS1 prefix, and 890 means the number was issued by GS1 India. That is why most packaged goods in Indian shops start with it. But the prefix only shows where the company registered the barcode, not where the product was made. An item made in India can carry a foreign prefix, and the reverse.
If you want to learn more about a product, search the number online and compare it with the one printed on the box and the bill. For authenticity, use the brand's own check, such as a scratch code, hologram or official app.
When a scan will not work
Most failures come down to a handful of causes.
- Camera will not start. Allow camera access from the lock icon in the address bar and close any other app using the camera.
- Code will not focus. Move back a little. Many phone cameras cannot focus closer than about 10 cm.
- Glare or dim light. Tilt the code away from the light, or raise screen brightness when scanning another screen.
- Tiny or blurry image. Crop so the code fills most of the picture.
- Barcode ignored. Hold it square to the bars and leave blank space on both sides.
- Pale or inverted colours. Codes need dark squares on a light background with a clear margin.
Why not just use the phone camera app
On iPhone (iOS 11 and later) and on most Android phones, the built-in app reads QR codes, which is fine for a quick scan. This page earns its place in the cases where the camera app falls short: a code sitting in a screenshot or a WhatsApp image, a laptop with no reader, or a WiFi code where you want the password as text to copy. Everything is decoded in your browser. Images and the camera feed are not uploaded or stored, and nothing is saved after you close the tab.
To make your own codes, try the QR code generator, the WiFi code maker, the UPI code maker or the barcode generator.
Frequently asked questions
How do I scan a QR code that is in a screenshot?
Open the Upload image tab and choose the file, drag it onto the page, or copy the screenshot and press Ctrl+V. The decoded text appears straight away.
Can I scan on a laptop without installing anything?
Yes. Use Scan with camera and Start camera for the webcam, or paste a screenshot if the code is on your own screen. It runs in the browser.
Can this tell me if a product is original?
No. A barcode only stores a number, and numbers can be copied. Use the brand's own verification method, such as a hologram, scratch code or official app.
Does it show the price of a product?
No. It reads the number on the barcode but does not look it up anywhere. You can search that number online to find a listing.
What does a barcode starting with 890 mean?
It is the GS1 India prefix, so the number was issued through GS1 India. It does not prove the product was made in India.
Is anything I scan saved or uploaded?
No. Decoding happens in your browser and results are not stored, so copy what you need before you close the page.
Why is my code not scanning?
Usually it is focus, glare or size. Step back, avoid reflections and crop so the code fills the image. Low contrast or a missing margin can stop it in any app.
Updated 2026-10-14