Webcam QR Code Scanner
For desktop: hold the code up to the webcam, or just upload the screenshot.
Camera access is requested only when you press the button. Frames are decoded on this device and discarded.
On a desktop the webcam is usually a fallback, not the first choice: if the code is already on your screen, a screenshot and a paste is faster and sharper than pointing a 720p webcam at a monitor. The camera path is for codes on paper, packaging or a phone held up to the screen.
Both paths are on the page for that reason. The upload area is not a degraded experience — it is often the better one on desktop.
How to use it
- For a code on screen: screenshot it, then press Ctrl+V here.
- For a code in the physical world: press open camera and hold it up.
- Copy the decoded content.
Why webcam scanning of monitors is unreliable
Photographing a screen introduces moiré: the camera sensor's pixel grid beats against the display's, producing interference bands that break up module edges. Lowering the screen brightness, increasing the distance, or tilting the screen slightly can reduce it, but nothing beats having the original pixels.
That is the practical rule: if the code exists digitally, get the pixels (screenshot, paste). If it exists physically, use the camera. Mixing the two is where most failed scans come from.
Reviewed 2026-10-21. This tool runs entirely in your browser — no server, no account, and nothing you generate is stored.
Frequently asked questions
Can I scan a code displayed on the same screen?
Not with the camera — it would be filming its own display. Take a screenshot and paste it instead.
Which webcam resolution do I need?
720p is enough if the code fills a reasonable part of the frame. Higher resolution helps only when the code is small or distant.
Does it work with an external USB camera?
Yes, any camera the browser can see. If several are connected, the browser picks a default; changing it is done in the site settings.
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