How to Scan QR Codes on Windows

QR codes aren't just for phones. Here's how to scan a QR code on Windows.

Quick Response codes (or QR codes for short) are two-dimensional barcodes that store data for a machine to read. These QR codes are commonly used to share emails, phone numbers, website links, and other information. But how do you scan these QR codes on a Windows computer?

If you don't have your phone, this guide will show you how to easily scan a QR code on a Windows 10 or Windows 11 computer.

Microsoft recently added a QR code scanner to its native camera app for Windows. You can use the app to quickly scan a QR code on both Windows 10 and Windows 11 computers. Here are the steps for either OS:

It's worth noting that the QR code option in the Camera app may not appear if you're not running the most recent version of Windows. In that case, you must enable the experimental features in the Windows Camera app to access the QR code option. Here’s how you can go about it.

Restart the Camera app after completing the above steps, and you should see the QR code scanner option.

Although the Windows Camera app makes it simple to scan QR codes, it is quite limited. For instance, the app does not allow you to scan QR codes from an existing image on your computer. To do so, you'll need to use a dedicated QR code scanner app on Windows.

Thanks to the growing popularity of QR codes, there are numerous QR code scanner apps available on the Microsoft Store. You can easily scan or generate QR codes on your Windows computer by using an app like Codex. And there are simple online tools for generating QR codes out there.

To scan QR codes using the Codex app on Windows:

If you’re looking to scan a QR code from an existing image on your computer, you can follow these steps instead.

The app will immediately scan the QR code within the selected image and open it.

Now you know two easy ways to scan QR codes on your Windows computer. Of course, these aren't the only methods for scanning QR codes on Windows. You can always use Google Lens in Chrome or a third-party QR scanning service online to scan codes on Windows.

Pankil is a freelance tech writer from India who has been writing about Windows since 2021. As a long-time Windows user, he has extensive knowledge of the ins and outs of the operating system and specializes in creating how-tos and troubleshooting guides. With a focus on practical advice and real-world solutions, Pankil aims to make technology accessible and user-friendly for everyone.