How to Scan a QR Code on a Laptop: Windows, Mac and Chromebook (Webcam and On-Screen Codes)

Phones made QR codes easy, but sometimes the code is in front of your laptop instead: on a printed form next to your keyboard, inside a PDF, in an email or on a web page. You can scan many of these on a laptop without installing anything. The method depends on two things: where the code is (on paper or on your own screen) and which system you use (Windows, Mac or ChromeOS).

Menu names change between versions, so if a label does not match exactly, look for the closest option. If you are on a phone, see our guides for iPhone and Android.

Quick answer

The rule of thumb: a webcam can only read codes held up in front of it, not codes on its own screen. For on-screen codes, you need software that reads the image.

Method 1: Windows Camera app (printed codes)

Recent versions of the Windows Camera app can read QR codes and barcodes with your laptop's webcam.

1. Open Start, type Camera and open the app.
2. Select the Barcode button on the side of the window.
3. Hold the QR code in front of the webcam so the whole square is visible and in focus.
4. When the code is recognized, a link or text appears at the bottom of the window. Select it to open the website, or copy the text.

If you do not see a Barcode button, update Windows and the Camera app from the Microsoft Store. On some older versions, the option was hidden behind an experimental features setting in the Camera app's settings. If the camera does not start at all, check Settings → Privacy & security → Camera and make sure camera access is turned on.

Wi-Fi QR codes work too: on Windows, scanning one with the Camera app opens Settings so you can confirm joining the network. To create your own, see how to make a WiFi QR code.

Method 2: Chromebook Camera app (printed codes)

ChromeOS has a QR scanner built into the Camera app.

1. Open the Camera app from the launcher.
2. Switch to Scan mode at the bottom of the viewfinder.
3. Choose QR code.
4. Hold the code in front of the webcam. When it is detected, the link, text or Wi-Fi prompt appears; select it to open or copy it.

Method 3: Google Lens in Chrome (codes on your screen)

If the QR code is on a web page you are viewing, you do not need a camera at all.

1. Open the page in Google Chrome (on Windows, Mac or ChromeOS).
2. Right-click the QR code image and choose Search with Google Lens. If the code is part of a larger image, you can right-click anywhere on the page, choose the Lens option and drag a box around the code.
3. A side panel opens. Lens usually shows the decoded link or text, often with a button to open or copy it.

Google's help pages note that Lens works best when Google is your default search engine, and that the selected part of the page is sent to Google to be processed. Keep that in mind for codes that contain private information. Other browsers offer similar visual search features under different names.

Method 4: Screenshot the code (PDFs, emails and apps)

For a code inside a PDF reader, an email app or a video call, take a screenshot first, then let Lens read the image.

Step 1: capture the code.

• Windows: press Windows + Shift + S and drag a box around the code.
• Mac: press Command + Shift + 4 and drag a box around the code.
• Chromebook: press Ctrl + Shift + Show windows and select the area.

Step 2: read the image.

• On a Chromebook, open the screenshot in the Gallery app and use its Lens option.
• On any laptop, go to Google's image search in your browser, choose to upload an image and select the screenshot.

Step 3: check the result and open the link only if it looks right.

Capture the code at a decent size, with a little white border around it. A tiny or cropped code is harder to read. Our guide to the QR code quiet zone explains why that border matters.

Method 5: Use your phone (often the fastest, and the answer on a Mac)

macOS does not offer a QR scanner in a built-in webcam app, so on a Mac the simplest option for a printed code is your phone. For a code on your laptop screen, just point your phone's camera at the screen. Most phones read on-screen codes easily.

If you then want the link on your laptop, you can send it to yourself, or use your phone's sharing features to pass it across.

Login QR codes: scan with your phone, not your laptop

Some QR codes on a laptop screen are designed to be scanned by your phone: logging in to a messaging app on the web, linking an authenticator app, pairing a device or signing in to a TV or streaming service. These codes link your phone's account to the laptop session. Decoding them on the laptop does nothing useful. Open the relevant app on your phone and use its built-in scanner.

Only scan login and pairing codes that you started yourself. If someone sends you a login QR code and asks you to scan it, do not; it could connect their device to your account.

Check before you open

A QR code hides its destination until you decode it, so take a second before clicking:

• Read the web address that Lens or the Camera app shows. Look at how the domain ends, and watch for misspellings.
• Be careful with codes that ask you to log in or pay right after scanning, especially from emails you did not expect.
• Do not install software just because a QR code page asks you to.

Our guide on how to check if a QR code is safe covers this in more detail.

When the laptop will not scan

• Lighting: webcams struggle in dim rooms. Face a window or lamp, and avoid glare on glossy paper.
• Distance: move the code slowly closer and farther. Many laptop webcams have fixed focus, so very close codes may blur.
• Hold it still for a second or two.
• Fill the frame with the code, keeping its white border visible.
• Try another method: if the webcam fails, take a photo with your phone or scan the code from your phone directly.

If the code itself is the problem (too small, low contrast or damaged), see QR code not scanning.

Testing your own codes on a laptop

If you make QR codes on a laptop, test each one before you print it. Display the code on screen and scan it with your phone, then download it and check the file with Google Lens. You can create a free code with our generator above and test it the same way.

Frequently asked questions

Can I scan a QR code with my laptop camera?

Often, yes. Recent versions of the Windows Camera app have a Barcode mode, and the Chromebook Camera app has a Scan mode with QR support. On a Mac, use your phone or an on-screen method instead.

How do I scan a QR code that is on my laptop screen?

Right-click the code in Chrome and choose Search with Google Lens. For codes in PDFs, emails or apps, take a screenshot and upload it to Google's image search, or point your phone camera at the screen.

How do I scan a QR code on a Mac?

The simplest option is your phone's camera, for both printed codes and codes on the Mac's screen. For a code on a web page, you can also use Google Lens in Chrome.

Is it safe to scan QR codes on a laptop?

It is as safe as clicking a link. Check the web address before opening it, be cautious with codes that ask you to log in or pay, and do not scan login codes that someone else sent you.

Why does my laptop camera not read the QR code?

Usually it is lighting, focus or distance. Improve the light, hold the code still and move it slowly closer or farther. Make sure the camera has permission to run and that your Camera app is up to date.

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