How to Scan QR Codes on Windows or Mac With/Without Webcam
Is yourphone camera not working, or perhaps you don’t have access to it right now? In that case, you scan a QR code from your Windows PC or Mac webcam. But what to do if your PC doesn’t have a webcam or it isn’t working? Fret not. In this guide, we will show you how to scan QR codes on a PC or Mac with or even without a webcam.
Table of Contents
Scan QR Codes With Windows or Laptop Webcam
If you have a laptop or PC with a webcam, you can use the native camera app itself which comes preinstalled on Windows. It offers a simple, and ad-free user experience which many of you may appreciate. Here’s how to use it:
1.Open theCameraapp on your Windows PC or laptop and then switch to theBarcodetab.
2.After that, point out theQR codein front of thewebcam. Once the scan is completed, it will display theURL or linkof the webpage.
Clicking on it will open thewebpageon your default web browser.
Scan QR Codes Without Windows PC or Laptop Webcam
If you don’t have a webcam for your desktop or your laptop’s webcam is no longer working, you can rely on the 3rd-party app to scan the QR code. Here’s the complete guide:
Note:To allow the 3rd-party app to scan the QR code, you must have a photo of it on your computer.
1.Install theQR Code Scanner(by Matthias Duyck) from the Microsoft Store.
2.Once done, open the app and then head over to theOpen QR Imagetab. After that, click on theOpen Image Filebutton.
3.On the next window, select theQR imagethat you want to scan and hitOpen.
4.After the scan is completed, the URL will be displayed. You can simply click on theCopy To Clipboardbutton and then paste the URL into the browser’s address bar.
Press theEnterkey, and it will open the relevant webpage.
How to Scan QR Codes on Mac
Unlike Windows, Mac doesn’t have a native web camera app to scan the QR codes. So we would be relying on the 3rd-party app to do so. Here’s how:
1.Install theQR Captureapplication from the Mac App Store.
2.Launch theappand open the QR image that you want to scan. Position the phone frame on top of the QR code and then click on theShutterbutton (Camera icon).
Within a few seconds, it will open the webpage on your default web browser.
Pro Tip:You can use themobile rotationicon to change the orientation of the phone’s frame.
On the other hand, if you want to scan the QR code from your Mac’s webcam, you can just click on theCameraicon (with two circular arrows) and then place the QR code inside the phone frame.
After that, it will automatically open the webpage on your browser.
How to Scan QR Codes Online (Browser)
If you don’t want to go through the hassle of installing apps just to scan one or two QR codes, then you can try the online method. However, if you have a QR code that carries sensitive information, we wouldn’t recommend you follow this method, as your data may get stored on 3rd-party servers.
Now those things are sorted out, here’s how to scan a QR code online:
1.Open theWeb QRwebsite on your desktop browser, and if prompted,Allowthe Camera access.
2.Now point the QR code inside the frame, and once the scan is completed, it will display the webpage link at the bottom. Click on it to open the webpage.
If you want to scan a QR code without a webcam, here’s how to do it:
1.Click on theCameraicon and then click theChoose filebutton.
2.As usual, select the QR picture and clickOpen.
That’s all! It will then show the website link at the bottom.
- Why QR code is not being recognized?
Your QR code may not be recognized for various reasons such as curved QR paper, poor lighting, wrong QR code, or an expired QR code.
- Are there any security risks involved in scanning QR codes?
Yes, of course, and there are a few common risks you should be wary about. The attackers can create a fake QR code, which can be used for malicious activities like phishing, malware, collecting personal data, redirecting to the payment gateway, and more.
- My webcam is not working or detecting. What do I do?
Some common reasons for your webcam not working or being detected include not granting QR scanner app access to your camera, your antivirus blocking webcam access system-wide, or the webcam driver being incompatible with the current Windows or Mac version.
Transform Your Computer Into a QR Code Scanner
While you may never feel compelled to use a QR code scanner on your computer with your smartphone nearby, there are instances when focusing on work without distractions becomes crucial. How many times have we found ourselves using our phones for a specific task only to get sidetracked by TikTok, YouTube, or Instagram Reels? We hope the guide above will help you in scanning QR codes from your Mac or Windows computer.
Before you go, you can also check our listicle on some of thebest ways to create QR codes.
Rahul is your go-to guide for fixing Windows, Steam, Android, Samsung TV, and Google Chrome. An engineering college dropout who followed his passion for tech, he brings 3 years of troubleshooting experience and 2+ years of running his own tech blog to the table. When he’s not solving your tech problems, you’ll find him unwinding with the latest anime or K-drama.
