How do I scan a QR code on my laptop?

For a code that's in an image or on a web page, use Google Lens in Chrome: right-click the image and choose Search with Google Lens. To scan a printed code with the webcam, use the Camera app on a Chromebook, or the barcode mode in the Windows Camera app if your version has it. Or just scan it with your phone.

How do I scan a QR code on a Mac?

macOS has no built-in live-camera QR scanner. For a QR code image, open it in Preview or Quick Look — recent macOS versions often detect the link with Live Text — or drag the image into Chrome and use Search with Google Lens.

Can Windows 10 or 11 scan QR codes?

Some Windows 11 builds have a barcode mode in the Camera app, and recent versions of the Snipping Tool can read QR codes in a screen capture. Neither is available on every PC, so Google Lens in Chrome is the dependable fallback.

How do I scan a QR code on a Chromebook?

Open the Camera app, switch to the scan option (or tap the QR code icon) and point the webcam at the code. The link appears on screen.

How do I scan a QR code that's on my computer screen?

Point your phone's camera at the screen — that's the quickest way. On the computer itself, take a screenshot and read it with Google Lens in Chrome or the Snipping Tool on Windows 11.

How to Scan a QR Code on a Laptop or Computer: Windows, Mac, Chromebook (2026)

The quickest way to scan a QR code on your computer screen is to point your phone at it. To read a code on the computer itself: Chromebooks have a QR scanner in the Camera app, Windows has a barcode mode in the Camera app on some builds and QR reading in the Snipping Tool, and on any computer — Mac included — Google Lens in Chrome reads a QR code from an image. Here's each option for laptops and desktops.

Built-in options vary by operating system version, so we note where something may not be on every machine.

On any computer: Google Lens in Chrome

Works on Windows, Mac, Linux and Chromebooks, for a code in an image or on a web page.

Open the image in Chrome (drag the file into a tab), or find the code on the web page.
Right-click it and choose Search with Google Lens.
Lens shows the link from the code — click to open it.

Windows laptop or PC

Camera app (webcam)

On some Windows 11 builds, the Camera app has a barcode mode: open Camera, switch to barcode in the mode list, hold the code up to the webcam, and open the link that appears. If you don't see the mode, your version doesn't have it — use Lens or your phone.

Snipping Tool (code on screen)

Press Windows + Shift + S, capture the area with the code, and use the text actions in the Snipping Tool window — recent versions recognize QR codes and show the link.

Mac or MacBook

macOS doesn't include a live-camera QR scanner, so the options work on images:

Preview or Quick Look: open the image (or select it and press Space). On recent macOS versions, Live Text often recognizes the code and shows the link.
Chrome + Google Lens: the method above — the most reliable on a Mac.
Your iPhone: point its camera at the Mac's screen.

Chromebook

Open the Camera app.
Switch to the scan option (or tap the QR code icon, depending on your version).
Hold the code in front of the webcam and open the link that appears.

Build yours in the editor → capyqr.com

What about online QR scanner websites?

Browser-based scanners exist that read a code from your webcam or an uploaded image. They work, but you're giving a website access to your camera or files — for anything private, prefer the built-in options above or Google Lens. Avoid sites that ask you to install extensions or software just to read a QR code.

Computer won't read the QR code?

Webcams struggle with small codes. Hold the code closer, fill more of the frame, and add light.
Crop the image so the code fills most of it — tiny codes in big screenshots are hard to read.
Use your phone. Phone cameras are far better at reading codes than laptop webcams.

More fixes for codes in images: how to scan a QR code from a screenshot or picture. If nothing reads it, the code may be the problem — see why a QR code won't scan.

Frequently asked questions

How do I scan a QR code on my laptop?: For a code that's in an image or on a web page, use Google Lens in Chrome: right-click the image and choose Search with Google Lens. To scan a printed code with the webcam, use the Camera app on a Chromebook, or the barcode mode in the Windows Camera app if your version has it. Or just scan it with your phone.
How do I scan a QR code on a Mac?: macOS has no built-in live-camera QR scanner. For a QR code image, open it in Preview or Quick Look — recent macOS versions often detect the link with Live Text — or drag the image into Chrome and use Search with Google Lens.
Can Windows 10 or 11 scan QR codes?: Some Windows 11 builds have a barcode mode in the Camera app, and recent versions of the Snipping Tool can read QR codes in a screen capture. Neither is available on every PC, so Google Lens in Chrome is the dependable fallback.
How do I scan a QR code on a Chromebook?: Open the Camera app, switch to the scan option (or tap the QR code icon) and point the webcam at the code. The link appears on screen.
How do I scan a QR code that's on my computer screen?: Point your phone's camera at the screen — that's the quickest way. On the computer itself, take a screenshot and read it with Google Lens in Chrome or the Snipping Tool on Windows 11.

Bottom line: Google Lens in Chrome works on every computer; Chromebooks and some Windows builds can also scan with the webcam. On a phone instead? See the QR code scanning guide.