Using QR codes to browse on Windows computers can be troublesome. You have to pick up your phone, turn on the camera, scan the code, and share the URL to your computer to continue the operation. Do you know there is a faster way? Several methods recommended in this guide can easily scan QR codes on your laptop.

Table of contents

• 1. Scan QR code with Windows camera
• 2. Using Google Lens in Chrome
• 3. Browser-based QR code scanner
• 4. Special QR code scanning application
• Troubleshooting Tips for Scanning QR Codes on Laptop

Tip : If you plan to create your own QR code, you can try to create a QR code using Canva. This is free.

1. Scan QR code with Windows camera

Windows Camera is a native application that scans QR codes through the laptop's camera. It can scan QR codes printed on paper, product packaging, smartphone, tablet or TV screen.

Open the Windows Camera app by pressing the Win button and typing "Camera" to start a quick search. Click the gear shape icon in the upper left corner to open the settings .

Click the related settings drop-down menu and enable the try new experiment function switch. Close the app and restart it.

On the right side of the camera app screen, select the QR code scanning option (looks like a barcode inside a circle). Move the target QR code to the camera focus area. Scanning will lead to external websites, login pages, emails, or social media accounts.

In addition to scanning the QR code on your Windows laptop, you can also scan the QR code from images on your mobile device.

2. Using Google Lens in Chrome

You can use the Google Lens feature built into Google Chrome to scan any QR code on your browser page and get results about its content right away. This is one of the best ways to scan QR codes on your computer without a camera.

Right-click on the QR code and select Search for Images with Google . You will be prompted to select the area you want to search with Lens . Drag the mouse or trackpad near the barcode and select its outer border.

The Google Lens sidebar will display information about the QR code you just scanned. For example, if the QR code is a social media account, Google Lens will display it and provide the option to navigate directly to that account. Copy the URL or access the website directly.

Tip : If you are not a Chrome user, don't worry. In Firefox, you can run the built-in QR code reader by clicking on the search bar and then clicking the scan icon again. You can also use the free Firefox Search on Google Lens plugin. The concept is the same: Right-click on the image and select the option to search on Google Lens.

3. Browser-based QR code scanner

4QRCode is a browser-based online tool for QR code scanning. Navigate to its homepage and click Unselected File to upload files from your computer. Select the image that has been saved to the PC with the QR code.

You will see the result next to the uploaded file and have the option to copy it.

There are several other browser-based applications such as Web QR, Scan QR and QR Stuff that can easily scan QR codes. You can drag and drop QR codes, or use your webcam to scan the QR code on your smartphone or packaging.

Tip : Have you heard of reverse QR codes? It is a good idea to understand why using reverse QR codes. 4. Special QR code scanning application

Another option is to download and install the app/software to your computer. They can be downloaded from the Microsoft Store or you can use a third-party installer.

Microsoft Store Apps

There are several applications in the Microsoft Store that can perform QR code scanning. The free QR code scanner is one of the best and easiest tools. It is a simple app with only two options: use the camera to scan images through your webcam, or click on the image to upload files.

Codex – QR Reader & Generator is one of the more popular paid apps in the Microsoft app store. In addition to QR code scanning, it can also generate QR codes with custom resolution. If you want to diagnose QR codes on Amazon or Kindle devices, try the QR Code Reader Free app.

Code Two QR Code Desktop Reader

CodeTwo QR Code Desktop Reader is a good choice in free third-party QR code scanning applications without an internet connection. After launching the app, you will find four options to scan the QR code.

Select a specific screen area from the screen options to read any visible QR code. The webcam option from a webcam is an alternative to Windows camera apps, as it allows you to scan QR codes using your laptop's camera.

There is also a From File option that allows you to scan QR codes from images saved to your PC. Finally, if you copied the QR code image from anywhere, use the From Clipboard option to paste it into the program immediately.

No matter which option you use, once the QR code is scanned, the result will appear in the QR code text box.

Tip : Slower Windows devices may cause delays in activities such as QR code scanning. Learn how to prevent interference from backend applications.

Troubleshooting Tips for Scanning QR Codes on Laptop

As we may have learned from experience, laptops are not ideal devices to scan QR codes. It moves heavier and the camera resolution is usually up to 720p, which leads to multiple QR code scanning problems. Read the following tips for these scenarios:

• QR code is too big or too small : If the QR code is displayed on a cut or billboard, you may not be able to display the entire image on the laptop screen. Again, if it's too small, you may not be able to capture it with your laptop camera because it doesn't have zoom. It is best to take photos of QR codes and upload them manually to your laptop.
• QR code blur/unclear : Move to a well-lit environment. You also need enough brightness on the laptop screen.
• Missing or corrupted link : If the URL connected to the QR code does not work properly, it may result in a 404 error. The URL itself needs to be corrected.

To test these methods of scanning QR codes on Windows, you should know how to create your own QR code. Since Google Chrome has a built-in QR code generator, using it is the easiest option: Right-click on any page or image and choose Create QR code . In addition, there are many online QR code generators available.

Image source: Unsplash. All screenshots were taken by Sayak Boral.

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