This is probably not new for you since you mostly use your smartphone to read QR codes to get to email addresses, phone numbers, and URLs. However, which app lets you scan these on the Windows PC without using the phone at all? Here are a few steps that can be considered to do that.
How to Scan QR Codes Using the Windows Camera App
Would you love to have the functionality of shortly scanning a QR code just as you do on your phone using your PC’s webcam? What if I told you that the Camera app that already comes with your Windows 10 or 11 PC helps ease the process? Here’s how to do it:
1. Press Win + S to search for anything on your computer.
2. Just enter the camera in the search box and click on the first link that comes up.
3. Slide down the arrow to see the Barcode button located beneath the shutter below the arrow (in Photo mode).
4. The major advantage of such approaches is that your QR code is easy to scan, you simply need to put your computer in front of the camera of the application.
There is a QR code scanning option in the camera app and in case you are not using the latest edition of Windows it will not be seen. In this case, it is necessary to turn on the different settings, which are hidden and referred to as the experiments, in the Windows Camera application to use the QR code feature. Here’s how:
1. First of all, you need to open the Camera application on your PC and you’ll see a gear icon in the upper left part of the application – it will help you to open the settings.
2. Click Related settings to expand it.
3. Provide the option ON to the right of the Try out new experimental features checkbox.
How to Scan QR Codes From an Image on Windows
The biggest disadvantage is that it can’t take scans from QR codes already stored in the computer. To do this, you can use an online scanner by providing it a QR code and it will translate for you. Here’s how:
1. Locate any web browser and go to the ScanQR website.
2. For the Scan QR code from the image section, click on Drag & Drop or Browse.
3. Your computer browser will search for the image, containing the QR code, which you want to use click on the image then click open.
4. After you have posted an image, there should be an automatic scanning of the image and the result is displayed in the Scanned Data box. If you wish, you can copy the result from there onwards.
How to Scan QR Codes Using the Snipping Tool App
Another way to scan QR codes if you are a Windows 11 user is to use the app called Snipping Tool. That is all you have to do, whether capture a screenshot of the QR code or open a saved image of the QR code in the Snipping Tool app.
1. Search the Snipping Tool using the search bar on the surface of the windows, then open it.
2. Press the New button and use the camera to take a picture of the QR code you would like to read. Or you can right-click on the three dots in the top right corner, and choose Open file if the actual QR code image is saved on your computer.
3. At the top, click the Text Actions icon and then scan the QR code.
How to Scan QR Codes Using the Photo Scan App on Windows
Due to the increased usage of QR codes, there are already some of the best free QR code scanner apps available on the Microsoft Store. In case you own a Windows device, you don’t have to go far in search of an application for creating or reading QR codes, as example the app called Photo Scan can come in handy here.
To scan QR codes using the Photo Scan app:
1. Download and install the Photo Scan app on your computer Then you should be able to open it.
2. To get it, click the Browse Photo button and choose the QR code image saved on your PC. If you wish to scan the QR code with your PC’s webcam, press the Use Camera button.
3. By doing so, the QR code will be instantly encoded and the text or link can be seen where the result is located.
Now you know some fast and easy methods to read QR codes on Windows computer. Most of the time, the integrated camera app called Camera or the snipping tool should suffice. If not, you can also try the Photo Scan app or check out ScanQR website to take a scan of QR codes. Still, irrespective of which method you select, do not forget about the following steps to make sure the QR code for scanning is safe.
