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QR Code Inspector

Scan a QR code with your camera or upload an image to decode it, see the real destination, follow every redirect, and check the link for known threats before you open it.

Upload image

Choose camera, upload a QR image, paste a screenshot, or paste decoded QR text below.

Drop a QR image here or paste a screenshot anywhere on this page.

Inspection report

Results appear here after QR Dex decodes a QR code or inspects pasted content.

How to inspect a QR code

Step 1

Scan, upload, or paste

Point your camera at the QR code, upload a photo or screenshot, drag the image onto this page, or paste it from your clipboard. If you already have the decoded text, paste that instead.
Step 2

Read the decoded content

The inspector decodes the code in your browser, tells you what type it is, and lays out every field it contains. Nothing is opened automatically.
Step 3

Check the destination

For links, QR Dex follows the redirect chain and checks the final URL against Google Web Risk. You decide whether to visit it with the full picture in front of you.

What the inspection report shows

QR type and decoded fields: URL, plain text, WiFi network and password, vCard or MeCard contact, email, SMS, phone number, calendar event, geo location, or a Bitcoin and Ethereum payment request, with each field broken out.
Redirect chain: The original URL, how many hops it takes, the final destination, and a warning when the redirect lands on a different domain than the one printed in the code.
Known-threat verdict: Whether Google Web Risk lists the destination for malware, social engineering, or unwanted software, plus the checks that ran.
Page preview: The destination page's title and description, fetched by QR Dex so your browser never loads the page until you choose to.

Inspector vs. your phone's camera app

A regular QR scanner app reads the code and opens the link in one step. That is fine for a menu at a restaurant you trust, and risky for a sticker on a parking meter or a code inside an unexpected email. QR codes are a common phishing vector because the destination is hidden inside the pattern.

The inspector separates reading from opening. It works from any browser on desktop or mobile, decodes codes from screenshots and photos as well as the camera, and shows the redirect path and threat status before anything loads. There is no app to install and no account to create.

Received a code you suspect is a scam? The Quishing Detector runs the same safety check with extra guidance on QR phishing.

Frequently asked questions

What is a QR code inspector?

A QR code inspector is a scanner that shows you what a QR code contains before it does anything with it. Instead of opening the link, it decodes the code, identifies the type of data inside, reveals the real destination URL after redirects, and checks that URL for known threats.

Can I inspect a QR code before opening the link?

Yes. QR Dex Inspector decodes the QR code first, shows the destination, follows redirects, and checks supported URLs for known threats before you choose whether to open the link.

How do I inspect a QR code without scanning it with my phone camera app?

Open the QR Code Inspector in any browser and either point your webcam at the code, upload a photo or screenshot of it, drag the image onto the page, or paste it from your clipboard. The code is decoded in your browser and nothing is opened automatically.

What can a QR code contain?

QR codes can contain URLs, plain text, WiFi credentials, contact cards, calendar events, SMS or email drafts, phone numbers, locations, and other structured data.

How does the safety check work?

When the decoded content is a URL, QR Dex follows the full redirect chain on its servers, then checks the original and final URLs against Google Web Risk, which lists known malware, social engineering, and unwanted software sites. You see the verdict, the number of redirects, and whether the code crosses to a different domain.

Does QR Dex store the contents of scanned QR codes?

QR Dex tracks aggregate inspector usage, but does not store decoded QR contents, URLs, contact details, WiFi passwords, message bodies, or other scanned values in analytics.

Is the QR Code Inspector free?

Yes. The inspector is free to use with no account and no limits. QR Dex makes money from its paid dynamic QR code platform, not from this tool.

Create QR codes people can trust

With QR Dex, teams create branded dynamic QR codes that always point to a qrdex.io short link, update the destination after printing, and track every scan with analytics.

Dynamic QR codes QR code analytics QR code types Trust Center Pricing