How-To

How To Read QR Codes in Google Chrome on Your Desktop

By Jeff Butts

Updated April 15, 2024

If you’ve been wondering how to read QR codes in Google Chrome on your computer, we have a couple of methods to show you.

QR codes are those mysterious little squares that seem to have popped up everywhere, from websites to TV shows, and even on that random bottle of ketchup you picked up. They’re like the digital version of secret handshakes, allowing us to transfer info with just a scan. But how can you read these cryptic symbols known as QR codes using Google Chrome on your Windows PC or Mac? Let me show you; it’s like unlocking a treasure chest without the need for a pirate map.

Imagine you’re on a safari in the vast wilderness of the internet, and you stumble upon a QR code. You whip out your digital binoculars (AKA Google Chrome), ready to decipher the secrets the image holds. With a few clicks, Chrome transforms from your average web browser into a QR code-reading superhero, ready to transport you to distant lands (or websites) with the ease of a seasoned internet explorer. So, buckle up and prepare for a journey into the realm of QR codes, where every scan is an adventure waiting to unfold!

Yes, Virginia, Google Chrome Can Read QR Codes Even on a Computer

To read a QR code using Google Chrome on your computer, you can use built-in support for Google Lens or utilize a QR code reader extension. It works just as well as reading a QR code from your smartphone’s camera roll, once you know the trick. Here’s how you can do both.

Using Google Lens, Baked Into Chrome, to Read QR Codes

Google Chrome does not have a direct, built-in feature for scanning QR codes from the browser on a computer. What it does have, however, is Google Lens support baked in. This lets you run image-based searches that can recognize QR codes from images displayed on the web or stored on your computer.

Here’s how you can use Google Lens in Chrome to read a QR code.

1. Navigate to the website or the location of the QR code image on your computer.
2. Right-click on the QR code image and select Search Image with Google.
   
3. Google Lens can usually recognize the QR code and display the URL or information encoded in it.
   

Using a QR Code Reader Extension on Your Computer

Alternatively, you can install a QR code reader extension from the Chrome Web Store, specifically designed for this purpose:

1. Go to the Chrome Web Store and search for “QR code reader”.
2. Look through the options and select a QR code reader extension with good reviews and a high number of users.
3. Click Add to Chrome next to the extension you’ve chosen.
4. Next, click the Add extension button from the confirmation dialog.
5. Once installed, navigate to the webpage that contains the QR code or upload the QR code image to your computer.
6. Click the QR code reader extension icon in Chrome’s extension toolbar and follow the prompts to scan your QR code.
   

Scanning QR Code from a Physical Document or Screen

If you’re trying to read a QR code from a physical document or another screen, there are a couple of options.

1. Use Your Phone: Scan the QR code with your phone’s camera or a QR code scanner app, and then send the URL to your computer by email, messaging app, or any other method you prefer.
2. Use a Webcam QR Code Reader: Some QR code reader extensions or web-based QR code readers can use your computer’s webcam to scan a QR code. After installing such an extension or visiting a QR code reader website, allow it to access your webcam, and then hold the QR code in front of the camera to scan it.

These methods should cover most needs for reading QR codes directly through or with the help of Google Chrome on your computer. Is there a Chrome extension you prefer for reading QR codes? Let us know in the comments.