ForQRCode

Free barcode reader and scanner

Upload a photo of a barcode, or point your camera at one. The encoded value appears below so you can copy it.

This free barcode reader pulls the number or text out of a barcode. It is also a free barcode scanner if you start the camera. Upload a photo or hold the bars in view. The value appears as copyable text. ForQRCode runs in the browser, so the image stays on your device.

How to read a barcode

Decode a barcode from a photo or the camera on this page.

  1. 1

    Open the barcode reader

    Stay on this page on a phone or computer. You do not need a hardware scanner, an app, or an account.

  2. 2

    Upload a photo or start the camera

    Choose a PNG, JPG, GIF, or WebP, or tap Start camera and line up the bars. Leave a little quiet space on both ends of a linear code.

  3. 3

    Copy the value

    The encoded number or text appears in the data field. Copy it into inventory software, a spreadsheet, or a search box.

What a barcode reader does

A barcode reader looks at the bars or the 2D pattern and returns the encoded value: an EAN, a UPC, a Code 128 string, and similar formats. A barcode scanner is the same tool with a camera. This free barcode reader accepts a product photo, a screenshot, or a live scan.

Retail labels are usually EAN-13 or UPC-A. Warehouses often use Code 128 or ITF. Shipping labels may use PDF417. This scanner also reads EAN-8, UPC-E, Code 39, Code 93, Codabar, Data Matrix, and Aztec when the image is sharp enough.

Decoding runs in the browser. ForQRCode does not upload the photo from this tool to a server. The page prints the raw value. It does not look up the product in a catalog.

Make a barcode instead

If the barcode will not scan

  1. 1

    Fill the frame with the bars and keep them straight. A steep angle often fails.

  2. 2

    Add light and avoid glare on shiny packaging.

  3. 3

    For a tiny UPC, take a closer photo. Digital zoom from far away usually smears the bars.

  4. 4

    Use the QR code reader for QR squares. This page is for linear barcodes and a few 2D formats such as PDF417 and Data Matrix.

Questions about this barcode reader

What is a free barcode reader?

A free barcode reader turns the bars or 2D pattern into a number or text string. This page does that in the browser from a photo or the camera, with no charge and no account.

What is a free barcode scanner?

A free barcode scanner is a barcode reader that uses the camera instead of a dedicated gun. On ForQRCode they are the same page: upload a file or start the camera.

Can I scan a barcode with my phone camera?

Yes. Open this page, tap Start camera, and hold the barcode steady. You can also upload a photo from the library if the live feed is awkward.

Which barcode formats can this scanner read?

EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A, UPC-E, Code 128, Code 39, Code 93, Codabar, ITF, PDF417, Data Matrix, and Aztec. Sharp, well-lit photos work more reliably than dim snapshots.

Does this barcode reader work without an app?

Yes. A current mobile or desktop browser is enough. Camera access needs HTTPS and your permission.

Does ForQRCode keep the photo I scan?

No. Decoding runs in the browser. The image is not uploaded for this tool.

Why will the barcode not scan?

The bars may be too small, too shiny, or at a steep angle. Move closer, add light, and keep the code parallel to the camera. A torn or faded label may be unreadable.

Can this scanner read QR codes?

Use the free QR code reader for QR squares. This page is built for linear barcodes and a few other 2D formats.

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