This is technologically enforced by the system (backed by a Windows security boundary<\/a>). This can be better for privacy than using a web site, because web sites inherently have Internet access, and opting out of Internet access means your data can\u2019t leave your device.<\/p>\n You can identity partial trust applications in the Microsoft Store by looking at the \u201cThis app can\u201d section and the absence of the entry \u201cUses all system resources\u201d \u2014 be sure to expand the \u201cShow more\u201d link if it appears. If there is no \u201cThis app can\u201d section at all, then the application doesn\u2019t require any permissions, which is the theoretical best possible scenario. (If it does disclose \u201cUses all system resources\u201d, that is a full trust application; for more information, see the \u201cSidebar: About Full Trust Applications\u201d section<\/a>.)<\/p>\n Consider using QRCode Helper [sic<\/em>] (Microsoft Store listing)<\/a>, which runs with the fewest permissions (none), is freely available, and can produce or scan (still image only) QR codes. If you aren\u2019t at a Windows device or the direct link is missing, visit QRCode Helper in the Microsoft Store on the Web<\/a>. Before installing, please verify that its \u201cThis app can\u201d section is still absent from its Store listing.<\/p>\n To produce a QR code for plain text and URLs, enter it in the text box, then click the save button.<\/p>\n To scan a QR code using a camera, use the open file picker and look for \u201cCamera<\/a>\u201d in the navigation pane at the bottom, then take a still image photograph with the on-screen shutter button and then click the file picker\u2019s Open button. If this is missing, install Windows Camera from the Microsoft Store<\/a> or visit Windows Camera in the Microsoft Store on the Web<\/a>.<\/p>\n For users using a non-visual user interface, note that QRCode Helper is not localized into English, and buttons are unlabeled \u2014 it contains a text box with the payload, a text box for the image dimensions, a save file button, an open file button, and a clipboard paste button (text or image file).<\/p>\n For live scanning of QR codes from the camera, consider using QR Scanner Plus (Microsoft Store listing)<\/a>, which runs with the fewest permissions (camera), is freely available, and can scan QR codes. If you aren\u2019t at a Windows device or the direct link is missing, visit QR Scanner Plus in the Microsoft Store on the Web<\/a>. Before installing, please verify that its \u201cThis app can\u201d section still only contains \u201cUse your webcam\u201d in its Store listing.<\/p>\n When the QR code is detected, its URL appears in the center bottom. Click the menu icon at the bottom to review scan history, and to export the content to a CSV file for copying. Click an individual URL entry for an option to open it in a web browser. The alleged Copy and Delete context menu depicted in the Store screenshots seems to be absent in this version, or is inaccessible using mouse or keyboard.<\/p>\n For users using a non-visual user interface, note that some buttons are unlabeled \u2014 those buttons correspond to the clipboard (copy or paste depending on mode) and a save file button (create mode only).<\/p>\n QR Notes (Microsoft Store listing)<\/a> (or visit QR Notes in the Microsoft Store on the Web<\/a>) runs with minimal permissions (camera; contacts for saving scanned information), is freely available, and can produce or scan (front \/ back camera or file) QR codes. Before installing, please verify that its \u201cThis app can\u201d section still only contains \u201cUse your webcam\u201d and \u201cUse your contacts\u201d in its Store listing. Its feature set is more sophisticated, so the learning curve is higher. You are responsible for adding the quiet zone margin<\/strong> as described in the Publishing QR Codes section<\/a>. You might find it frustrating that a scanned hyperlink can\u2019t be copied to the clipboard or directly edited.<\/p>\n ScreenCode (Microsoft Store listing)<\/a> (or visit ScreenCode in the Microsoft Store on the Web<\/a>) runs with the fewest permissions (none), is freely available, and can produce or scan (screenshot or clipboard image) QR codes. Before installing, please verify that its \u201cThis app can\u201d section is still absent from its Store listing. You are responsible for adding the quiet zone margin<\/strong> as described in the Publishing QR Codes section<\/a>. You might find it frustrating that it is dependent on the clipboard or Snipping Tool, and saving to a file seems nonfunctional.<\/p>\n When evaluating the \u201cThis app can\u201d permissions for a Microsoft Store product, here are some common permissions<\/a> you might see:<\/p>\n If you cannot install software or access the Internet, 3D Builder<\/a> may be preinstalled. To produce a QR code, create a New scene, Insert a Cube, then Paint a Texture choosing to generate a QR texture for your payload without a transparent background and position it on the cube, and finally adjust the camera position and take a screenshot or Print on paper.<\/p>\n Please ensure your usage of QR codes complies with licensing rules and regional patents<\/a>. For the latest licensing guidance, see the QR Code FAQ<\/a>, particularly \u201cIt is [sic<\/em>] all right to use QR Codes with colors or an inserted illustration?\u201d (these features are absent from the specification, and therefore in breach<\/a> of the license).<\/p>\n Additionally, note that the \u201cquiet zone\u201d margin<\/a> of 4 rows \/ columns on each side is part of the specification, so if you crop it out from the image file (or if the application neglects to include it), ensure that your design includes an equivalent margin.<\/p>\n If your QR code is going to be directly uploaded as an image file or embedded in an electronic document, and depending on the application that you use to save the image file, consider saving the final copy to a new file instead of overwriting an existing file. A common oversight in applications is neglecting to trim or reset the file size when overwriting a file, leaving leftover content from past versions at the end of the file if the newer version is smaller than the original version, which is an information disclosure concern and prevents the excess storage space from being freed. Saving to a new file sidesteps this oversight.<\/p>\n Full trust applications, including loose Only install and use these full trust applications if you fully trust the publisher and developers<\/strong>, as there is no technological enforcement, only social enforcement. To put this into perspective, consider applying your standard interview process to those people, because you are granting them unattended access to your device and account (as if you had left your desktop unlocked and given your PC to them to borrow).<\/p>\n Third party products were last reviewed on 6 May 2025. Over time, products may become unpublished in the Microsoft Store \u2014 existing installations will continue to function (Windows 11 users may want to turn off the Archive Apps feature in Settings<\/strong><\/a>; Apps<\/strong>; Advanced App Settings<\/strong><\/a>; Archive Apps<\/strong>), but it is inconvenient to install on new devices. For alternatives and shopping guidance, see the Alternative Products section<\/a>.<\/p>\n This guidance is for PCs running Windows 10 or later. Other operating systems are not covered.<\/p>\n QR Code is a registered trademark of DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED<\/a>.<\/p>\n Mentioned third party products are suggestions and not endorsements.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Get suggestions on what Windows software to use for handling QR codes, and learn the basics of partial trust applications. Read full articleProducing or Scanning QR Codes with QRCode Helper<\/h4>\n
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Scanning QR Codes with QR Scanner Plus<\/h4>\n
Alternative Products<\/h4>\n
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Publishing QR Codes<\/h4>\n
Sidebar: About Full Trust Applications<\/h4>\n
.exe<\/code> and .msi<\/code> files<\/a> you might find for download directly from the publisher, can do anything they want, typically without needing prior approval, so the Microsoft Store publishes a disclaimer on the privacy and security implications of desktop applications<\/a> that apply whether or not it\u2019s acquired from the Microsoft Store. Their presence in the Microsoft Store is also disclosed by the \u201cThis app can\u201d section\u2019s permissions entry \u201cUses all system resources\u201d (formerly known as \u201cAccess all your files, peripheral devices, apps, programs and registry\u201d)<\/a>, and published products with this disclosure have been granted an exception to the Microsoft Store policies<\/a> along with a liability shift from Microsoft to the user (due to the developer wishing to bypass the AppContainer security boundary).<\/p>\nDisclaimers<\/h4>\n