Help Center

How do I scan a QR code from a PDF, website, or image on my Mac?

Open it so the QR code is visible on your screen. Click QRSpell in the menu bar, choose Select Scan Area, and drag around the code. Use Scan All Displays to scan all visible screens instead.

How do I create a QR code?

Open QRSpell from the menu bar and enter text or a URL in Create QR. Copy or save the QR code there, or open Settings → QR Code to change its appearance and export size.

How do I see a URL preview?

In Settings → Scan → Result, enable Show URL previews. Then hover over the Open URL button (globe icon) on an HTTPS scan result. URL previews are off by default and need an internet connection.

Can QRSpell stay quiet after scanning?

Yes. You can hide popups, sounds, and notification badges, then copy detected values to the clipboard or find them later in your scan history.

Can I look back at earlier scans?

Yes. Open History from the menu bar to search earlier results. To save QR previews with new scans, enable Save preview images to History in Settings → History. This is off by default; saved images stay on your Mac.

How do I check and manage History storage?

Open Settings → History to see the space used by pictures, text, and URLs, and remove items you no longer need. You can also search, select, and delete individual records in the History window.

Does QRSpell need the internet to scan?

No. Scanning, QR creation, and History work offline; only optional URL previews need an internet connection.

Are my scan results private?

QR scanning and History stay on your Mac, with no ads, analytics, or tracking in the app. If you enable URL previews, the destination website may receive your IP address and requested URL. See the Privacy Policy.

Why does QRSpell need Screen Recording permission?

macOS requires Screen Recording permission before an app can read visible screen content for QR detection.

What if QRSpell needs Screen Recording permission but does not appear in System Settings?

If this happens, add QRSpell manually. Open System Settings, go to Privacy & Security, then Screen & System Audio Recording. Click the plus button at the bottom of the list, then add QRSpell from your Applications folder.

Is a purchase or subscription required?

No. QRSpell is free to download and use. Optional one-time support purchases and a yearly support subscription help fund development, but all features are available without payment.

Include the basics

• Your name or preferred reply name.
• QRSpell version.
• macOS version, Mac model, and Apple chip, such as MacBook Air 13-inch with M2.
• How you scanned: selected area, all displays, menu bar, or keyboard shortcut.
• What happened, what you expected, and whether QRSpell showed a result, copied text, played a sound, or stayed silent.

Add screenshots when useful

Screenshots make visual issues easier to understand. Please hide private QR contents, personal URLs, or sensitive information before sending.

If QRSpell crashed

In Finder, open your home folder, then go to Library, Logs, and DiagnosticReports.

As a shortcut, you can open Terminal, paste this command, then press Return:

1. Finder will open the folder where macOS keeps crash reports.
2. Search or sort by date and look for the newest file whose name starts with QRSpell.
3. The file may end with .ips or .crash. Attach that file to your email.
4. If you do not see a QRSpell file there, just mention that no QRSpell crash report was found.