Free tool · No signup

URL decoder

Turn percent-encoded links back into readable text — Arabic, spaces, and query values included.

Try an example:
Decoded text

The result appears here as you type.

Input: 0 charactersOutput: 0 characters

Reading an encoded link

A link stuffed with %-sequences is just encoded text. Decoding reverses it: %20 becomes a space, %D8%A7 becomes an Arabic letter, and the address turns back into something you can actually read. Paste any encoded URL or query string above and the readable version appears instantly.

This is the fastest way to see what a long marketing or redirect link really contains — the true destination, the UTM campaign tags, and any parameters a shortener or ad platform wrapped around it. If the string came from an old web form, switch on “+ as space” so plus signs decode to spaces.

If a % is not followed by two valid hex digits the string is malformed — the tool tells you exactly where, instead of quietly returning wrong text. Decoding is fully reversible and reveals no secret: it is not decryption, just the plain reverse of encoding.

What people decode

Tracking & ad links

Decode a campaign link to see the real landing page and every UTM tag the platform appended before you trust or reuse it.

Redirect chains

When one link carries another as an encoded ?url= value, decoding reveals the wrapped destination hiding inside.

Debugging your own links

Building a link and something looks off? Decode it to confirm the parameters came out the way you intended before you ship it.

Decode with confidence

  • Turn on “+ as space” for form data. Query strings from older forms use + for spaces — otherwise the plus signs stay literal.
  • Read the destination before you click. Decoding a suspicious link shows where it really goes — a quick safety habit.
  • Watch for the error position. If decoding fails, the tool marks the broken %-sequence so you can fix that one spot.
  • Still scrambled? It is a different encoding. Text that stays unreadable after decoding is probably Base64 or real encryption, not a URL.

Frequently asked questions

It turns a percent-encoded string back into readable text — %20 becomes a space, %D9%85 becomes an Arabic letter. It is the exact reverse of URL encoding, so a tracking link full of %-sequences becomes plain, human-readable text.

In old HTML form submissions, spaces were encoded as “+” instead of %20. When you paste a query string from a form, turn this option on so each + becomes a space. For most modern links you can leave it off.

Long links often carry UTM tags and redirect parameters as encoded values. Decoding reveals the real destination and the campaign tags hidden inside — useful for checking where a shortened or tagged link actually goes.

If a % is not followed by two valid hex digits, decoding fails at that spot. The tool points out the position of the broken sequence so you can fix or remove it, rather than silently returning wrong text.

No. Percent-encoding carries no secret and protects nothing — anyone can decode it. If a link looks scrambled beyond simple %-sequences, that is a different encoding (such as Base64) or genuine encryption, not URL encoding.

Need to edit your QR code after printing?

Dynamic QR codes let you change the destination anytime — no reprinting — and show you every scan: when, where, and on which device. Try the full QRA studio free for 14 days.