URL Decode

Turn percent-encoded URL text like %20 back into normal readable text.

Runs in your browser — nothing is sent or saved.

How to URL decode text

  1. Paste the encoded string in the left box.
  2. The readable text appears on the right.
  3. A clear message shows if the input has a broken code.
  4. Press Copy result.

What decoding does

URL encoding hides special characters behind percent codes, so a space becomes %20 and a slash becomes %2F. Decoding reverses that and gives you the plain text back. You meet encoded text in links you copy from search results, in tracking URLs, and in log files. Paste it here to read what it really says.

Plus signs and spaces

In the query part of a URL, a plus sign often stands for a space. This tool turns a + back into a space as well as decoding the percent codes, so text from a search link reads correctly. If your input uses real plus signs that should stay, encode those as %2B before decoding.

When decoding fails

A percent code must be a % followed by two valid digits, like %2F. If a code is cut off or wrong, such as %2 or %ZZ, the decode cannot finish and you get a clear error. Copy the full string again and retry.

FAQ

What does %2F turn into?

A slash. Percent codes stand for one character each, and 2F is the code for /.

Why did a plus sign become a space?

In URLs, a plus often means a space in the query part. This tool follows that rule. Use %2B if you need a real plus sign kept.

I get an error about a broken code. What now?

A percent code is incomplete or invalid, like %2 or %ZZ. Recopy the whole string, since a character was likely lost.

Does it work on a full link?

Yes. Paste the whole link and the encoded parts turn readable, while normal parts stay as they are.

Is anything uploaded?

No. Decoding happens in your browser and nothing is stored.

When would I need to decode a URL?

Links copied from a browser often arrive full of %20 and similar codes. The URL decoder turns them back into readable text, so you can see what you really need to decode a URL for: checking where it points and what it passes along.