URL Decode

URL Decode is a free, no-sign-up tool that converts percent-encoded URL characters, like %20 or %3D, back into their literal, readable form. Paste in an encoded URL or query string and the tool instantly shows you the plain text it represents. Developers debugging query parameters and anyone trying to read a messy shared link both use it to make sense of encoded text.

Why use URL Decode?

URLs can only safely contain a limited set of characters, so anything outside that set, like spaces or accented letters, gets replaced with a percent sign followed by a hex code during encoding. This tool reverses that process, scanning for percent-encoded sequences and converting each one back into the original character it represents. It's especially useful for reading query strings and form data that have been encoded for transmission but are hard to interpret as-is.

How to use URL Decode

1. Paste the encoded URL or text into the input field.
2. Click decode to convert it instantly.
3. Copy the readable, decoded result for your use.

Key features

• Converts percent-encoded characters back to plain text.
• Handles full URLs as well as isolated query strings.
• Processes text instantly with no waiting.
• Completely free with no account required.

Related tools

Go the other direction with URL Encode, break a link into its components using the URL Parser, or decode HTML entities with HTML Decode.

Frequently asked questions

Is URL Decode free?

Yes, decoding URLs is free and requires no sign-up. You can decode as much text as you need.

What does %20 mean in a URL?

%20 is the percent-encoded representation of a space character, since literal spaces aren't allowed in a valid URL. Decoding a string containing %20 replaces it with an actual space in the output.

Why would a URL be encoded in the first place?

URLs are encoded so that characters with special meaning, like spaces, ampersands, or non-Latin letters, can travel safely through a system without being misread as part of the URL's structure. This matters most in query strings, where user-entered text often contains characters that need encoding to stay intact.

Can decoding a URL ever fail?

If the input contains a malformed percent sequence, such as a stray percent sign not followed by valid hex digits, decoding that portion may not produce a meaningful result. Double-checking that your input was actually encoded correctly in the first place usually resolves the issue.