# URL Decode

> Use URL Decode as a percent decoder for encoded text. Decode URL components, convert UTF-8 percent escapes, preserve plus signs, and copy the result.

**URL Decode** converts percent-encoded bytes into readable UTF-8 text. Use this percent decoder to inspect an encoded path segment or query value. It performs one decoding pass and keeps a literal plus sign as `+`.

## Overview & Metadata

- **Canonical URL:** https://million.tools/url-decode/
- **Markdown Copy (.md.txt):** https://million.tools/url-decode.md.txt
- **Plain Text Copy (.txt):** https://million.tools/url-decode.txt
- **API Endpoint:** https://million.tools/api/v1/run/url-decode (POST, Keyless, 60 req/min)
- **SEO Title:** URL Decode Online | Percent Decoder for Text
- **Alternative Names:** Percent Decoder, URL Percent Decoding, URL decoder, URL component decoder, Percent-encoding decoder
- **Category:** [Encoding](https://million.tools/encoding/)
- **Tags:** [#URL](https://million.tools/tag/url/)
- **Application Category:** `DeveloperApplication`
- **Platform:** Web (All modern desktop and mobile browsers, requires JavaScript)
- **Price:** Free ($0.00 USD, no registration or sign-up required)
- **Live Calculation:** Supported (`Auto / Live` toggle enabled by default)
- **Usage Statistics:** 2 uses · 25 views
- **Published:** 2026-11-09
- **Last Updated:** 2026-11-09
- **Author:** Egor Volchenko (Developer & Author)

## Key Features

- Decode percent escapes to UTF-8 text
- Preserve literal plus signs
- Perform one decoding pass
- Preserve malformed percent escape sequences
- Update edited input with Auto / Live or Run
- Copy decoded output and clear text

## Parameters & Interface Controls

### Input Parameters & Options
- `input_text`: URL Encoded String.
- `input_encoding`: `Hex` | `Hex (Ignore Non-Hex Characters)` | `Base64` | `UTF-8` | `UTF-16LE` | `UTF-16BE` | `Windows-1251 (Cyrillic)` | `Windows-1252 (Latin 1)` | ... (42 options)

### Output Fields & Metrics
- `result`: Decoded URL String.

- **Controls:** `Run`, `Clear`, `Copy`, `Fill test data`, `Auto / Live`

## Interactive Example (Test Vector)

**Settings:**
- Input Encoding: `UTF-8`

**URL Encoded String:**
```text
a+b%20%2F%3F%3D%zz
```

**Decoded URL String:**
```text
a+b /?=%zz
```

## How to use URL Decode

Follow these steps to check the input and read the result.

### Read percent-encoded text

1. Type or paste the percent-encoded value you want to inspect into URL Encoded String.
2. Leave Input Encoding: at UTF-8. The current operation reads the entered string directly; this selector does not change percent-decoding behavior.
3. Keep Auto / Live on to update the result as you edit. To process it manually, turn Auto / Live off and click Run.
4. Read Decoded URL String and check the result before using it.
5. Click Copy to copy the result. Use Clear where shown, or a field’s clear control, to clear the text before starting again.

Enter `hello%20world%2B` to get `hello world+`. Input `a+b` stays `a+b`; it is not converted to `a b`.

### Decode a component in context

Decoding an encoded delimiter can change its meaning if you paste it back into a URL. For example, `%26` becomes an ampersand. Inspect an individual value before deciding how to use it in a complete address.

### Recognize a single decoding pass

Input `%2520` becomes `%20` after one pass. Malformed escapes such as `%ZZ` remain as entered. This behavior follows raw percent decoding rather than a strict decodeURIComponent error path.

## Frequently asked questions

### Why does a plus sign stay a plus sign?
This tool uses raw percent-decoding behavior. It does not apply the form-urlencoded rule that treats `+` as a space. An encoded space such as `%20` does become a space.

### Does the tool decode repeatedly until the text is readable?
No. It performs one pass. A doubly encoded sequence such as `%2520` becomes `%20`, so inspect the result before deliberately decoding again.

### What happens to an invalid percent escape?
Malformed sequences such as `%ZZ` or an incomplete `%2` are preserved. The operation does not reject the whole input solely because of those escapes.

### Can this read percent-encoded non-English text?
Yes, when the encoded bytes form valid UTF-8. Bytes from another character encoding may display incorrectly; the visible Input Encoding: selector does not change this operation.

### Will URL decoding open the address?
No. The form transforms the entered string and displays text. It does not visit the decoded address, test the destination, or verify that a link is safe.

### Should I decode a whole URL or one query value?
A single component is usually easier to inspect without confusing encoded data with structural delimiters. A whole URL can be entered as text, but decoded reserved characters may change how it would be interpreted.

## Related Tools

- [URL Encode](https://million.tools/url-encode/): Percent-encode a URL component or text value using UTF-8. Convert spaces, plus signs, and reserved characters before inserting a value into a URL.
- [JWT Decoder](https://million.tools/jwt-decoder/): Inspect a JSON Web Token’s decoded header and payload. Read claims as JSON for debugging; decoding does not verify the signature or token validity.
- [Base32 Encode](https://million.tools/base32-encode/): Encode text, Hex, or Base64 bytes as standard RFC 4648 Base32. The output uses uppercase letters, digits 2–7, and padding where needed.
- [Base32 Decode](https://million.tools/base32-decode/): Decode standard Base32 to UTF-8 text. Uppercase and lowercase input work; preserve required padding and remove internal whitespace.

## About the Author

**Egor Volchenko** — *Developer & Author*

Hi! I’m a WordPress developer with over 10 years of experience. I love Tailwind CSS, clean code, and intuitive interfaces. I’m currently working on million.tools — a service with convenient online tools for everyday tasks. I’m building it from scratch with great attention to detail and user experience.

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