Does it convert '+' back to space?

No — `+` means space only in `application/x-www-form-urlencoded` bodies, not in URLs. Replace `+` with `%20` before decoding if that's your input.

How is Unicode handled?

Percent-encoded UTF-8 byte sequences (e.g. `%C3%A9`) are decoded back into the original characters (`é`).

Why do I get an 'invalid percent-encoded input' error?

The input contains a `%` that isn't followed by two valid hex digits, or an invalid UTF-8 sequence.

URL decode

Decode percent-encoded URL strings back to plain text. Handles UTF-8 correctly.

Runs in your browser Instant No signup, no tracking

URL-encoded

Text

About this tool

Reverse percent-encoding — turn `%20`, `%3A`, `%C3%A9`, and friends back into the characters they represent. Great for reading captured query strings, inspecting redirect URLs, or making sense of encoded log lines. Invalid percent sequences are reported with a clear error. Everything runs in your browser.

Example

Paste the input on the left and you will get output like this:

Sample URL-encoded

search%20query%3A%20cats%20%26%20dogs%3F

Resulting Text

search query: cats & dogs?

How to use URL decode

Paste or type your URL-encoded into the left pane.
The Text appears instantly in the right pane. Conversion runs in your browser — nothing is uploaded.
Copy the result to your clipboard or download it as a file.

FAQ

Does it convert '+' back to space?: No — `+` means space only in `application/x-www-form-urlencoded` bodies, not in URLs. Replace `+` with `%20` before decoding if that's your input.
How is Unicode handled?: Percent-encoded UTF-8 byte sequences (e.g. `%C3%A9`) are decoded back into the original characters (`é`).
Why do I get an 'invalid percent-encoded input' error?: The input contains a `%` that isn't followed by two valid hex digits, or an invalid UTF-8 sequence.