How do I decode a JWT token online?

Decoding a JWT online is simple and requires no special tools or coding knowledge.

Steps to decode a JWT:

  1. Copy your JWT token from your application, browser DevTools, or API response
  2. Paste it into an online JWT decoder (like this tool)
  3. The decoder will automatically parse and display the three parts:
    • Header (algorithm and token type)
    • Payload (claims and user data)
    • Signature (verification string)

What you can see:

  • Standard claims: iss (issuer), sub (subject), aud (audience), exp (expiration), iat (issued at)
  • Custom claims: Any additional data your application includes
  • Token metadata: Algorithm used, when it expires, token age

Important notes:

  • Decoding does NOT require the secret key
  • Anyone can decode a JWT - they're not encrypted
  • Decoding does NOT verify the signature
  • Never include sensitive data in JWT payloads (passwords, credit cards, etc.)
  • Use this tool to inspect tokens when debugging API issues

Privacy & Security:

Good JWT decoders (like this one) perform all decoding in your browser. No token data is sent to any server, ensuring your authentication tokens remain private.

Try our JWT Decoder →

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