How to make a QR code
- Choose what the code should do: open a link, show text, start an email, call or text a number, or join a Wi-Fi network.
- Fill in the details. The preview updates as you type, and errors such as an invalid email are shown straight away.
- Adjust the size, error correction, colours and quiet zone if you like.
- Download as PNG for documents and social media, or SVG for print and design work. Test it with your phone camera before printing.
Options explained
Error correction lets a QR code be read even if part of it is damaged or covered. Low recovers about 7% of the code, Medium 15%, Quartile 25% and High 30%. Higher levels make the code denser, so use Medium for most purposes and High for codes printed outdoors or on packaging. The quiet zone is the blank margin around the code; scanners work best with at least four modules of space.
Dark codes on a light background scan most reliably. The generator warns you if the colours are inverted or the contrast is too low. Wi-Fi codes use the standard format supported by iPhone and Android cameras, and special characters in network names and passwords are escaped correctly.
These are static QR codes: the information is stored directly in the pattern. There is no redirect link, no tracking and nothing that can expire or be switched off. Codes are generated in your browser with the open-source qrcode-generator library.
Ideas for QR codes
- Link flyers, menus and business cards to your website.
- Let guests join your Wi-Fi without typing a password.
- Add a “call us” or “email us” code to posters and shop windows.
- Put a link to a feedback form on receipts.
QR code FAQ
Do these QR codes expire?
No. Static codes work forever, as long as the link or information inside them is still valid.
Can I change the link after printing?
No. Changing a static code’s destination means creating a new code. Link to a page you control so you can update the page instead.
Which format should I use for printing?
SVG scales to any size without blurring, which is ideal for print. For PNG, choose 1024 or 2048 pixels.