QR Code Generator

What is a QR code?

QR stands for Quick Response. A QR code is a square barcode that stores information such as a web address, a piece of text, a Wi-Fi login or a phone number, and a phone camera can read it in a moment. The Japanese company Denso Wave invented it in 1994 to track car parts, and today you see it on menus, posters, tickets, business cards and payment screens.

To scan a code, open the camera app on your phone and point it at the square. Most modern phones recognize the code on their own and show a button or a link, so there is nothing to install.

Types of QR codes you can create

• Link or text: Opens a website when scanned, or shows a short message. This is the most common type.
• Wi-Fi: Lets guests join your network without typing the password. The phone fills in the name, password and security type.
• Email: Opens a new email with the address, subject and message already filled in.
• Phone: Starts a call to your number with one tap.

How to make a QR code step by step

• Step 1: Choose the type: Pick link or text, Wi-Fi, email or phone.
• Step 2: Enter your details: Type the web address, the network details or the contact information. The code updates as you type.
• Step 3: Style it: Choose the colors and the error correction level, and pick the download size.
• Step 4: Download: Save the code as a PNG for screens and documents, or as an SVG for print.
• Step 5: Test it: Scan the code with your phone before you share or print it.

PNG or SVG: which should you download?

A PNG is a normal image that works everywhere, which makes it the right choice for websites, slides, emails and social media. An SVG is a vector file. It stays perfectly sharp at any size, so use it for posters, banners, packaging and anything you send to a printer.

Size matters for printing. A common rule is that the code should be about one tenth of the scanning distance wide, so a code scanned from 1 meter away should be about 10 centimeters wide. Do not print a code smaller than about 2 centimeters across.

Error correction levels explained

QR codes contain extra data, so they can still be read when part of the code is dirty, scratched or covered. You choose how much extra data to include.

• Low (7%): The smallest and simplest code. Good for screens where the code stays clean.
• Medium (15%): A balanced choice for most uses.
• Quartile (25%): Better for printed codes that may get a little worn.
• High (30%): The most forgiving, but the pattern is denser. Use it for rough surfaces or when a logo covers part of the code.

Tips for a QR code that scans every time

• Keep strong contrast: Use a dark code on a light background. This is what almost every scanner expects.
• Leave a clear border: The empty margin around the code helps the camera find its edges. Do not crop it.
• Do not stretch it: Keep the code perfectly square.
• Use short links: Less data makes a simpler code that scans faster and from further away.
• Avoid curved or shiny surfaces: Glare and bends make scanning harder.
• Add a call to action: A short line such as Scan to view the menu tells people why they should scan.

Static QR codes never expire

The codes you make here are static. The information is stored directly in the pattern, so they work forever, have no scan limit and cost nothing. Dynamic codes, which many paid services sell, point to a redirect address that can be changed later and counts scans, but they stop working if you stop paying.

Because a static code cannot be edited, check the web address or phone number carefully before you print thousands of copies.

Scan QR codes safely

Scammers sometimes stick fake QR codes over real ones, or send them in messages, to lead people to fake pages. Look at the address your phone shows before you open it, be careful with codes that ask for passwords or payments, and avoid scanning stickers placed over another code.

Why use our free QR code generator?

• Four types in one tool: Link, text, Wi-Fi, email and phone.
• PNG and SVG: Download for screens or for professional printing.
• Custom colors: With a warning when the contrast is too low.
• Private: Your content is turned into a code in your browser and never uploaded.
• Free: No signup, no watermark and no expiry.