How to use the QR Code Generator
- Choose what the code should contain — URL, Text, Wi-Fi, Email, Phone, SMS or vCard — and fill in the fields. The preview updates as you type.
- Pick an error-correction level: M for screens, Q or H for print or if the code may get scratched.
- Set the size, quiet zone and colours. Keep dark modules on a light background for reliable scanning.
- Optionally add a centre logo — error correction switches to H automatically to compensate.
- Download a PNG for web and documents or an SVG for print, then test-scan it with your phone.
What is a QR code?
A QR (Quick Response) code is a two-dimensional barcode, standardised as ISO/IEC 18004, that phone cameras can read instantly. It stores data in a grid of black and white modules: the three large squares in the corners let the scanner find and straighten the code, and the rest holds your content plus Reed–Solomon error-correction data. Codes range from version 1 (21×21 modules) to version 40 (177×177); this generator automatically picks the smallest version that fits your content.
Static QR codes never expire
Every code made here is static: the URL, Wi-Fi password or contact details are encoded directly into the pattern. There is no redirect service in between, so the code keeps working forever, has no scan limits and can’t be held hostage by a subscription. The trade-off is that you can’t change the destination after printing — if you need that, point the code at a URL on your own domain that you can redirect later.
Supported content types
| Type | Encoded as | What happens on scan |
|---|---|---|
| URL | https://example.com | Opens the website |
| Wi-Fi | WIFI:T:WPA;S:MyNetwork;P:secret;; | Offers to join the network (iOS 11+, Android 10+) |
| vCard | BEGIN:VCARD … END:VCARD (3.0) | Adds a contact |
mailto:hi@example.com?subject=… | Opens a pre-filled email | |
| Phone | tel:+4930123456 | Starts a call |
| SMS | SMSTO:+15551234567:Hello | Opens a pre-filled text message |
Special characters in Wi-Fi names and passwords (\ ; , : ") are escaped automatically, which is the most common reason hand-made Wi-Fi codes fail.
Error correction levels
Level L restores about 7% of damaged modules, M 15%, Q 25% and H 30%. Higher levels make the code denser (more modules) but more robust — which is exactly what lets you place a logo over the centre. When you add a logo, the tool locks the level to H and caps the logo at 30% of the code’s width.
Tips for codes that always scan
- Keep the quiet zone. The standard asks for a 4-module empty border; cropping it is a top cause of failed scans.
- Contrast and polarity. Dark modules on a light background work everywhere. Light-on-dark (inverted) codes fail in some scanner apps.
- Print size. As a rule of thumb, make the code at least 2 cm (0.8 in) wide, and about one-tenth of the expected scanning distance. Use SVG for print so it stays sharp at any size.
- Shorter is better. Long URLs create dense codes. Strip tracking parameters, or build a clean campaign link with the UTM Builder and keep it short.
- Always test with two different phones before printing a batch.
Tools that pair well with the QR Code Generator
- URL Encode / Decode — Percent-encode text for safe use in URLs, decode encoded strings back to readable text, and break any URL down into its parts and query parameters.
- Image to Base64 — Turn a PNG, JPEG, SVG, WebP or GIF into a Base64 data URI with copy-ready CSS and HTML — or paste a Base64 string to preview and download the image.
- Favicon Generator — Make a complete favicon package from a logo, a letter or an emoji: a multi-size favicon.ico, Apple touch icon, Android/PWA icons, a Webflow webclip, the web manifest and the HTML tags to paste.
- Image Compressor — Shrink photos and graphics by 50–90% without visible quality loss.
Frequently asked questions
Do these QR codes expire?
How do I make a QR code for Wi-Fi?
Can I add a logo to my QR code?
PNG or SVG — which should I download?
Can I change where a QR code points after printing?
yoursite.com/menu) and change the page or set up a redirect behind it — the Redirect Generator can help.