About QR Code Generator
Generate QR codes for URLs, text, email, Wi-Fi, and phone numbers. Customize size and error correction, then download as PNG or SVG. Free QR code maker, no signup needed.
How to use
- Pick the content type from the dropdown: URL, plain text, email, phone, SMS, Wi-Fi, vCard contact, or calendar event. Each type uses a structured prefix that scanning apps recognize and act on —
tel:+15551234567 opens the dialer, mailto: opens compose, WIFI:T:WPA;S:SSID;P:pass;; joins the network. Choose the right type so the scanned action triggers automatically instead of dumping raw text on the user.
- Fill in the content. For URLs, include the scheme (
https://) — bare example.com may be treated as plain text by some scanners. Wi-Fi: SSID exactly as broadcast (case-sensitive), password, and encryption (WPA/WPA2/WPA3, WEP for legacy, blank for open). vCard: fill name, phone, email, organization fields per RFC 6350. Capacity caps at 7,089 numeric, 4,296 alphanumeric, or 2,953 binary bytes at the lowest error level — shorter content yields a denser, easier-to-scan code.
- Choose error correction level: L (7% recovery, smallest module count, fastest scan), M (15%, the typical default), Q (25%), or H (30%, densest, most resilient). Use M for clean digital displays. Use H if you plan to overlay a center logo — the algorithm rebuilds the data hidden under the logo, but only up to 30% damage. Higher levels make the QR code physically denser; the same payload at H requires noticeably more modules than at L.
- Set the output size for your medium. Screens: 200-300px is enough at 1x, 400-512px for retina/HiDPI. Business cards: 1in/2.5cm minimum. Posters: follow the 10:1 distance rule — 1in of QR code per 10ft of scanning distance, so a 6ft viewing distance needs at least 0.6in / ~1.5cm. Always include a quiet zone (white border) of at least 4 modules around the code; many scanners fail without it.
- Pick PNG or SVG based on output. PNG: digital — websites, slide decks, social posts, email signatures. SVG: print and any context where the code may be resized — vector means infinite scaling without aliasing. For print, SVG also produces sharper edges on inkjet/laser at small sizes than a downscaled PNG. Avoid JPG for QR codes; lossy compression introduces artifacts that confuse scanners.
- Test before distributing. Scan with your phone's native camera (Android 10+ and iOS 11+ both auto-detect QR codes without an app), and test in low light, at an angle, and from typical viewing distance. If you added a center logo, scan from multiple angles — most failures show up off-axis, not head-on. Print a draft to plain paper and try scanning from the printed copy too; some scanners struggle with subpixel rendering on screen but read clean print fine.
- Static QR codes never expire — the destination URL is encoded directly in the image, so the code works as long as the URL works. "Dynamic" QR codes from paid services encode a redirect URL pointing back to their server, which can break if you stop paying. Either generate static codes here or treat dynamic codes as a recurring subscription cost. Note: anyone who photographs a printed Wi-Fi QR code can decode the password, so treat physical Wi-Fi codes like written-down passwords.
Frequently asked questions
What can I put in a QR code?
QR codes can encode several types of structured data: URLs (the most common use — phones open the link automatically), plain text, email addresses (opens a pre-filled compose window), phone numbers (triggers a call or saves to contacts), Wi-Fi credentials (connects to the network without typing a password), vCard contacts (saves a full contact card with name, phone, email, and address), calendar events (adds to the phone's calendar), and SMS messages (opens a pre-filled text message). The maximum capacity is 4,296 alphanumeric characters or 2,953 bytes of binary data.
What is error correction?
QR codes include redundant data that allows them to remain scannable even when part of the image is damaged, dirty, or obscured. There are four error correction levels: L (Low, recovers up to 7% damage), M (Medium, 15%), Q (Quartile, 25%), and H (High, 30%). Higher error correction makes the QR code denser (more modules/dots) because more redundant data is encoded, but it also makes the code more resilient. Level H is commonly used when you want to place a small logo in the center of the QR code — the logo effectively 'damages' that area, and high error correction compensates.
PNG or SVG?
Use SVG for any print material — business cards, posters, product packaging, restaurant menus, event badges, and flyers. SVG is a vector format that scales to any size without pixelation, so a QR code that looks crisp on a business card will look equally crisp on a billboard. Use PNG for digital applications — websites, social media posts, email newsletters, and presentations — where a fixed pixel size is expected. For web use, 256x256 or 512x512 PNG is typically sufficient.
Do QR codes expire?
Static QR codes (like the ones this tool generates) never expire because the data is encoded directly in the image itself — there is no external server involved. As long as the encoded content is valid (e.g., the URL still works), the QR code will function forever. Dynamic QR codes from paid services work differently: they encode a redirect URL that points to the service's server, which then forwards to your destination. If that service shuts down or you stop paying, the redirect breaks and the QR code effectively expires.
How do I make a Wi-Fi QR code?
Select the Wi-Fi type from the dropdown, then enter your network name (SSID), password, and encryption type (WPA/WPA2 for most modern networks, WEP for legacy, or leave blank for open networks). The tool generates a QR code using the standard WIFI:T:WPA;S:YourNetwork;P:YourPassword;; format. When someone scans it with their phone camera (Android 10+ and iOS 11+ support this natively), they are prompted to connect to the network automatically without having to type the password. This is especially useful for businesses, Airbnb hosts, and shared office spaces.
What size should my QR code be for printing?
The general rule is a minimum of 2cm x 2cm (about 0.8 inches) for close-range scanning like business cards and product labels. For posters and signage, follow the 10:1 ratio — for every 10 feet of scanning distance, the QR code should be at least 1 inch in size. A poster scanned from 3 feet away should have a QR code at least 3.6 inches across. Always print a test and scan it from the intended distance before mass production. Use the SVG download format for print to ensure sharp edges at any size.
Can I add a logo to the center of my QR code?
QR codes with center logos work because error correction rebuilds the data covered by the logo. To do this safely, generate your QR code at error correction level H (30%), download the SVG or high-resolution PNG, then overlay your logo in a design tool like Figma, Canva, or Photoshop. Keep the logo small — no more than 20-25% of the QR code area — and ensure it has a clear border separating it from the QR modules. Always test the final image by scanning it before distributing.
Are QR codes secure?
QR codes themselves are simply a data encoding format — they have no inherent security or encryption. The security risk comes from what they encode. A malicious QR code could link to a phishing website, trigger a phone call to a premium number, or auto-download a file. Always preview the decoded content before taking action, especially for QR codes found in public places. For encoding sensitive data like Wi-Fi passwords, note that anyone who photographs the QR code can decode the password, so treat physical QR codes like written passwords.
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