QR Code Generator & Scanner
Make a QR code for a link, text, Wi-Fi login, email, phone number or text message, download it as PNG or SVG, or scan an existing code from a photo or your camera. Nothing leaves your device.
What this tool does
It turns a web address, a piece of text, a Wi-Fi login, an email, a phone number or a text message into a QR code you can download and print, and it can also read a QR code from a photo or your camera. Both halves run in your browser, so what you type and what you scan is never sent to a server.
Static codes that do not expire
The code stores your data directly in its pattern. There is no redirect through our site, no tracking, no scan limit and no expiry date. If you encode a link, the code works for as long as that link does. The trade-off is that a static code cannot be edited later, so check the content before you print a thousand flyers.
Choosing settings that scan reliably
| Setting | Advice |
|---|---|
| Error correction | M suits most uses. Choose Q or H if the code will be printed on something that can get scuffed. Higher levels add modules, so the code gets denser. |
| Colors | Use a dark code on a light background with strong contrast. Many scanners cannot read light-on-dark (inverted) codes. |
| Quiet zone | Keep the blank border at 4 modules or more. Cropping it is the most common reason a printed code fails. |
| Size | Print at least 2 cm (about 0.8 in) wide for close scanning, and larger for anything read from a distance. PNG suits screens, and SVG stays sharp at any print size. |
| Length | Shorter content makes a simpler code that scans faster. Long URLs are better shortened first. |
Wi-Fi codes
The Wi-Fi option builds the standard format that iPhone and Android cameras recognise, so guests can join by pointing the camera at the code. The password is stored in the code in readable form, so only print it where you are happy for people to see it.
Scanning safely
A QR code can hide any link, so treat it like an unknown link in an email. The scanner shows the full text first and only offers to open web addresses that begin with http or https. Be cautious with codes on stickers placed over other codes, and with any code that asks for a password or payment. For more on checking a web address, see the HTTP Status Checker.
Frequently asked
Is this QR code generator free, and does it expire?
It is free with no signup. The codes are static, which means the data is built into the pattern itself, so they never expire and there is no scan limit. They keep working as long as the link or text inside is still valid.
Is anything I enter sent to a server?
No. The code is drawn by your browser and the scanner reads images on your device. Neither your text, your Wi-Fi password nor the photos you scan are uploaded.
Why will my QR code not scan?
The usual causes are low contrast, a light code on a dark background, a quiet zone that is too small or cropped, a code printed too small, or too much data making it very dense. Raise the contrast, keep the border, enlarge it or shorten the content.
What error correction level should I pick?
Level M is a good default. Q and H let a code still scan when part of it is dirty or covered, for example when a logo is placed on top or the print might wear, at the cost of a denser pattern. L gives the smallest code for clean screens.
Can I add a logo or change the shape?
This tool keeps the standard square pattern because it scans most reliably. If you place a logo over the center yourself, use error correction level H, keep the logo small and test the result with a phone before printing.
How much can a QR code hold?
About 2,950 bytes at the lowest error correction, roughly 4,000 simple characters. In practice, codes with more than a few hundred characters become dense and hard to scan, so keep the content short.