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QR code generator

Create a QR code for a link, Wi-Fi network, text, email or phone number. The codes are static, so they never expire, never redirect and are not tracked.

Worked out in your browser. Nothing is sent anywhere.

Static code: it never expires and isn't tracked. Scan it with your phone before you print.

How to use the QR code generator

  1. Choose the type: link, text, Wi-Fi, email or phone.
  2. Fill in the details, such as the web address or your network name and password.
  3. Pick colours, size and error correction level.
  4. Download as PNG or SVG, then scan it with your phone to test before you print.

Static vs dynamic QR codes, and why some free codes stop working

A static QR code stores your link or text directly in the pattern of squares. Nothing sits in between, so the code works for as long as the link it points to works. That is the kind this page makes.

A dynamic QR code stores a short link to the provider's own server, which then redirects to your real address. That lets the provider count scans and lets you change the destination later. It also means the code depends on that company. Many "free" QR sites make dynamic codes by default, then switch off the redirect when a trial ends or a plan lapses. Menus, posters and leaflets that were printed with those codes stop working, and the only fix is to reprint.

If you need to change where a static code points, the practical approach is to link it to a page on your own website that you can update.

Which error correction level to choose

QR codes carry spare data so they still scan when part of the code is dirty, scratched or covered. The four levels restore roughly this much damage:

  • L: about 7%
  • M: about 15%, a good default
  • Q: about 25%
  • H: about 30%, useful for codes printed outdoors or on packaging

Higher levels make the pattern denser, so the code needs to be printed a little larger to scan easily. For a long link, stay on L or M unless you have a reason not to.

Tips before you print

Keep strong contrast, with a dark code on a light background. Leave a clear margin of plain background around the code. Test it on more than one phone, at the size and distance people will scan from. For Wi-Fi codes, check the network name and password exactly, including capitals, since a typo cannot be fixed after printing.

Questions people ask

Do these QR codes expire?

No. The data is stored in the code itself, so it keeps working as long as the link or details inside it are still valid.

Can I track how many people scan my QR code?

Not with a static code. Tracking needs a redirect through a server. You can add campaign tags (UTM parameters) to your link and see visits in your own website analytics instead.

How does a Wi-Fi QR code work?

It stores your network name, password and security type. Most recent iPhones and Android phones offer to join the network when the camera scans it, without anyone typing the password.

Should I download PNG or SVG?

SVG stays sharp at any size, which suits print designers and large posters. PNG works everywhere, including Word, email and social media.

Can I change the link after printing?

No, the link is fixed in the pattern. Point the code at a page you control if you think the destination might change.