A QR code is a two-dimensional barcode that stores data directly in the pattern. The data is in the code — there is no lookup, no server, and nothing that can expire. That property is worth understanding, because many QR services quietly break it.
How to use the QR Code Generator
- Choose the type — URL, text, WiFi credentials or contact details
- Enter the content to encode
- Generate and check the preview
- Download the PNG, then test the printed result on a real phone
Static versus dynamic codes
Static codes — what this tool generates — encode your data directly. Scan it and the phone reads the URL out of the pattern itself. It works forever, offline, with no dependency on anyone.
Dynamic codes encode a short redirect URL on the provider's domain, which forwards to your destination. This buys editability and scan analytics, at a real cost: if the provider shuts down, changes pricing, or lets the domain lapse, every code you ever printed stops working. Several free QR services have done exactly this, with codes already on physical signage and packaging.
For anything printed or permanent, use a static code pointing at a URL you control. If you need to change the destination later, point it at a redirect on your own domain.
Making codes that scan reliably
- Size. Minimum 2 × 2 cm printed, and roughly one tenth of the scanning distance — a code read from 2 m needs to be about 20 cm.
- Quiet zone. Keep clear space of at least four modules around the code. Crowding it is the most common cause of scan failure.
- Contrast. Dark pattern on a light background. Inverted codes fail on many scanners, and low-contrast colour pairings fail under poor lighting.
- Keep the URL short. More data means a denser grid, which needs a larger print to stay readable. Shorten long URLs before encoding.
- Error correction. Higher levels tolerate damage and logo overlays but increase density. Level M is a reasonable default; use H only if you are placing a logo in the centre.
Always test the printed code with more than one phone before committing to a print run.
Frequently asked questions
Do these QR codes expire?
No. They are static — the data is encoded in the pattern itself, with no redirect and no server involved. They will keep working indefinitely, including offline.
Is there any tracking or watermark?
Neither. Generation happens entirely in your browser, nothing is transmitted, and the image is clean. Many free generators insert a redirect through their own domain; this does not.
How does a WiFi QR code work?
It encodes the network name, security type and password in a standard format that iOS and Android recognise, prompting the phone to join. Note that anyone who photographs the code has your password — treat it as you would the password itself.
Can I put a logo in the middle?
Not with this tool, but you can overlay one afterwards in any image editor. Keep it under about 20% of the code area and use high error correction, then test on several devices.
Why won't my printed code scan?
Usually insufficient size, missing quiet zone around the edges, poor contrast, or a very dense pattern from a long URL printed small. Test before any large print run.