QR code generator

What you can put in a QR code

• A web address. Phones open it in the browser. Keep it short; long addresses make dense codes that are harder to scan.
• Wi-Fi. Guests join your network by scanning, without typing the password. The code contains the network name, password and security type.
• WhatsApp. Opens a chat with your number. Useful on shop windows, business cards and listings.
• Email or phone. Starts a new email with the subject filled in, or dials the number.
• Plain text. Anything else, up to a few hundred characters.

Error correction and size

QR codes include spare data so they still scan when part of the code is dirty, damaged or covered. “Medium” (about 15% can be lost) suits most uses. Choose “Highest” (30%) if you plan to put a logo in the middle, and “Low” if you need the smallest possible code for a short link. Higher error correction makes the code denser.

For print, download the SVG: it scales to any size without blurring. The PNG is fine for screens, emails and documents. Leave the white border (the “quiet zone”) in place; scanners need it.

Tips for codes that scan first time

• Print at least 2 cm (about 0.8 inches) across for codes read at arm’s length, and bigger for posters.
• Dark code on a light background. Avoid printing on reflective or heavily textured surfaces.
• Test with more than one phone before printing a batch.
• If the destination might change, link to a page you control rather than a third-party page, so the printed code never goes stale.

Privacy

The code is generated in your browser. Nothing you type, including Wi-Fi passwords, is sent to us or stored anywhere. The downloaded image is created on your device.