How to Make a QR Code: Create One from a URL or Text for Free

What you can put in a QR code

A QR code is simply a container for a string of text. If the content is a URL, a smartphone camera treats it as a link; otherwise, it is shown as text. Typical uses include:

• URLs of websites and social media accounts
• URLs of contact or survey forms
• Location links for map apps (store directions and similar)
• Short messages or text such as campaign codes
• Links to pages where documents or manuals can be downloaded

How to create a QR code in your browser

1. 1

   Enter a URL or text

   For a URL, enter the complete address starting with https://. If you leave out the scheme, some scanners may not treat it as a link.

2. 2

   Adjust the size and colors

   Choose a size that fits where it will appear. If you change colors, the rule is a dark code on a light background.

3. 3

   Download it as a PNG image

   You can save the generated QR code as is. Paste it into your document or flyer files.

4. 4

   Test it on real devices

   Once it is created, always scan it with both an iPhone and an Android phone. For printed materials, test the printed paper as well.

4 conditions for a QR code that scans

QR codes that fail to scan usually share the same causes. Following these four points eliminates almost all failures.

• Keep a margin (quiet zone): the code needs a blank margin of about 4 modules around it. Squeezing it right up to other design elements lowers the scan rate.
• Use strong light/dark contrast: make the code a dark color and the background a light one. Avoid pairs of pale colors or placing the code directly on top of a photo.
• Don’t invert it: “inverted” codes with a dark background and a light code cannot be read by some devices.
• Keep the aspect ratio when resizing: a horizontally squashed QR code will not scan. Cropping off the edge of the code is fatal too.

Recommended print sizes

For print, a reliable rule of thumb is to make each side of the code about one tenth of the scanning distance. If the code holds a lot of data and is dense, make it larger than this.

What is the error correction level?

QR codes have built-in error correction so they can still be read when part of the code is dirty or missing. There are four levels; the higher the share that can be recovered, the denser the code becomes.

This site’s QR code generator uses level M (about 15%), a well-balanced choice in practice. It works fine for both on-screen and printed everyday use.

Things to watch out for in practice

• Don’t change the destination URL. If you change it after handing out printed materials, the QR code is dead
• Make sure the destination page works on smartphones. A desktop-only page makes people leave
• If you use a URL shortener, consider the risk of the link breaking when the service shuts down
• Always test on real devices before distributing, and never skip checking the printed paper

“QR Code” is a registered trademark of DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED. The specification is public and anyone may create and use the codes freely, but it is good practice to credit the trademark when you mention it in commercial materials.

Decide what to encode for each use

Whether a QR code succeeds depends more on what you put in it than on its design. Decide what you want people to do first after scanning, then choose the text to encode.

Steps for posting guest Wi-Fi are in how to make a Wi-Fi QR code, and sharing contact details on business cards or at events is covered in how to make a contact QR code.

Final checks before printing

1. 1

   Scan it on two or more devices on screen

   The default iPhone and Android cameras behave differently. Try each device you have on hand, one by one.

2. 2

   Do a test print at actual size

   A code that scans on screen may be too dense at the actual print size. Print one copy on the same paper and at the same size as the final piece and check it.

3. 3

   Switch the link to the final version

   Sending a design to print with a test URL still in it is a common mistake. Scan it and confirm with your own eyes that the page that opens is the public version.

4. 4

   Check whether you can change it after distribution

   If you might change the destination after printing, route the code through a redirect URL that you control.

FAQ

Can I create a QR code for free?

Yes. This site’s QR code generator creates QR codes from URLs or text for free with no sign-up, and you can download them as PNG files.

Can I put non-English text, such as Chinese or Korean, in a QR code?

Yes, text in other languages is supported. However, more characters make the code denser, so for long text we recommend linking to a URL instead.

Can I use the QR codes I create commercially?

You can use the generated QR code images on flyers, business cards, store displays, and so on. The QR code standard itself is public, and no permission is needed to create or use the codes.

My QR code won’t scan. What is the cause?

The four most common causes are not enough margin around the code, not enough contrast, inverted colors, and a print size that is too small. First leave a margin of 4 modules around the code and go back to a dark code on a light background, then try again.

Do the QR codes I create expire?

The code itself never expires. It stops working when the destination page is removed or when a URL shortening service shuts down. If you might change the destination after distributing it, route it through a URL you control so you can swap the destination.

Will it still scan if I put a logo on it?

If you place a logo in the center, keep it within about 10% of the code’s area and generate the code with a high error correction level. Always test it on real devices after adding the logo.

What format can I save the QR code in?

You can download it in PNG format. When placing it in printed materials, use it without shrinking and do not trim the margin around it.