QR Generator
A QR code is a compact way to hand someone a URL without making them type it. They work well on posters, packaging, business cards, menus and slides: anywhere a phone camera can see the code but a keyboard is not to hand.
Choose a tab for what the code should do (open a link, join a Wi-Fi network, start an email, call a number or send a text), enter the details and the code updates as you type. Download it as a PNG to place in your design.
Runs in your browser. QR Generator processes your input on your own device. Nothing you enter or upload is sent to a server.
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(opens in a new tab)How to use the QR Generator
- Pick a tab: Text/URL, WiFi, Email, Phone or SMS.
- Enter the details for that tab. The code appears as soon as you type.
- Adjust the size (200 to 500 pixels) and the foreground and background colors.
- Scan the preview with a phone to check it, then download the PNG.
What each QR code type does
Each tab builds a standard text format that phone cameras recognize, so scanning triggers an action instead of just showing text.
| Tab | You enter | A phone scanning it |
|---|---|---|
| Text/URL | A link or any text | Opens the link, or shows the text |
| WiFi | Network name, password and WPA/WPA2, WEP or None | Offers to join the network |
| An address, with an optional subject and message | Opens a new email draft | |
| Phone | A phone number | Offers to call the number |
| SMS | A phone number, with an optional message | Opens a new text message |
Wi-Fi QR codes
The WiFi tab writes your network details into the code using the common Wi-Fi sign-in format. For a network called MyNetwork with the password my-password it produces this text:
What the code contains
WIFI:T:WPA;S:MyNetwork;P:my-password;;- The password is stored in the code in plain text. Anyone who scans it can read the password.
- A network name or password that contains a semicolon, comma, colon, backslash or quotation mark is written into the code as typed, without escaping. Such a network may not join correctly when scanned, so always test the code on a phone before printing it.
- Hidden networks are not supported. There is no option to mark a network as hidden.
Size, colors and printing
- The size slider runs from 200 to 500 pixels and the download is a square PNG of exactly that size.
- Use a dark foreground on a light background. Low contrast, or a light code on a dark background, is the most common reason a printed code fails to scan.
- Every code uses the highest error correction level (H), which lets a scanner read a code that is partly smudged or covered. Long content makes the pattern denser, so a long link needs a bigger print than a short one.
- A 500 pixel PNG is sharp up to roughly 4 cm (1.7 inches) wide at 300 pixels per inch. Keep a clear empty margin around the code when you place it, and test the printed result.
Things worth knowing
- Output is a PNG only. There is no SVG, PDF or logo option.
- There is no vCard (contact card) type. The available types are Text/URL, WiFi, Email, Phone and SMS.
- Codes are static and cannot be edited or tracked. If the link changes, make a new code.
- On the Text/URL tab nothing is generated until you have typed at least 5 characters.
- Wi-Fi names and passwords are not escaped for special characters, and hidden networks cannot be marked.
Frequently asked questions
Do these QR codes expire?
No. The code encodes your content directly rather than pointing at a redirect service, so there is nothing to expire and no third party in the path. If the destination URL itself changes, though, you will need a new code.
How large should I print it?
Scanning distance drives size: a rough rule is that the code should be about a tenth of the distance it will be scanned from. Leave a clear quiet zone of empty space around all four sides, and always test the printed version rather than only the screen preview.
Is my data sent anywhere?
No. The code is generated in your browser by a JavaScript library, so what you encode stays on your device.
Why will my code not scan?
Common causes are printing it too small, insufficient contrast against the background, no quiet zone around the edges, or the image being stretched out of square. Very long content also produces a denser code that needs to be printed larger.
How do I make a WiFi QR code?
Open the WiFi tab, type the network name exactly as it appears, enter the password and choose WPA/WPA2, WEP or None. Scan the preview with a phone to confirm it offers to join the network, then download the PNG. Anyone who can scan the code can read the password from it, so only display it where you would be happy to share the password.
Can I make a contact card (vCard) QR code?
No. The tabs are Text/URL, WiFi, Email, Phone and SMS. A contact card is not one of them, so there is no way to build one in this tool.
Can I add a logo, or download an SVG?
No. The tool makes a plain square PNG in the colors you choose, with no logo and no SVG or PDF export.
Can I track how many people scan my code?
No. These are static codes: the content is written into the pattern itself, so nothing passes through a server that could count scans.