Link to QR code generator

How to make a QR code for a link

1. Paste your link. Copy the full address of the page from your browser, starting with https://, and paste it into the box.
2. Generate the QR code. Press the button. The code is drawn in your browser and shown with the link it opens, so you can check it is the right one.
3. Download and test it. Save it as PNG or SVG, then scan it with your phone camera before you print or share it.

A QR code with no expiration

There are two kinds of QR code, and the difference decides whether yours keeps working.

• Static. The link itself is written into the pattern. A phone reads the link straight from the squares and opens it. No company sits in between, so nothing can expire, be switched off or run out of scans.
• Dynamic. The pattern holds a short address that belongs to the QR service, which then forwards the visitor to your link. This lets you edit the destination and count scans, but the code depends on that service. If a trial ends or a subscription stops, the code can stop working, even on things you have already printed.

This generator only makes static codes. Your code works for as long as the page it points to is online. The trade-off is that you cannot edit it later or see how often it was scanned.

PNG or SVG?

• PNG is a normal image, about 1,000 pixels wide here. Use it in documents, slides, emails, websites and social posts.
• SVG is a vector file. It stays sharp at any size, so send it to a printer or designer for posters, packaging, banners and signs.

Make sure it scans

• Print it large enough. Keep the code at 2 cm (0.8 in) or more on anything held in the hand. For a poster or sign, allow about one tenth of the distance people will scan from: 20 cm of code for a 2-metre distance.
• Keep the white border. The empty margin around the code is part of it. Do not crop it or place text over it.
• Use strong contrast. Dark squares on a light background scan best. A light code on a dark background fails on many phones.
• Shorten long links. A longer link makes smaller, denser squares. Drop tracking parameters you do not need.
• Test before you print. Scan the code with at least two phones, at the size and on the material you will use.

Common questions

Do these QR codes expire?

No. The code is static: your link is written into the pattern itself and nothing passes through our servers when someone scans it. It keeps working for as long as the page it points to stays online.

Is the QR code generator really free?

Yes. There is no account, no trial, no watermark and no limit on how many codes you make or how often they are scanned.

Can I change the link after I print the code?

No. A static code cannot be edited, because the link is the pattern. If the address changes, make a new code. To keep an old print working, redirect the old address to the new one on your own website.

Is my link saved or tracked?

No. The code is built in your browser and the link is not sent to us. That also means there are no scan statistics; to count visits, add a tracking tag to the link and read the numbers in your own analytics.

Should I download PNG or SVG?

Use PNG for screens, documents, slides and social posts. Use SVG for anything a printer or designer will resize, such as posters, packaging and signs, because it stays sharp at any size.

Can I use the QR code for my business?

Yes. Codes you make here are yours to use anywhere, including on products, menus and adverts. The QR code standard is free to use; "QR Code" is a registered trademark of Denso Wave.

Why won't my QR code scan?

The usual causes are a code printed too small, no white margin around it, low contrast between the code and its background, or a glossy surface that reflects light. Print it at 2 cm (0.8 in) or larger, keep the white border and use dark squares on a light background.

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