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QR Code Generator

Create QR codes instantly

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This tool turns a link or piece of text into a QR code you can download and use. The code is generated in your browser, so nothing you enter is sent to a server.

A QR code is simply an encoding of text. Anything a phone camera can read out of one was put there directly, which means the code itself contains your link rather than pointing at some intermediate service.

How to use it

  1. Enter the URL or text you want to encode.
  2. The QR code updates as you type.
  3. Download the image and place it wherever it needs to be scanned.

Making codes that actually scan

  • Keep the URL short. Longer text produces a denser pattern, which needs to be printed larger to remain readable.
  • Print at a sensible size. A code intended to be scanned from arm's length should be at least two centimetres square; posters read from further away need much more.
  • Preserve the quiet zone, the clear margin around the code. Placing text or graphics tight against the edge is one of the most common reasons a code fails to scan.
  • Keep good contrast between the code and its background. Dark on light works reliably; inverted or low-contrast colour schemes often do not.
  • Test the printed code with more than one phone before producing it in quantity.

A note on safety

Because a QR code is unreadable to a human, it can conceal where it leads. Scanning a code on a sticker in a public place is meaningfully riskier than typing a URL you can see, and fraudulent codes placed over legitimate ones on parking meters and payment terminals are a recognised scam.

Most phone cameras now display the destination URL before opening it. Reading that preview before tapping through is worth the second it takes.

Frequently asked questions

Do QR codes expire?
A static QR code like the ones generated here never expires, because the destination is encoded directly in the pattern. Codes from services that redirect through their own domain can stop working if that service shuts down.
What size should I print a QR code?
As a rough guide, the code should be at least a tenth of the distance it will be scanned from. A code read from one metre away wants to be around ten centimetres across.
Can QR codes be dangerous?
The code itself is just text, but it can hide a malicious destination since you cannot read it by eye. Check the URL preview your camera shows before opening it, especially for codes on stickers in public places.
Is there a limit to how much text a QR code holds?
Yes, though it is generous. The more data you encode, the denser the pattern becomes and the larger it must be printed to stay scannable, so short URLs are always preferable.