How to make a QR code in 3 steps
- Choose what the code should do. Open a website, join a Wi-Fi network, save a contact, start an email or text message, call a number or show a place on a map.
- Fill in the details. The code updates as you type. Add your colours or logo under Design if you like.
- Check the result and download. We test-scan every design and flag anything that could stop phones reading it. Download a PNG for screens and documents, or an SVG for print.
That's it. There is no account to create and nothing to renew. The code you download is finished and will keep working.
Static vs dynamic QR codes: why some "free" codes stop working
There are two kinds of QR code. A static code stores your content directly in the pattern. When someone scans a static code for your menu, their phone reads your menu's web address straight from the squares and opens it.
A dynamic code stores a short link that belongs to the company that made it. Each scan visits that company's server first, which then forwards the visitor to your page. This lets you change the destination later and count scans. The catch is that the code only works while that company keeps your short link switched on.
Many generators create dynamic codes by default and offer them on a free trial. Several say on their own pricing pages that dynamic codes need an active paid plan once the trial ends. Business owners who didn't notice the difference often find out when customers say the code on their printed menus, flyers or signs has stopped working. Reprinting is the expensive part.
Every code made here is static. No trial, no plan, no short link in the middle.
Do QR codes expire?
A QR code itself can't expire: it's just a pattern of squares. What can stop working is whatever the code points to. A static code for a website keeps working as long as that web page exists. A static Wi-Fi code works until you change the network name or password. A dynamic code works only as long as its provider keeps the redirect running, which usually depends on a subscription.
Check an old QR code before you reprint
Not sure what kind of code is on your packaging or shop window? Take a photo or screenshot of it and upload it on the Check an old code tab above. We read it on your device and show exactly what's inside. If the code points to a link shortener or a QR redirect service, we'll tell you, because that code depends on someone else's service. Open the link in your browser to see where it ends up, then make a permanent static code for that final address.
Make it scan every time: contrast, clear space, size and logos
Most "broken" QR codes aren't broken at all. They're just hard for a camera to read. Our scan check looks at the things that matter most and reads the finished design back at both a large and a small size.
- Contrast. Phone cameras need a strong difference between the code and its background. Dark on light is safest. Festive red on green, gold on white or light grey on white often fail, even though they look fine to us.
- Light on dark. White codes on black backgrounds look stylish, but some older scanner apps can't read inverted codes.
- Clear space. Leave a plain border of at least four modules (the small squares) around the code. Text or pictures right up against the edge confuse scanners.
- Size. Print it at least 2 cm (0.8 in) wide, or 3 cm (1.2 in) for dense codes. As a rough guide, people can scan from about ten times the code's width away.
- Logos. A logo hides part of the code, so we switch to the highest error correction, keep the logo off the three corner squares, and cap its size. The test scan confirms it still reads.
- Less data, simpler code. Long links with tracking tags make denser codes with smaller squares. Removing tags you don't need makes a code that scans faster.
QR codes for Wi-Fi, contact cards, email, SMS and maps
Wi-Fi: enter your network name and password exactly as they appear on your router. Guests point their camera at the code and join without typing. Special characters such as semicolons, commas and quotes are handled for you. Anyone who sees the code can join, so for visitors it's best to use a guest network.
Contact card: add your name, company, phone numbers, email, website and address. Scanning it offers to save you as a contact, which makes it ideal for business cards and stands. Keep it short for a simpler code.
Email and SMS: the code opens a new message with the address, subject and text already filled in. People still choose whether to send it. Phone: the code offers to call your number. Include the country code, such as +1 or +44, so it works for everyone.
Location: paste coordinates from your map app. A Google Maps link works on all phones, Apple Maps links suit iPhone users, and the plain geo: format opens the default map app on most Android phones.
Which file format should you use?
| Format | Best for |
|---|---|
| SVG | Print: menus, posters, packaging, signs. It's a vector file, so it stays perfectly sharp at any size. Most design programs can open it and save it as PDF or EPS if your printer asks for those. |
| PNG | Screens, slides, documents and emails. Choose a large size (2048 or 4096 pixels) if you need to print a PNG. A transparent background is available for both formats. |
Privacy: static codes don't track your customers
Because a static code goes straight to your content, there's no middleman recording the time, rough location or device of every person who scans it. That's better for your customers' privacy. If you do want to measure visits, add tracking to the page the code opens instead.
Making the code is private too. Everything happens in your browser, so your Wi-Fi password, your contact details and your links are never sent to us or stored anywhere.
Stay safe when scanning QR codes
Scammers sometimes stick fake QR codes on parking meters, posters and restaurant tables, or send them in emails, to lead people to fake payment pages. The US Federal Trade Commission advises checking the web address before you open a link from a QR code, especially one you find somewhere unexpected. A few simple habits help:
- Read the address your phone shows before you tap it, and look for misspelled brand names.
- Be wary of codes on stickers placed over other codes, and of codes that ask you to log in or pay straight away.
- If in doubt, type the company's address yourself instead of using the code.
Frequently asked questions
Do QR codes made here ever expire?
Is it really free, with no sign-up?
What's the difference between static and dynamic QR codes?
Can I change the link after printing?
Can I add my logo without breaking the code?
How big should I print a QR code?
Do you track scans or store my data?
How can I tell if a QR code is safe to scan?
Last updated: 2026-11-14