QR Code Generator

Static QR codes never expire

Every code made here is a static QR code: the link or Wi-Fi details are stored in the pattern itself, so a phone camera reads them directly without contacting any server. There is no expiry date, no scan limit and no subscription, and the code keeps working even if this website disappears.

Many "free trial" QR services create dynamic QR codes instead. The pattern holds only a short link to the vendor's server, which then redirects to your real address. That lets you edit the destination and see scan statistics, but if the trial ends or you cancel, every printed code stops working — a common surprise on restaurant menus and business cards.

• To change a static code's content you make a new code and reprint it. If the content changes often, point the QR code at a page you control and update the page.
• A URL code is only useful while that website is online, but the code itself never expires.

What each QR code type contains

If a network name or password contains \ ; , : ", the generator escapes it with a backslash as the Wi-Fi QR format requires (a;b becomes a\;b). Without that, the password would be cut short and the phone would fail to connect. Enterprise Wi-Fi (WPA2-Enterprise with a separate username) can't be encoded in this format.

Contacts default to vCard 3.0, which iPhone and Android cameras both understand. For just a name and number, MECARD is shorter and produces a less dense code. You can always see the exact encoded text under "Encoded content".

How to make a QR code that scans reliably

• Error correction lets a code survive dirt or damage: L 7%, M 15%, Q 25%, H 30%. Higher levels make the pattern denser, so use M for most things, Q for stickers and outdoor signs, and H when you put a logo in the middle.
• Quiet zone: keep an empty border four modules wide around the code. Cropping it off in a design is the most common reason codes fail.
• Colors: dark pattern on a light background. The page warns you when contrast is below 4:1 or the colors are inverted.
• Print size: at least 2 cm (about 0.8 in) wide; for posters, roughly the scanning distance divided by 10 (10 cm at 1 m, or 4 in at about 3 ft). SVG stays sharp at any size, so send that to your printer.
• Test it: "Test scan" decodes the generated image in your browser and checks it matches what you typed. Before printing, also try a real phone camera.

Long text makes a dense code. Put long information on a web page and encode its URL instead; the character counter helps if you need to trim text first.

Custom QR code design: finder eyes, pattern shapes and colors

Open "Style: shapes & colors" to change three parts independently. The preview and the PNG and SVG files follow your choices.

• Finder frame: the outer ring of the three big squares in the corners. Choose square, rounded or circle.
• Finder center: the 3×3 block inside each ring. Choose square, rounded or circle.
• Pattern: every other data module. Choose squares, rounded squares, dots or diamonds. The small alignment patterns that help a camera correct for tilt stay square so the code keeps scanning well.
• Colors: pick the pattern and background colors, and turn on "Separate finder colors" to give the finder frame and center their own colors, such as your brand color.

Matching the finder frame and center shapes scans best. A very different pair, such as a circular frame around a square center, can stop some scanners from finding the corners, so the page warns you. Whatever the shapes, every color must stay clearly darker than the background. After styling a code, run the scan test and try a real phone camera.

Frequently asked questions

Is it really free, including for business use?

Yes. Use the PNG or SVG on menus, flyers, packaging or business cards with no watermark and no time limit. "QR Code" is a registered trademark of DENSO WAVE, but the standard itself is free for anyone to use.

Is my Wi-Fi password or contact information stored anywhere?

No. The code is generated in your browser, and nothing you type (or your logo) is sent to or stored on a server. Only the QR library file itself is downloaded from a CDN.

The Wi-Fi code scans but won't connect. Why?

Check the security type and the exact password, including upper and lower case. WPA3-only routers may not accept older phones, and dual-band routers that use different names for 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz need the exact network name you want people to join.

Should I download PNG or SVG?

PNG for messages, documents and websites; SVG for print shops and large signs, because it is vector and stays sharp when scaled. Choose 2048px PNG if you need a high-resolution bitmap.

Sources

• QR code specification, error correction levels and versions: QRcode.com (Denso Wave)
• QR code generation library: qrcode-generator (GitHub)

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