QR Code Generator creates crisp, scannable codes without uploading your data anywhere. Build QR codes for plain Text, a URL, WiFi login, Phone number, Email, WhatsApp, or a full vCard contact, all generated locally in your browser. Download the result as PNG, SVG, or PDF in high resolution for print or screen. It is completely free, requires no signup, and keeps your information private on your device.
How to create a QR code
- 1 Choose a type: Text, URL, WiFi, Phone, Email, WhatsApp, or vCard.
- 2 Enter your details in the form.
- 3 Preview the QR code as it updates live.
- 4 Download it as PNG, SVG, or PDF.
How a QR code is built
A QR code is not a picture of your data — it is your data, written in a two-dimensional binary alphabet. What you type is first turned into a payload string with the exact syntax the scanning device expects. A Wi-Fi code, for instance, is not the network name in plain text: it is a structured string beginning WIFI:T:WPA;S:network;P:password;; in which any semicolon, comma, colon, quote or backslash inside your password must be escaped with a backslash, or the scanner will read the credential as truncated. A vCard, an email and a WhatsApp link each have their own required format, and getting a character wrong is the difference between a code that works and one that does nothing.
That payload is then encoded with error correction and rendered to a canvas, which is what you see in the preview and what PNG and SVG exports are produced from. The PDF export composes a high-resolution PNG into a document with pdf-lib, so the code stays sharp at any print size.
The default rendering is deliberately plain: dark modules on a white background, with a quiet zone of empty margin around the code. That combination is what scanners are designed for. Inverted codes, low-contrast colour pairs and codes printed hard against other artwork are the three most common reasons a QR code fails in the real world.
What people encode
Guest Wi-Fi
A printed Wi-Fi code lets visitors join without you reading a 20-character password aloud. Phones connect on scan, and you can change the password without reprinting anything but the code.
Menus and price lists
A code on a table links straight to a page you control, so the menu updates without reprinting. Point it at a stable URL rather than a temporary link — the printed code cannot be edited later.
Business cards and vCards
A vCard code saves the whole contact — name, organisation, phone, email, address — in one scan, rather than leaving someone to type it from a card they will lose.
Events and product labels
Tickets, packaging and equipment labels use codes to link to instructions, registration or documentation. Higher error correction is worth it here, since labels get scuffed.
Why generate QR codes online
QR codes make it effortless to share links, WiFi access, contact cards, and payment or messaging details with a single scan. High-resolution PNG, SVG, and PDF exports mean your code looks sharp on business cards, posters, and screens alike. Because everything is generated in your browser, your data stays private and the tool is always free.
What determines whether a code scans
Most unscannable QR codes fail for one of a small number of predictable reasons:
- A printed code is permanent. Whatever URL you encode is the URL forever — if the destination moves, the printed code is dead. Encode a link you control and can redirect.
- More data means a denser grid. A long URL or a full vCard produces finer modules that need a bigger print size or a closer scan. Shorten the URL rather than shrinking the code.
- Error correction trades capacity for robustness. Level L stores the most data; level H tolerates around 30% damage and is what you want on anything that will be handled, curved or partially covered.
- The quiet zone is not decoration. Scanners need clear margin around the code — usually about four modules — to find its edges. Cropping it tight is a frequent cause of failure.
- Contrast and polarity matter. Dark on light works; light on dark fails on many scanners, and low-contrast colour pairs fail in poor light even when they look fine on screen.
Troubleshooting
- My Wi-Fi code will not connect
- Usually the password contains a character that needs escaping, or the encryption type does not match. Check that WPA is selected for a modern network (not WEP or none), and confirm the SSID exactly — including capitalisation, which is significant. Hidden networks need the hidden flag set or the phone will not find them after decoding.
- The code scans on my phone but not on the printed version
- Almost always size or contrast. As a rule of thumb, print at least 2 cm across for a short URL and more for dense data, keep the quiet zone clear, and print black on white rather than a colour pair. Glossy lamination under bright light can also defeat a scanner through glare.
- The scan opens the wrong address
- Check what you typed. A URL without a scheme has https:// added automatically, which is correct for websites but wrong if you meant a different protocol. Trailing spaces copied from another document are another common culprit.
Frequently asked questions
What can I encode in a QR code?
You can create codes for Text, URL, WiFi, Phone, Email, WhatsApp, and vCard contacts.
In which formats can I download the QR code?
You can download it as a high-resolution PNG, SVG, or PDF.
Do these QR codes expire?
No. The code is static: the data is encoded in the pattern itself, not stored on a server that could shut down or start charging. This is the important difference from "dynamic" QR services, where the printed code points at their domain and stops working if you stop paying.
Can I track how many people scan it?
Not with a static code, because no server is involved in the scan. If you need analytics, encode a URL that you control and measure the visits at that address — a link on your own site or through a URL shortener that reports statistics.
Which error correction level should I pick?
M is a sensible default for a screen or a clean printed page. Choose H for anything physical that will be handled, curved around a bottle, or partially obscured — it tolerates roughly 30% damage. Choose L only when the data is long and the code will be scanned in ideal conditions.
Is my Wi-Fi password sent anywhere?
No. The payload is assembled and rendered entirely in your browser — the password never leaves the page, and no request is made at any point. That is not a minor detail for this tool: a QR generator that runs on a server sees every password and contact detail you encode.