PDFConvertersOnline.comHow to make a QR code
- Pick what the code should hold: a link, plain text, Wi-Fi, a contact card, an email, a phone number or an SMS.
- Fill in the form. The preview on the right updates while you type, and a test scan confirms it reads back correctly.
- Adjust colors, size or add a logo if you like, then download a PNG or SVG, or copy the image.
Static QR codes that never expire
There are two kinds of QR codes on the web. A dynamic code contains a short link to a service, and that service forwards each scan to your real address. It lets the owner change the destination later and count scans, but it also means every scan passes through a third party, and the code stops working when the subscription ends or the company shuts down.
The codes made here are static. Your link, text or contact details are written straight into the black and white squares. There is no forwarding address, no account and no tracking, so the code keeps working for as long as the printed image exists. The trade-off is honest: you can't edit a static code after printing it. If the content changes, make a new one.
What each type does when scanned
| Type | What the phone offers |
|---|---|
| Link | Opens the web page |
| Text | Shows the text, ready to copy |
| Wi-Fi | Joins the network without typing the password (see Wi-Fi QR Code Generator) |
| Contact | Adds a person to the address book (see vCard QR Code Generator) |
| Opens a new email with the address, subject and message filled in | |
| Phone | Offers to call the number |
| SMS | Opens a text message to the number with your message prefilled |
Damage tolerance (error correction)
Every QR code carries extra recovery data, so it can still be read when part of it is scratched, dirty or covered. You choose how much: Low restores about 7% of the code, Medium about 15%, High about 25% and Highest about 30%. More recovery data means more squares, so the pattern gets denser and needs to be printed a little larger. Medium is a good default for screens and clean paper. Choose High or Highest for outdoor signs, stickers that get handled, or when you put a logo in the middle, which covers part of the pattern. Adding a logo here switches to Highest automatically and limits the logo to at most a fifth of the code area.
Print size and the white border
The blank border around a QR code is called the quiet zone. The QR standard asks for four squares of empty space on every side; scanners use it to find where the code starts. Keep the border at 4 unless you know the background around the printed code is plain and light.
For size, a common rule of thumb is that a code should be about one tenth as wide as the distance it will be scanned from. A code on a business card read from a hand's length away can be 2 to 3 cm (about an inch) wide; a poster read from across a room needs to be much larger. Short content makes a simpler pattern that stays readable at small sizes, so a short link beats a long one.
Colors and file formats
- Dark on light scans most reliably. The tool warns you when your colors are too close to each other or when the code is lighter than its background.
- PNG is a normal picture for documents, slides and websites. Pick the pixel size you need; 1024 px is plenty for most print jobs up to about 8 cm.
- SVG is a vector file that stays sharp at any size, which printers and designers prefer for large signs.
- Need an image as text for a web page? Convert the PNG with Image to Base64.
More ways to use this tool
Frequently asked questions
Do these QR codes expire?
No. The content is stored inside the code itself, not on a server, so there is nothing that can be switched off. It works as long as the image can be scanned.
Can I change the link after printing?
Not with a static code. Changing the content changes the pattern. If you expect the address to change, point the code at a page you control and update that page instead.
Can I see how many people scanned my code?
No, and that is on purpose: scans go straight to your content without passing through any counting service. If you need numbers, add a tracking parameter to your own link and read it in your website statistics.
Is what I type sent anywhere?
No. The code is drawn by your browser. Your Wi-Fi password, contact details and links are not sent to us or anyone else.
Why doesn't my QR code scan?
The most common causes are low contrast between the colors, a missing white border, a logo that is too large or a code printed too small for the distance. The test scan under the preview catches the first three before you download.
How much can one QR code hold?
Up to about 2,900 bytes of text at the lowest damage tolerance, but codes that full are very dense and hard to scan with a phone. For long content, put it on a web page and encode the link.