Static QR codes that never stop working
Many QR code sites make dynamic codes. The pattern holds a short link to their own server, which then forwards people to your page. That lets them count scans, but it also means the code only works while you keep paying. When a trial ends or a plan lapses, printed menus, flyers and packaging suddenly lead to an error page or an upsell.
Every code made here is static. The link, Wi-Fi details or contact card are written straight into the pattern, so a phone reads them directly with no server in between. There is nothing to renew and nothing that can be switched off. The code keeps working for as long as the page it points to exists.
The one thing a static code cannot do is change after printing. If you might move a page later, point the code at an address you control and can redirect yourself, such as a page on your own website.
What each type does when scanned
- Link: opens the web address in the browser.
- Wi-Fi: offers to join the network without typing the password. Built into the camera on iPhone and Android.
- Contact: a vCard that the phone offers to save as a new contact, with name, phone numbers, email, company and address.
- Event: offers to add the event to the calendar.
- Email, Phone and SMS: start a new email, a call or a text message with the details filled in. Nothing is sent until the person confirms.
- Location: opens the spot in the phone's map app.
- Text: shows the text on screen.
Wi-Fi QR codes
The Wi-Fi code uses the standard format phones understand, for example WIFI:T:WPA;S:CafeGuest;P:secret123;;. Special characters such as semicolons, commas, colons and quotes in the name or password are escaped for you. Choose WPA for any modern network, including WPA2 and WPA3. The password is never saved in this browser.
Adding a logo
A QR code stores its data more than once. That spare data, called error correction, lets a phone read a code that is scratched, smudged or partly covered. A logo in the middle covers part of the pattern on purpose, so it relies on that spare capacity.
- Choose High error correction, which can rebuild up to 30% of the code. This is set for you when you add a logo.
- Keep the logo small or medium. A large logo with a long link leaves little margin for scratches or poor light.
- Every code is read back right here after it is drawn. If it does not scan cleanly, you see a warning before you download it.
Colours that still scan
Phones look for dark squares on a light background. Keep the code darker than its background, with strong contrast: black, navy or a deep brand colour on white or a pale tint works well. Light codes on dark backgrounds fail on many phones, and pale yellow or light grey codes are hard to read. A warning appears when the contrast is too low.
Size and printing
For print, download the SVG. It is a vector file that stays sharp at any size, from a business card to a poster, and opens in design tools and print shops. The PNG suits screens, documents and slides, and 1024 pixels prints cleanly up to about 8.5 cm, or 3.4 inches, wide at 300 dpi.
- As a rule, make the code at least one tenth as wide as the distance it will be scanned from. A code read from 1 metre away should be about 10 cm wide.
- Do not go below about 2 cm, or 0.8 inches, for anything printed.
- Keep the quiet zone, the empty border, at 4 modules wherever you can. Text or graphics touching the code make it harder to find.
Making QR codes in bulk
The Bulk tab turns a list into a ZIP of codes: one per table, product, ticket or room. Paste one item per line, or a CSV with the content in the first column and the file name in the second. Every code uses the style from the Create tab, including colours and logo, and the ZIP includes an index.csv so you can match files to their contents.
Scanning a QR code
The Scan tab reads a code from a photo, a screenshot or your camera and shows what it contains before anything is opened, which is a safe way to check a code before you trust it. Your browser's built-in barcode reader is used where it exists, and a reader built into this page takes over everywhere else, so scanning works on any modern browser. The camera needs your permission, and the picture never leaves the device.
Privacy
There is no account, no analytics and no server behind this page. Codes are drawn by your browser, logos and photos you choose stay on the device, and nothing you type is sent anywhere. Your last details and style are kept in this browser's storage so they are ready next time, apart from Wi-Fi passwords and logos.
Questions
Do these QR codes expire?
No. They are static codes with the content stored in the pattern, so they work for good. Only the destination can stop working, for example if a web page is taken down.
Can I use the codes on products I sell?
Yes. There is no licence fee, no watermark and no limit on use, including print runs and packaging.
Can I see how many people scanned my code?
Not from the code itself, since nothing sits between the phone and your page. Add a tracking parameter to your link, such as ?src=flyer, and your website's own statistics show the visits.
Why does my code look so dense?
The more characters it holds, the more squares it needs. Shorten the link, leave out optional contact fields, or use a lower error correction level when there is no logo.
Is QR Code a trademark?
QR Code is a registered trademark of DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED. The codes made here follow the public QR code standard.