QR Code Generator
Free QR code generator. Create QR codes for URLs, text and Wi-Fi, choose size and error correction, and download as PNG.
QR codes went from novelty to infrastructure — restaurant menus, event tickets, payment links, Wi-Fi sharing and product packaging all rely on them now. They work because any phone camera reads them instantly with no app.
This generator creates QR codes for URLs, plain text and Wi-Fi credentials, with control over size and error correction, and downloads as PNG. Generation is local, so the codes are free to use commercially with no tracking, no expiry and no account.
How to use the QR Code Generator
Choose the content type
A URL, plain text, or Wi-Fi network credentials that connect a guest’s phone automatically.
Enter your content
For URLs, include
https://— without it, some scanners treat the code as plain text rather than a link.Set size and error correction
Larger sizes print more reliably. Higher error correction survives damage and dirt at the cost of a denser code.
Download the PNG
Test it with two or three different phones before printing anything in quantity.
Error correction levels
| Level | Damage tolerated | Use for |
|---|---|---|
| L (Low) | ~7% | Screens and clean digital display |
| M (Medium) | ~15% | General printing — the sensible default |
| Q (Quartile) | ~25% | Industrial settings, outdoor signage |
| H (High) | ~30% | Codes with a logo overlaid, or harsh conditions |
QR codes use Reed–Solomon error correction, the same family of codes used on CDs and in deep-space communication. It is why a partly torn or smudged code still scans.
Printing codes that actually scan
- Minimum 2 × 2 cm (0.8 inch) for a code scanned from arm’s length. Bigger is always safer.
- Scale the size to the scanning distance — roughly one centimetre of code for every ten centimetres of distance. A poster read from three metres needs a code around 30 cm across.
- Keep the quiet zone. The blank margin around the code must be at least four modules wide; text or graphics crowding the edge breaks scanning.
- Dark code on a light background. Inverted codes fail on many scanners, and low-contrast colour combinations fail on most.
- Never place a code across a fold or a curved surface such as a bottle.
- Test on both iOS and Android before committing to a print run.
Static and dynamic codes
The codes here are static: the destination is encoded directly in the pattern, so it works forever, needs no service and cannot be tracked or switched off. The trade-off is that changing the destination means printing a new code.
Dynamic codes encode a short redirect URL owned by a service, which can be repointed later and provides scan analytics. That flexibility costs a subscription, and creates a real dependency — if the provider shuts down or you stop paying, every printed code stops working. There are documented cases of exactly this.
For anything printed permanently — packaging, signage, business cards — a static code pointing at a URL you control is the safer choice. If you need redirection, use your own short domain rather than a third party’s.
Wi-Fi QR codes
A Wi-Fi QR code encodes the network name, security type and password in a standard format that iOS and Android both recognise, connecting a guest in one scan with no password typing.
Print one for a guest network rather than your main one. Anyone who photographs the code has your password permanently, and most consumer routers can run a separate guest SSID that has no access to your other devices.
A security note for scanners
A QR code is opaque — you cannot see where it leads until you scan it. "Quishing" attacks exploit this by placing sticker codes over legitimate ones on parking meters, restaurant tables and payment terminals.
Before acting on a scanned code, read the URL your phone previews and check the domain carefully. Treat any code that asks for payment details or login credentials with the same suspicion as an unexpected email link, and be especially wary of codes on stickers that could have been placed over an original.
Frequently asked questions
Do these QR codes expire?
No. They are static — the content is encoded directly in the pattern, so the code works permanently with no service, subscription or account behind it.
Can I use them commercially?
Yes. QR code technology was released royalty-free by Denso Wave, and codes generated here carry no watermark, tracking or usage restriction.
How small can a QR code be?
About 2 × 2 cm for arm’s-length scanning. As a rule, allow one centimetre of code width for every ten centimetres of scanning distance.
What error correction level should I choose?
Medium for most printing. Use High only if you are overlaying a logo or the code will face damage, since higher correction makes the pattern denser.
Can I put a logo in the middle?
Yes, at High error correction, covering no more than about 20%–25% of the area and never the three corner squares. Always test the result before printing.
Can I track how many people scan it?
Not with a static code. Point it at a URL with UTM parameters and read the scans in your own analytics — that gives you tracking without depending on a third-party redirect service.
Why is my QR code not scanning?
Most often it is too small, has insufficient contrast, lacks the blank quiet zone around it, or is printed on a curved or folded surface. Increase the size and margin first.
Is my data sent to a server?
No. The code is generated entirely in your browser, so the URL or Wi-Fi password you encode never leaves your device.
100% private. Files are processed on your device and never uploaded.
Instant results. No upload queue. Processing time depends on your device.
Free forever. No signup, no watermark, no paid tier.
Works everywhere. Use a modern browser on your phone or computer.
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QR Code Generator is one of all the free tools on ToolNest. No account or subscription needed — anywhere in the world.