How to make a QR code
Three steps, about a minute.
1
Pick a content type
Choose the tab that matches what you are sharing. The form changes to fit, and the correct payload format — WIFI:, BEGIN:VCARD, upi://pay — is built for you.
2
Style it
Set colours or a gradient, pick a module and eye shape, and drop your logo in the centre. Switch error correction to H when you add a logo so the code stays readable.
3
Test, then download
Scan the live preview with your own phone before you use it anywhere. Then take a PNG for screens or an SVG for anything that will be printed.
What each QR type encodes
Every type writes a standard payload that phone cameras recognise natively — no companion app needed.
Choosing an error correction level
QR codes carry Reed–Solomon redundancy, so a damaged or partly covered code still scans. More redundancy means a denser pattern for the same data.
Getting a QR code that actually scans
Most unscannable codes fail for one of these five reasons.
Keep the quiet zone
Scanners find a code by the empty margin around it. Leave at least four modules of clear space — never crop tight to the pattern or place text against its edge.
Dark on light, always
Readers measure luminance. A dark pattern on a light background is reliable everywhere; inverted light-on-dark codes fail on many scanners. The tool warns you when contrast drops too low.
Size for the distance
The working rule is width = scanning distance ÷ 10. A code read from 2 m needs to be about 20 cm wide. The practical minimum for print is 2 × 2 cm.
Shorten long links
Every character adds modules. A 300-character URL produces a dense grid that struggles on older cameras — shorten the link before encoding it.
Use SVG for print
Vector output stays razor sharp at any size and keeps the module edges crisp. A resized PNG blurs its edges, and blurred module boundaries are what break scans.
Test before you publish
Scan the real, final artwork with more than one phone — ideally an older Android and an iPhone — before it goes to print. A code on 10,000 flyers cannot be fixed later.
Frequently asked questions
Everything people ask before putting a QR code into production.
Do these QR codes expire?
No. This tool creates static QR codes, which means the data is encoded directly into the pattern itself. There is no redirect service in between, no tracking account and nothing that can be switched off later, so the code keeps working for as long as the destination it points to exists.
Is my data uploaded to a server?
No. Encoding and rendering run in your browser with JavaScript. WiFi passwords, contact details and payment identifiers never leave your device, and the page keeps working after you go offline.
Can I put a logo in the middle of a QR code?
Yes. Upload a PNG, JPG or SVG and it is drawn in the centre with a small quiet pad around it. QR codes carry Reed–Solomon error correction, so a covered centre can still be reconstructed. Keep the logo at or below about 20% of the width, set error correction to H, and scan the preview to confirm.
Which error correction level should I use?
L recovers about 7% of the code and gives the smallest, densest pattern. M at about 15% is the everyday default. Q at about 25% suits codes printed on packaging or exposed to wear. H recovers about 30% and is the level to use whenever you place a logo over the centre.
Why should I download SVG instead of PNG?
SVG is vector, so it stays perfectly sharp at any size, from a business card to a billboard, and the file stays a few kilobytes. Use PNG when you need a bitmap for a slide, a web page or a social post — and pick at least 512 px for anything that will be printed.
How do I make a WiFi QR code?
Choose the WiFi type, enter the network name exactly as it is broadcast, pick the security mode — usually WPA/WPA2 — and type the password. Both iOS and Android join the network straight from the camera app. Tick hidden network only if the SSID is not broadcast.
Can I change the colours of a QR code?
Yes, with one rule: keep strong contrast and keep the modules darker than the background. Scanners read the pattern by luminance, so a dark code on a light background is reliable, while an inverted light-on-dark code fails on some readers. This tool warns you when the contrast drops too low to scan safely.
What is the smallest size a QR code can be printed?
A practical floor is about 2 × 2 cm for a code scanned at arm's length, and the rule of thumb for distance is width = scanning distance ÷ 10. Always keep the quiet zone — the empty margin of four modules around the pattern — because scanners rely on it to locate the code.
How much data fits in one QR code?
The theoretical ceiling is 4296 alphanumeric characters or 2953 bytes at error correction L, but codes that large become dense and hard to scan. For reliable everyday scanning keep the payload under roughly 300 characters, and shorten long URLs before encoding them.
Can I track how many people scan my code?
Not from the code itself — a static QR code has nothing to report back to. If you need scan counts, point the code at a URL you control that carries UTM parameters, or at a short link from an analytics-capable shortener, and read the numbers there.
Is this QR code generator free for commercial use?
Yes. The codes are free to use anywhere, including on products, packaging, menus and advertising. There is no sign-up, no watermark, no scan limit and no attribution requirement.
Does the UPI payment code work with all apps?
The code uses the standard upi://pay deep link, which GPay, PhonePe, Paytm, BHIM and bank apps all understand. Leave the amount blank for an open code the payer fills in themselves. Always verify with a small test payment before printing it for customers.
