How to use the QR code generator
Choose a content type from the tabs, fill in the form and the code redraws as you type. Every type produces a standard payload that the camera apps on iPhone and Android understand without an extra app: a URL opens in the browser, Wi-Fi offers to join the network, a vCard offers to save a contact, Email and SMS open a pre-filled message, Phone starts a call, WhatsApp opens a chat through wa.me, and Location opens the map app at a pin.
Open Encoded text under the preview to see exactly what the code contains. The tool handles the fiddly escaping for you — a Wi-Fi password containing a semicolon or a colon, or a vCard address with commas, is escaped the way the formats require, which is the most common reason home-made Wi-Fi codes fail.
When you are happy, scan the preview with your own phone before you print anything. Then download a PNG at 512 to 2048 pixels for screens and documents, or an SVG, which is vector and stays sharp at any size — the right choice for print, signage and anything a designer will place in artwork.
Static codes: why these never stop working
Many popular generators create dynamic codes by default: the square actually contains a short link to their own server, which then redirects to your page. That lets them count scans, but it also means the code dies if you stop paying or the company disappears — a common and unpleasant surprise on printed menus and business cards.
Every code made here is static: your link, network details or contact card are written directly into the pattern. Nothing sits in between, nobody logs the scans and there is nothing to expire. The trade-off is that you cannot change the destination after printing, so if a link might change, point the code at a page you control and change what that page shows. If you need scan counts, add a campaign parameter such as ?utm_source=poster to the URL and read it in your own analytics.
Error correction, size and scanning distance
QR codes use Reed–Solomon error correction, so a damaged or partly covered code can still be read. Higher levels are more robust but need more modules, which makes each square smaller at the same print size.
| Level | Recovers | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| L | about 7% | Long content on screens, where damage is unlikely |
| M | about 15% | The sensible default for print and screens |
| Q | about 25% | Outdoor posters, stickers, packaging that gets scuffed |
| H | about 30% | Codes with a centre logo — chosen automatically |
The generator picks the smallest of the 40 QR versions that fits your content and tests all eight mask patterns, keeping the one with the lowest penalty score so the code has no large blocks or finder-like patterns that confuse scanners. A useful rule for print size is a 10:1 distance-to-width ratio: a code scanned from one metre away should be at least 10 cm wide. Keep URLs short — a short address gives a lower version with bigger, easier modules.
Colours, logos and the quiet zone
- Contrast. Scanners look for dark modules on a light background. The tool shows the contrast ratio and warns below 4.5:1. Dark blue, green or burgundy on white or cream works; yellow on white, or grey on grey, does not.
- Inverted codes. Light modules on a dark background look stylish but some older scanner apps cannot read them. Test on several phones if you invert.
- Quiet zone. The standard asks for an empty border four modules wide. Printing a code tight against other artwork is one of the most common reasons it fails.
- Logo. A centre logo hides part of the data, so the level is locked to H and the logo is limited to 30% of the width, with a padded background. Around 20% is the sweet spot. Your image never leaves the browser and is embedded in the SVG download too.
Printing a Wi-Fi code for guests? Pair it with a strong key from the password generator. Checking which network your devices are on? What is my IP shows the address and provider you are connecting through. To embed a PNG in HTML or CSS without a separate file, run it through Base64 encode.
Frequently asked questions
Do these QR codes expire or have a scan limit?
No. The codes are static: the content is written directly into the pattern, with no redirect through our server or anyone else's. They work for as long as the destination exists, can be scanned any number of times, and do not depend on Key & Pixel staying online.
Can I change where the QR code points after printing it?
Not with a static code — the destination is part of the pattern. If the target might change, encode a short link to a page you control, such as yoursite.com/menu, and update that page instead. That keeps the advantages of a static code while giving you the flexibility of a dynamic one.
How do I make a QR code for my Wi-Fi?
Choose the Wi-Fi tab, type the network name exactly as it appears on your devices (it is case-sensitive), choose the security type and enter the password. Tick Hidden network if the name is not broadcast. iPhones and Android phones will offer to join the network when they scan it, with no typing.
Will a logo stop the QR code from scanning?
Not if it is kept modest. Adding a logo locks error correction to level H, which can rebuild about 30% of the code, and the tool pads the logo with the background colour. Keep it around 20% of the width, avoid covering the three corner squares, and always test with a couple of phones before printing.
Should I download PNG or SVG?
Use SVG for print and anything a designer will work with: it is vector, so it stays razor sharp at any size. Use PNG for websites, slides, emails and documents; 1024 px is plenty for most screens, and 2048 px suits large on-screen displays or when a printer insists on a bitmap.
How much text can a QR code hold?
Up to 2,953 bytes at level L in the largest version, 40, falling to 1,273 bytes at level H. Digits-only content packs far more densely, up to 7,089 digits. In practice, keep content short: a long payload makes a dense code that phones struggle with, so link to long text rather than encoding it.