QR Code Generator

A QR code is a compact way to hand information to a phone without anyone typing it. This generator builds codes for links, plain text, phone numbers, email, SMS and WiFi credentials, and everything is produced inside your browser.

Choosing the right content type

The tabs at the top of the tool matter more than they first appear. A phone recognises a QR code's payload by its prefix, and that prefix is what makes a code open the dialer rather than a web page. Pick URL for anything that should open a website, and include the full address with https:// . A code containing example.com without the scheme is treated as plain text by many scanners, so nothing happens when it is scanned. WiFi encodes the network name, security type and password so a guest joins without typing anything. SMS and Email pre-fill a message, which is useful for feedback cards and support posters.

Error correction, and why the level matters

Every QR code carries redundant data so it still scans when part of it is obscured. Four levels are available, recovering from roughly 7%, 15%, 25% and 30% damage respectively. Higher correction is not automatically better. The redundancy has to be stored somewhere, so the pattern becomes denser for the same content. A dense code printed small is harder for a camera to resolve, which can make a high-correction code less reliable than a medium one. Level M is a sensible default. Move to H when you plan to place a logo over the centre, or when the code will be printed somewhere it is likely to be scuffed, such as equipment tagging or outdoor signage.

Sizing and contrast for real-world scanning

A practical rule is that a code should be about one tenth of the distance it will be scanned from. Read from arm's length, roughly 10 cm is comfortable. On a wall poster read from two metres, it needs to be around 20 cm across. Keep the blank margin around the pattern. That quiet zone is functional: scanners use it to find where the code begins, and cropping tightly to the pattern is a common reason codes fail. Contrast should stay strong, with a dark pattern on a light background. Light-on-dark works on some readers and fails on others, and mid-tone colour pairs that look elegant on screen often scan poorly in print.

A note on privacy and safety

A WiFi QR code stores the password in readable form. Anyone who photographs the code has your password permanently, so it suits a guest network rather than your main one. More broadly, QR codes are unreadable to humans, which makes them an effective way to disguise a destination. Stickers placed over legitimate codes on parking meters and restaurant tables are a known scam. Check the URL your phone previews before opening it, and treat codes that look stuck on rather than printed with suspicion.

Quick tips

• Include https:// in URLs, or many scanners treat the code as plain text.
• Test the downloaded code with a real phone camera before printing a batch.
• Shorten long links first — less data means a less dense, more reliable pattern.
• Use error correction H only when adding a logo or printing on rough surfaces.

What data types are supported by this QR Code Generator?

Our tool supports URLs (web links), Plain Text, Phone Numbers (tel:), Email addresses (with optional subject and message body), SMS text messages, and WiFi network configurations (SSID, password, and security protocol).

Do the generated QR codes ever expire?

No! All generated QR codes are static, meaning your input data is encoded directly into the matrix pixels. They will work permanently with no redirection or expiration.

Can I customize the colors and download as high-resolution PNG?

Yes! You can pick custom foreground and background colors, apply color presets, select error correction levels, preview in real-time, copy the input payload, download crisp PNG images, and print directly.

Is my WiFi password or personal data safe when generating QR codes?

100% safe. All QR codes are generated entirely within your browser memory using local JavaScript. No text, phone numbers, email addresses, or passwords are ever sent to any server.

How do users scan the generated QR code?

Point any smartphone camera (iOS Camera or Android Google Lens) at the screen or printed QR code. Most mobile OS camera apps automatically detect the payload and prompt to open the website, dial the phone number, connect to WiFi, or draft the message.