How to Make a QR Code
Create a QR code for a link or any text in about a minute — free, in your browser, with nothing uploaded. This walkthrough covers the four steps, what you can encode, and which file to download for screen or print.
Before you start: what you need
Nothing to install. QR generation runs entirely in your browser, so all you need is this page open on a phone or computer. There is no account, no sign-up, and no cost — commercial use included. And because the link or text is encoded into the image itself, the finished code is static: it never expires and keeps working even if this site disappears. When you are ready, open the QR generator in a new tab and follow along.
Make your first QR code in four steps
- Open the generator. Go to the QR generator. It loads instantly — there is nothing to sign up for and nothing to download.
- Enter your content. Paste a website link (for example
https://example.com) or type any text into the box. A live preview appears as you type; the code is built on your device, and what you enter is never sent anywhere. - Adjust options if you need to (optional). Open Options to set the error correction level, the quiet-zone margin, or the code and background colors. The defaults — level M, a 4-module margin, black on white — are the safe choice for most uses, so you can skip this the first time.
- Download or copy. Click Download SVG for a print-ready vector file, Download PNG for a ready-to-use image (512–2048 px), or Copy image to paste it straight into a document or chat.
Your recent codes are kept under Recent in this browser only, so you can grab one again later without regenerating it.
What you can put in a QR code
A website link is the most common use — paste the full address including https:// so
phones open it directly. Plain text works too: a note, a code, or a short message shows as text when
scanned. For an email or phone action, type the raw address as text, such as
mailto:you@example.com or tel:+821012345678. This tool encodes exactly what
you enter, with no changes beyond trimming blank space at the ends, so what you type is what a scanner
reads. One habit pays off everywhere: keep the content short. A short link fills fewer squares, so it
stays easy for a phone to read even on something small like a business card or poster.
SVG or PNG: which file to download
SVG is the default and the right pick for anything you will print: it is a vector file, so it scales to any size without softening, and a print shop can use it as-is. PNG is a ready-made image for screens — web pages, slides, and chat; when you download one, choose a size a little larger than where it will appear so it still looks clean. Copy image puts a PNG on your clipboard to paste right away. For a deeper look at formats, sizing, and error correction levels, see the full QR code guide.
Before you print: a quick check
Three things prevent most scan failures. First, size: print the code at least one tenth of the distance it will be scanned from — roughly 10 cm for a scan from one meter away. Second, the quiet zone: keep the blank margin around the code, because it is part of the specification, not empty space. Third, contrast: a dark code on a light background scans best, so avoid inverting the colors. Always test-scan a real-size proof with a couple of phones before a full print run. If a code still will not scan, the guide has a complete troubleshooting checklist.
Keep reading
- Static vs dynamic QR codes — which one never expires
- Are QR code generators safe? — what they do with your link
- QR code guide — error correction, print, and scan troubleshooting