How to Create a QR Code in Under 60 Seconds

This is genuinely one of the easier things you can do on a computer. No design skills, no paid software, no account required. Here's the whole process.

Step 1: Decide what to encode

Most people want to encode a URL — a link to their website, a Google Maps location, a YouTube video, a social media profile. Our generator also supports WiFi credentials, phone numbers, email addresses, plain text, vCard contacts, and SMS. Pick the type that matches what you want people to do when they scan.

If you're linking to a webpage, make sure the URL is correct before you generate. A QR code with a typo in the URL is permanently broken (unless you use a dynamic QR — more on that in our dynamic vs static guide).

Step 2: Generate it

Open the QR Code Generator. Select the content type (URL, WiFi, email, etc.) from the tabs at the top. Enter your content. The code generates in real time — you can see it update as you type.

You can also adjust the error correction level here. Higher error correction makes the code more resilient to damage or partial obstructions, but also makes it denser. For most uses, the default setting is fine. If you plan to print the code at large sizes or put a logo on top of it, bump it up to high.

Step 3: Test before you download

Point your phone camera at the generated code and make sure it scans correctly. This takes five seconds and has saved a lot of people from printing a hundred flyers with a broken QR code.

Step 4: Download

Click the download button. PNG works for most uses. SVG is the better choice if you're going to print at large sizes — it stays crisp at any scale. If you're printing on a billboard, banner, or poster, SVG is what you want.

What size should you print it?

The quick rule: the minimum scanning distance should be roughly 10 times the code's printed size. A 2cm code can be scanned from about 20cm away. A 10cm code can be scanned from 1 meter away. For detailed sizing guidance, see our article on what size your QR code should be.

Common mistakes

Printing too small is the most common one. A QR code squeezed into a business card corner that's 1cm wide won't scan reliably. Low contrast is the second most common problem — printing a light gray code on white paper, or any combination where the squares don't stand out clearly. And encoding too much data makes the code dense and finicky. Keep URLs short, or use a URL shortener first.

If your code isn't scanning after printing, check our QR code troubleshooting guide.