How to Generate a QR Code
A QR code is not a link to your data — it is your data, encoded as a pattern of squares. That distinction matters enormously, and it is where most free QR generators quietly cheat. This tool encodes your content directly into the code, which means it works forever, offline, with no service in between. Nothing to expire, nothing tracking who scanned it.
Choose what to encode
A website, WiFi credentials, a contact card, an email, a phone number or plain text. Each type fills in the right format automatically.
Style it
Set the foreground and background colours, and choose an error-correction level. The preview updates live as you type.
Download and use it
Get a 1200-pixel PNG for print, or an SVG that scales to any size at all - a billboard or a business card.
Static vs Dynamic — Read This Before Printing Anything
Many "free" QR generators produce a dynamic code. It looks the same, but the pattern does not encode your URL — it encodes a link to their server, which then redirects to you. That gives them scan analytics, and it gives them a switch. When the free trial ends, that redirect can stop working, and every QR code you printed becomes a dead link. This happens to people constantly, and the codes are already on the menus, the posters, the packaging.
The codes here are static. Your URL, your WiFi password, your contact details are encoded directly into the black and white pattern itself. There is no middleman, no account, no expiry, and no analytics — because there is nothing sitting between the scanner and your data. Print it on ten thousand flyers and it will still work in a decade.
The trade-off is honest: you cannot change where a static code points after printing it, and you cannot count scans. If you genuinely need editable destinations or analytics, you need a dynamic service and should expect to pay for it. For the overwhelming majority of uses — a menu, a WiFi password on the wall, a link on a business card — static is simply better.
Making a QR Code That Actually Scans
Keep the contrast high
Dark pattern on a light background. Inverting it, or using two similar colours, breaks scanning on many phones. A dark colour on white is always safe.
Do not shrink it too far
Around 2cm square is the practical minimum for print at close range. A code on a poster read from across a room needs to be far bigger - roughly one tenth of the scanning distance.
Leave the quiet zone
QR codes need a clear margin around them. Cropping right to the edge of the pattern, or putting text against it, causes scan failures.
Raise error correction if it will get damaged
The High setting lets a code still scan with up to 30% of it obscured - useful for stickers, packaging or anything that will get scuffed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do these QR codes expire?
No, never. Your data is encoded directly into the pattern rather than pointing at a redirect service, so there is nothing that can be switched off. Print it and it works forever.
Is this QR code generator really free?
Completely free, with no signup, no watermark, no scan limits and no premium tier. Everything runs in your browser, so there are no server costs to pass on.
How do I make a WiFi QR code?
Select the WiFi type, enter your network name and password, and choose the security type. Anyone who scans it connects automatically without typing the password.
What is the difference between static and dynamic QR codes?
Static codes encode your data directly - they never expire but cannot be edited. Dynamic codes point at a redirect service, which allows editing and analytics but can be switched off. These are static.
Can I track how many people scan my code?
No, and that is deliberate. Tracking requires routing every scan through a server, which is exactly the arrangement that lets a provider disable your code later. There is no middleman here.
What size should I print a QR code?
About 2cm square works at close range. For a poster or sign, use roughly one tenth of the expected scanning distance - a code read from 2 metres away should be about 20cm across.
Should I download PNG or SVG?
PNG for most uses - it is 1200 pixels, plenty for print. SVG if it needs to scale to a very large size, since it stays perfectly sharp at any dimension.
What does error correction do?
It adds redundancy so the code still scans when partially damaged or obscured. High allows up to 30% damage but makes the pattern denser. Medium is right for most situations.
Can I use custom colours?
Yes, but keep the contrast strong - a dark pattern on a light background. Low-contrast or inverted codes fail to scan on many phones.
Can I put a logo in the middle?
This tool does not add logos. If you overlay one yourself, use High error correction and keep the logo small - covering too much of the pattern makes it unscannable.
Is my data uploaded when generating the code?
No. The code is generated entirely inside your browser. Your WiFi password, contact details and URLs never leave your device.
Why won't my QR code scan?
Usually contrast, size, or the quiet zone. Check the pattern is dark on light, that it is big enough for the scanning distance, and that there is a clear margin around it.
Last updated: July 11, 2026 · FlipMyFormat QR Code Generator
Written and maintained by the FlipMyFormat team