How to Create a QR Code That Actually Scans

A QR code is just a way of storing a short piece of text, usually a web address, in a pattern a camera can read. Most failures come from a few avoidable design mistakes.

Decide what the code should do

• Open a website: use the QR Code Generator and paste the full address, including https://.
• Join Wi-Fi: the WiFi QR Generator encodes the network name and password so guests connect without typing.
• Start a WhatsApp chat: the WhatsApp QR Generator builds a link that opens a conversation with your number.
• Share contact details: the vCard QR Generator lets someone save your name, phone and email in one scan.

Keep the content short

The more text you encode, the denser the pattern becomes, and dense codes are harder to scan from a distance. Use a short link where you can. Link shorteners are fine, but remember that if the shortener ever shuts down your code stops working.

Design rules that matter

• Contrast. Dark code on a light background is the safest. Inverted (light on dark) works for many phones but not all scanners.
• Quiet zone. Leave an empty border of at least four modules (the small squares) around the code. Do not crowd it with text or pictures.
• Size. As a rule of thumb, the code should be at least 2 cm (about 0.8 in) wide for close-range scanning, and larger the further away it will be read.
• Logos. A small logo in the centre can work because QR codes contain error correction, but a large one will break scanning. Always test.

Always test before printing

Scan the code with at least two different phones, ideally in the lighting where it will be used. You can also check a printed or on-screen code with QR Scanner. Print a small sample first; a code that looks fine on screen can scan poorly on glossy paper.

Static versus tracked codes

The codes made here are static: the information is stored in the pattern itself, so they never expire and nothing depends on our servers. If you want to know how many people scanned a code, add campaign parameters to your link with the UTM Link Builder before you encode it.

Frequently asked questions

Do QR codes expire?

A static QR code stores its content in the pattern, so it never expires. It only stops being useful if the web page it points to is removed.

Can I make a QR code in colour?

Yes, as long as there is strong contrast between the pattern and the background, with the pattern darker than the background. Pale colours and low contrast scan poorly.

How much can a QR code hold?

Several thousand characters in theory, but the larger the content the denser and harder to scan the code becomes. Keep it short, ideally a brief link.

Why does my QR code not scan from the screen?

Common causes are low screen brightness, glare, a pattern that is too small, or the code being displayed with a transparent or patterned background.

Key takeaways

• Dark on light with a clear border is safest.
• Keep the encoded text short.
• Test on two phones before printing.

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