Turn any text or web link into a QR code you can scan with a phone — made right in your browser, nothing uploaded. Type or paste below, pick a size, and download it as a PNG image to print or share.
About this QR code generator
A QR code (short for "quick response" code) is the square barcode you scan with a phone camera to open a link or read some text. This tool turns whatever you type — a website address, a Wi-Fi note, contact details, or any short message — into a QR code you can download and print. Everything is built right in your browser with a small built-in encoder, so your text is never uploaded or stored anywhere. Choose a larger module size for a sharper, bigger image, and raise the error correction level if the code might get smudged or partly covered.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a QR code?
- A QR code is a square barcode that holds text or a web link. When you point a phone camera at it, the phone reads the code and opens the link or shows the text.
- Is my text or link uploaded anywhere?
- No. The QR code is built entirely in your browser using a small built-in encoder, so whatever you type never leaves your device.
- What does the error correction setting do?
- Error correction (levels L, M, Q and H) lets a QR code still be read even if part of it is dirty or damaged. Higher levels survive more damage but make the code denser. Medium (M) is a good default.
What is inside a QR code
QR codes function by encoding data into a grid of black and white squares, known as modules, arranged in a square pattern. The structure includes finder patterns at three corners that allow a scanner to identify the orientation and scale of the code regardless of the angle. Data is stored using the Reed-Solomon error correction algorithm, which adds redundant information to the grid. This redundancy allows the scanner to reconstruct the original data even if portions of the code are obscured or physically damaged.
The capacity of a QR code is determined by its version, which ranges from 1 to 40. Each version increases the number of modules by four per side, with the largest version measuring 177 by 177 modules. The amount of data you can store depends on the character set used, such as numeric, alphanumeric, or binary bytes. As the version number increases, the complexity of the grid grows, requiring higher resolution for reliable scanning by standard mobile device cameras.
A common mistake is attempting to encode too much data into a low-version QR code, which results in a highly dense pattern that is difficult for cameras to focus on. Users often overlook the relationship between physical size and scan distance; a code containing a long URL requires a larger physical print size to ensure the individual modules remain distinct. Another frequent error is placing a complex, high-density code on a surface with low contrast or glare, which prevents the scanner from distinguishing between the light and dark modules.