How to Make a QR Code for a Link or Text
By Tools Star Hub Editorial Team · Published
Quick answer: open the QR Code Generator, paste a URL or type some text (up to 1,200 characters), and press Generate. A square PNG code appears with the content written underneath so you can double-check it. Download it as qr-code.png and test it with a phone camera before you share or print it. The code is created in your browser and does not expire.
A QR code lets someone open a page or read a message by pointing a camera at it, which is far easier than typing a long address from a poster, menu, packaging or slide. Getting it right first time matters because printed codes are expensive to replace.
What is actually stored inside a QR code?
A QR code is a grid of dark and light squares, called modules, that encodes a piece of text. When the text is a web address, phones offer to open it. When it is ordinary words, phones show the words.
The codes made here are static: the content is written directly into the pattern. Nothing points back to Tools Star Hub, there is no account, and no scan counting. The flip side is that you cannot edit a static code after printing it. If the link might change, point the code at a page you control and change where that page leads.
Why do shorter links make better QR codes?
More characters need more modules, so the grid becomes denser and each square gets smaller at the same printed size. Dense codes are harder for older cameras to read from a distance or at an angle.
Remove tracking clutter you do not need, prefer a short path on your own domain, and avoid pasting long text when a link to a page would do. If you want campaign tracking, build a tidy link with the UTM Builder and keep the parameters short.
| Content | Approximate length | Effect on the code |
|---|---|---|
| https://example.com | 19 characters | Small grid, very easy to scan |
| A link with a few UTM tags | 80–120 characters | Noticeably denser |
| A paragraph of text | Several hundred characters | Very dense; needs a larger print size |
What does the generated code look like?
The basic generator makes a 320-pixel PNG with dark navy modules on white, medium (M) error correction and a narrow quiet zone, which is the blank border around the pattern. Error correction lets a code survive a little dirt or damage; level M can recover roughly 15 percent of the data.
If you need your own colours, a wider quiet zone, a different error correction level, or a larger image, use QR Code Generator Pro. It also builds Wi-Fi, contact, email, phone and SMS codes from form fields.
How big should a printed QR code be?
A common rule of thumb is to make the code at least about 2 cm (roughly 0.8 inch) wide for close-up use such as business cards, and larger for anything read from further away. A loose guide is a width of around one-tenth of the scanning distance, so a code read from 2 metres should be about 20 cm wide. Treat these as starting points and test at real distance.
Leave white space around the code, print dark on light, and avoid placing it over a busy photo. The 320-pixel PNG is fine for screens and small print. For larger prints, export up to 640 pixels from the Pro version, and keep the image sharp by scaling it in whole steps rather than stretching it slightly.
How do I test a QR code before sharing it?
Scan it with at least two phones, ideally one older model. Open the link fully and confirm it lands on the right page, not a login screen or an error. Then test the printed proof, not just the screen version, because paper, ink and lighting change how it reads.
You can also upload the PNG to the QR Code Scanner on this site to see exactly what text the code contains.
What can I put in a basic QR code?
Anything that is text: a web address, a short message, a product code, a reference number, or a few lines of instructions. Phones recognise links that start with http:// or https:// and offer to open them. Other text is usually shown on screen, ready to copy.
Structured codes, such as joining a Wi-Fi network or saving a contact card, use special text formats that the Pro generator fills in for you from simple form fields. You could type those formats by hand here, but a typo can make the code unusable, so the form is safer.
What are common QR code mistakes?
Linking to a page that is not mobile-friendly, so people scan and then struggle to read it. Placing the code where it cannot be scanned, such as on a moving vehicle, high on a wall, or behind glass with glare. Printing it too small for the distance people stand from it.
Another common problem is low contrast. Light grey on white, or a code laid over a photo, can fail on some cameras. Dark modules on a plain light background are the safest choice, which is what this generator produces.
Finally, check that the destination will last. A static code keeps pointing at the same address for as long as the printed item exists, so avoid temporary links that may expire.
Is anything I type stored?
No. The code is drawn in your browser and the text is not sent to a server. Nothing about the code is recorded, which also means there is no history to come back to, so keep a note of the content you used.
Where should I place a QR code?
Put it where people already pause: on a table, a counter, a ticket, packaging, or the last slide of a talk. Add a short line of text that says what happens after scanning, such as “Scan for the menu”, because people are more willing to scan when they know where it leads. Printing the short address underneath also helps anyone whose camera will not cooperate.
Does a QR code need the internet to work?
Reading the code does not. The camera decodes the pattern on the phone itself. Whether the result needs a connection depends on the content: a web link needs internet to open the page, while plain text appears straight away even offline.
How to create a QR code online
- Enter the content. Paste a full URL, including https://, or type plain text. Leading and trailing spaces are removed.
- Generate. Press Generate. The code appears with its content printed underneath for checking.
- Download. Save the image as qr-code.png.
- Test it. Scan it with a phone camera, and scan the printed proof again before a large print run.
Example
A restaurant menu link
Paste https://example.com/menu and generate. The short address gives a clean, open grid that scans quickly from a table card.
A note on a shipping box
Type “Fragile: glass inside, keep upright”. Phones show the text directly without needing an internet connection.
A campaign poster
Build a link with three short UTM tags, generate the code, then test it on two phones from about two metres. Use the Pro version to export a larger PNG for the poster.
Tips and limitations
Include https://
Without the scheme, some scanners treat the content as plain text instead of a link.
Static means permanent
The content cannot be changed after you print. Keep the destination page live.
Check the caption
The text under the code shows exactly what was encoded, which catches typos before printing.
FAQ
- What is a static QR code?
- A code whose content is written directly into the pattern. It needs no service to keep working, but it cannot be edited later.
- Can I change the link after printing?
- Not in the code itself. Point it at a page you control and redirect that page if the destination changes.
- Does the code track how many people scan it?
- No. Static codes made here have no tracking or analytics.
- What size is the downloaded image?
- The basic generator saves a 320 × 320 pixel PNG. QR Code Generator Pro lets you choose from 128 to 640 pixels.
- Can I change the colours?
- Not in the basic tool, which uses navy on white. The Pro version lets you choose foreground and background colours.
- What error correction level is used?
- Level M, which can recover roughly 15 percent of a damaged or dirty code.
- Why does my code look so dense?
- The content is long. Shorten the link or text to get larger, easier-to-scan modules.
- How can I check what a QR code contains?
- Scan it with your phone or upload the image to the QR Code Scanner.
- Should I include https:// in the URL?
- Yes. It makes scanners recognise the content as a web link.
- Can I use the code on printed products?
- Yes. Test a printed proof at real size and distance first, and give it a clear white border.
- How do I test a code before ordering signs?
- Print a draft at final size and scan from the expected distance with multiple phones.
- Should restaurant menus use short URLs?
- Yes—shorter payloads keep modules larger and easier to scan in dim dining rooms.
- Can I encode a plain Wi-Fi string without Pro?
- Paste a valid WIFI: payload as text if you already have one; Pro helpers just build it for you.
- Why avoid putting QR codes on reflective glass alone?
- Glare hides modules—add a matte backing or place codes where lighting is controlled.
- Do stickers need UV coating?
- Outdoor stickers last longer with protective laminate; retest scans after finishing.
- How small can a code be on a business card?
- Keep it large enough that modules stay distinct—tiny dense codes frustrate cameras.
- Can UTM parameters live in the QR URL?
- Yes for campaign tracking; watch length so the pattern does not get too dense.
- Should I frame the code with a call-to-action?
- A short “Scan for menu” label builds trust without changing the encoded data.
- What if a scanner shows a phishing warning?
- Use reputable HTTPS destinations and avoid look-alike domains.
- Can I reuse one PNG across flyers and slides?
- Yes—keep a master PNG and place it at different physical sizes as needed.
Create a code now with the free QR Code Generator.
For colours, sizes and Wi-Fi codes, use QR Code Generator Pro.
To read a code from an image, try the QR Code Scanner.