How to use the QR code generator
- Choose what the code should contain: plain text or a URL, a Wi-Fi login, a pre-filled email or a phone number.
- Type the content. The preview updates as you type, and the exact string that gets encoded is shown under the buttons.
- Pick an error correction level, the image size, the quiet-zone margin and the colours.
- Press Download PNG for a pixel image, Download SVG for a vector file that scales to any print size, or copy the SVG markup to paste it straight into HTML.
The code is generated locally with the open-source qrcode-generator library. Your Wi-Fi password or text never leaves the device.
Worked example: a Wi-Fi QR code
Phones understand a simple text format for Wi-Fi logins. For a WPA network called Cafe;Guest with the password pa"ss\word, the tool encodes:
WIFI:T:WPA;S:Cafe\;Guest;P:pa\"ss\\word;;The fields are T (security type: WPA, WEP or nopass), S (network name), P (password) and optionally H:true for a hidden network. Because ; separates fields, the characters \ ; , : " inside a value must be escaped with a backslash. The generator does this for you, which is the most common reason hand-written Wi-Fi codes fail to connect.
Email codes use a mailto: link such as mailto:info@example.com?subject=Order%2042, and phone codes use tel:+442079460000.
Error correction, versions and size
A QR code is a grid of square modules. Version 1 is 21 by 21 modules, and every version adds 4 modules per side up to version 40 at 177 by 177. The generator always picks the smallest version that fits your data.
Reed-Solomon error correction lets a scanner rebuild damaged or covered parts of the code. Level L restores about 7% of the codewords, M about 15%, Q about 25% and H about 30%. Higher levels use more space for redundancy, so the same text needs a larger version with smaller modules. Use M for screens and clean prints, and Q or H for stickers that may get scratched or codes with a logo placed on top.
Text is encoded as UTF-8 bytes, so accented letters and emoji scan correctly on current phones. A full version 40 code at level L holds up to 2,953 bytes, but short content scans far more reliably.
Common mistakes
- Too little contrast. Scanners need a dark code on a light background. Pastel on white or dark grey on black often fails. The tool warns you when the contrast is low.
- Inverted colours. A light code on a dark background is not supported by every scanner app. Keep the foreground darker than the background.
- Removing the margin. The quiet zone of 4 modules around the code helps cameras find it. Only reduce it if the surrounding area is plain and light.
- Printing too small. As a rule of thumb, a code should be at least 2 cm wide for close scanning. Long URLs make modules tiny, so shorten them first, for example with clean URL slugs.
- Scaling a PNG up. Enlarging a small PNG blurs the edges. Download the SVG for print.
Frequently asked questions
Do these QR codes expire?
No. The content is stored directly in the pattern, there is no redirect service in between. The code works as long as the URL or data inside it stays valid.
Which error correction level should I choose?
M is a good default for screens and clean prints. Choose Q or H if the code may get damaged or partly covered, for example by a logo. Higher levels make the code denser.
How do I make a QR code for Wi-Fi?
Select Wi-Fi, enter the network name and password and choose the security type. The tool builds the WIFI: string with all special characters escaped, and most phone cameras offer to join the network when scanned.
Should I download PNG or SVG?
SVG is a vector file and stays sharp at any size, ideal for print and design tools. PNG is a pixel image that works everywhere, for example in documents, chats and email.
Why does my QR code not scan?
Check the contrast and that the foreground is darker than the background, keep a light margin around the code, and make sure it is printed large enough. Very long content creates tiny modules that cameras struggle with.
Is my Wi-Fi password sent to a server?
No. The QR code is created entirely in your browser with JavaScript, and nothing you type is uploaded or stored.