How to Create a QR Code
Making a QR code takes a minute. Making one that works for everyone who scans it takes a little planning. Here’s both.
1. Decide what should happen when someone scans
Start from the action, not the code. Do you want people to visit a page, join your Wi-Fi, save your contact details, send you a message or find a place? Each goal has its own QR type:
| Goal | QR type |
|---|---|
| Open a website, menu, form or file | URL |
| Let guests join a network | Wi-Fi |
| Save your details to contacts | vCard |
| Start a conversation | WhatsApp, SMS, email or phone |
| Show a place on a map | Location |
| Show information without internet | Text |
2. Enter the content, and keep it short
Open the QR code generator, pick the type and fill in the fields. Less content means fewer, larger modules, and a code that scans faster from further away. For links, remove unnecessary parameters. For text, say only what’s needed.
3. Design it (optional)
A plain black-on-white code is the most reliable choice. If you want it to match a brand, the QR Code Styler lets you change colors, module shapes, corners and add a logo. Two rules keep styled codes readable: keep the code clearly darker than the background, and leave a blank margin around it.
4. Choose the right error correction
Error correction lets a scanner rebuild missing or damaged parts. Medium (about 15% recovery) suits screens and indoor print. Choose Quartile or High for codes that may get scratched, wet or dirty, and always High when you add a logo.
5. Download the right format and size
Use SVG for anything printed or handed to a designer, because it scales without losing sharpness. Use PNG for websites, documents and slides. For print, plan the physical size around scanning distance: about one centimeter of code width for every ten centimeters of distance.
6. Test before you publish
Scan the code with at least two different phones, ideally one iPhone and one Android phone. Check it on the final material too: glossy paper, curved bottles and dark backgrounds can all change the result. Confirm that the link, phone number or network details are exactly right, because a static code can’t be edited after printing.
7. Add a short instruction
A few words next to the code, such as “Scan to see the menu” or “Scan to join our Wi-Fi”, tell people what to expect and make them more likely to scan.