This QR code generator turns a link or a piece of text into a QR code image that people can scan with a phone camera. Type what you want the code to hold, pick a size and download it as a PNG. You don't upload anything, and you don't need an account.
What you can put in a QR code
A QR code holds text. That text can be a web address, which phones usually offer to open when they scan it, or an ordinary message. People use the generator to create codes for things like these:
- A link to a website, an online form, a menu or a document stored online.
- A link to a WhatsApp chat or group, so customers or classmates can reach you without typing your number.
- Wi-Fi details written out as text (the network name and password) for guests to read on their phone.
- A short note, a reference number or contact details.
How to create a QR code
- Type or paste your link or text into the "Text or link" box.
- Choose a size: Small, Medium or Large.
- Create the code.
- Download the PNG and save it, print it or add it to your design.
Which size to pick
| Size | Image size | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Small | 300 px | Emails, slides and sharing on screen |
| Medium | 600 px | Flyers, handouts and documents |
| Large | 1200 px | Posters, banners and bigger prints |
A larger image doesn't hold more information. It has more pixels, so the code stays sharp when you print it big. If you're unsure, pick Large for anything that will be printed, since an image can be shown smaller without losing sharpness.
Static QR codes and what that means for you
Every code made here is static. The link or text is stored inside the pattern of squares itself, and scanning doesn't pass through a redirect server. In practice that means:
- The code never expires. It keeps working for as long as the link inside it works.
- Scans aren't tracked, and you won't get scan counts or reports.
- You can't change the content after printing. To change it, make a new code.
That last point is worth thinking about before you print a stack of flyers. If the code points to a page you later delete or rename, it will lead nowhere. A link to a page you control and plan to keep is the safer choice.
Where people use QR codes
Small businesses put them on shop counters, receipts and packaging so customers can open a website or send a WhatsApp message in one scan. A cafe can link a table card to its online menu. Teachers add a code to a worksheet that opens a video or a quiz form, and students put one on a project poster that leads to their slides or portfolio. On a printed CV, a code lets an interviewer open your online portfolio without typing a long address.
For events, a code printed on an invitation can open the location on a map or an RSVP form. At home, a code with your Wi-Fi name and password stuck on the fridge saves you from spelling out a long password for every visitor.
Tips before you print
Test the code with your phone camera before you print it, then test it again on the printed copy. One scan catches a typo in a link that you'd otherwise only notice after the flyers are handed out.
Some other habits help:
- Keep the text short. A long message makes a denser pattern with smaller squares, which is harder to scan when printed small.
- Paste the full link, starting with https://, so phones recognise it as a web address.
- When you place the code in a design, leave some empty space around it and avoid putting it on top of a busy photo.
- Print it big enough for the distance. A code on a wall poster needs to be much larger than one on a business card.
If you need the code in a printable PDF, add the PNG to JPG to PDF and choose "A4 with margins". For a JPG copy, run it through the Image converter. To get a size that isn't on the list, use Resize image with a custom width.
Privacy
Making a QR code doesn't involve uploading a file, and you don't need to sign up. The PNG downloads straight to your device without any watermark or Xon File branding on it. Because the codes are static, we have no way of counting or tracking scans. The generator works in the browser on Android phones, iPhones and computers running Windows, Mac, Linux or ChromeOS, and there's nothing to install.
Frequently asked questions
Is this QR code generator free?
Yes. You can create a QR code free of charge, without an account or an email address. Download the PNG and use it wherever you like.
Do the QR codes expire?
No. These are static codes, so the content lives inside the code and there's nothing on our side that can switch it off. A code only stops working if the link inside it stops working.
Can I see how many people scanned my code?
No. Static codes have no tracking, so there are no scan counts. If you need statistics, you'd have to measure visits on the website the code links to.
Can I edit the link after I've printed the code?
No. The link is part of the code's pattern, so changing it means making a new code. Check the link carefully and test it before printing.
How do I make a QR code for WhatsApp?
Copy the link to your WhatsApp chat or group and paste it into the "Text or link" box. When someone scans the code, their phone offers to open that link.
Can I make a QR code on my phone?
Yes. Open the page in your phone's browser, type or paste your text, choose a size and download the PNG. It saves to your phone like any other image.
What file format do I get?
You get a PNG image in one of three sizes: 300 px, 600 px or 1200 px. If you need a JPG or a PDF, the other Xon File tools can convert it.