How to make a QR code
- Choose what the code should hold: a link, text, Wi-Fi login, contact card, email, phone number, text message or a place on a map.
- Fill in the details. The QR code updates as you type.
- Download it as PNG for documents and social media, or SVG for print, where it stays sharp at any size.
Tips for a code that always scans
- Keep the white border. Scanners need a quiet space around the code to find it.
- Use dark colours on a light background, with strong contrast. Light codes on dark backgrounds fail on some phones.
- Shorter content makes a simpler code with bigger squares, which scans faster and from further away. Use a short link if your URL is long.
- Test the printed code with both an iPhone and an Android phone before you print hundreds.
What QR codes can hold
A QR code can store up to about 3,000 characters of ordinary text, but phones handle short codes far better. Links are by far the most common use. Wi-Fi codes are handy in homes, cafés and offices, and email and phone codes open a ready-to-send message or a call with one tap.