Phone numbers for India
Write the number with the country code, for example +91 followed by the ten digits, with no spaces. A number without +91 may dial incorrectly for someone scanning from abroad.
Ҧ
FREE TOOL
QR Code Generator: Create Free QR Codes Online
A QR code generator turns a link, text, WiFi login, phone number or contact card into a square barcode that any phone camera can scan. The WritoryBuzz tool makes static QR codes: the data is written into the pattern itself, so the code never expires and needs no account. Pick a type, set colours, generate and download a PNG.
Create your QR code now or read on to learn which type to choose, which error correction level to pick and how big to print it.
Use the toolQuick start
1Choose a type
2Fill in the fields
3Set colours
4Pick an error correction level
Create Your QR Code
ReadyQR Code Type
🎨 Customization
L7% recovery
M15% recovery
Q25% recovery
H30% recovery
▦
Fill in the form
and click Generate
Generating...
Download Size
Type: URL
Data: 0 characters
EC Level: L
static QR codes for URL, text, email, phone, SMS, WiFi, contact (vCard) and location. Output: PNG at 200, 400, 600 or 1000 px with your own foreground and background colours. Cost: free, no signup. Best settings for print: error correction M or Q, standard 4-module border, dark code on a light background.
What Is a QR Code?
A QR code (Quick Response code) is a two-dimensional barcode that stores data in a grid of black and white squares called modules. It was invented in 1994 by Masahiro Hara at Denso Wave, a Toyota group company, to track car parts. Today every modern phone camera app reads one without extra software.
Unlike a one-dimensional product barcode, a QR code holds data in both directions, so it carries far more. The largest version can hold up to 7,089 digits or 4,296 alphanumeric characters at the lowest error correction level (ISO/IEC 18004). Most real codes hold far less, because a short URL gives a simpler, easier-to-scan pattern.
A static code, which is what this generator produces, encodes your data directly. There is no redirect server in the middle, so there is nothing to switch off, expire or bill you for. The trade-off is that you cannot change the destination after printing and you get no scan statistics.
¶”
How to Use the QR Code Generator
-
1STEP 1 Choose a type. Select URL, Text, Email, Phone, SMS, WiFi, Contact or Location.
-
2STEP 2 Fill in the fields. For a URL, include https:// so every scanner treats it as a link.
-
3STEP 3 Set colours. Choose a foreground (the dark modules) and a background. Keep strong contrast.
-
4STEP 4 Pick an error correction level. L is 7%, M is 15%, Q is 25% and H is 30% damage recovery.
-
5STEP 5 Set the quiet zone. Standard is 4 modules. Do not go below 2 for anything you print.
-
6STEP 6 Click Generate QR Code. The preview appears on the right.
-
7STEP 7 Choose a download size and click Download PNG. Use Copy Data String if you want the raw text that is encoded.
-
8STEP 8 Test it. Scan the finished code with two different phones before you print or publish.
Expert tip
Use the tool
Always scan the PNG from a printed proof or a second screen, not from the same screen you built it on. A code that looks fine on a bright monitor can fail on glossy paper.
QR Code Types and Their Data Formats
Each type writes your input in a standard text format that scanner apps recognise. Knowing the format helps you debug a code that opens the wrong app. If you need to put special characters in an email subject or URL, the HTML encoder and decoder helps you check them.
| Type | Data format | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| URL | Plain URL starting with https:// | Websites, landing pages, product pages |
| Text | Plain UTF-8 text | Short messages, codes, instructions |
| mailto:address?subject=...&body=... | Pre-filled enquiry emails | |
| Phone | tel:+countrycode number | Business cards, click-to-call |
| SMS | SMSTO:number:message | Support lines, opt-in keywords |
| WiFi | WIFI:T:WPA;S:ssid;P:password;; | Guest networks in hotels, cafes, offices |
| Contact (vCard) | BEGIN:VCARD ... END:VCARD | Business cards, conference networking |
| Location | geo:latitude,longitude | Venues, shops, delivery points |
Error Correction Levels Explained
QR codes include redundant data using Reed-Solomon error correction, so a scanner can rebuild the message when part of the code is dirty, scratched or covered. Higher correction means a denser pattern with smaller modules.
| Level | Recovery | When to choose it |
|---|---|---|
| L | About 7% | On-screen codes where damage is unlikely |
| M | About 15% | Default for flyers, menus and general print |
| Q | About 25% | Print exposed to wear, or codes with a logo placed on top in your design software |
| H | About 30% | Outdoor signs, packaging, stickers, anything that may get dirty or torn |
Do not default to H for everything. A long URL at level H can become so dense that cheaper phone cameras struggle at small sizes. If your link is long, shorten it first or drop to M.
QR Code Size and Print Guidelines
The minimum reliable size is roughly 2 cm by 2 cm at a reading distance of about 20 cm. Use the table to match download size to use.
| Where it goes | Printed size | Download size |
|---|---|---|
| Business card | 2 to 3 cm | 400 px minimum |
| Flyer or brochure | 3 to 5 cm | 600 px |
| Poster (A3 or larger) | 5 to 10 cm | 1000 px |
| Outdoor banner | About one tenth of the viewing distance | 1000 px, then scale in design software |
| Web page or screen | Any | 200 px |
For banners, a 3-metre reading distance calls for a code about 30 cm wide. Scale vector-style shapes up in your design tool rather than stretching a small PNG, which blurs the edges.
Colour and contrast
Scanners look for dark modules on a light background. Dark blue, black or deep green on white are safe. Light foreground on a dark background (an inverted code) fails on many scanners, and low contrast pairs like yellow on white are unreliable. If your brand colour is pale, keep it for the border and use black for the modules.
QR Code Use Cases
Restaurants and cafes
Link tables to a digital menu, or share the guest WiFi without reading out a password.
Brand and web
Use the favicon downloader to grab a site icon for your design mock-up.
Retail and packaging
Send shoppers to a product manual, warranty page or reorder link.
Events and conferences
VCard codes on badges let people save your contact in one scan.
Real estate and local business
Location codes open a map pin on a signboard or brochure.
Support and sales
SMS codes pre-fill a keyword message to a shortcode.
Education
Put a link to a worksheet, video or form on a printed handout.
For a WiFi code, generate a strong network password first with the password generator, then encode it here.
Common QR Code Mistakes
- Missing https://. Some scanners show the text instead of opening a link.
- Tiny print size. If a code is smaller than about 2 cm, many phones will not focus on it.
- Weak contrast or inverted colours. Always test light and dark phone cameras.
- No quiet zone. The empty border is part of the code. Cropping it hides the edges scanners need.
- Stretching the PNG. Always keep it square and scale from the 1000 px download.
- Putting a long URL in a small code. Shorten the link, or turn the page title into a short path with the text to slug generator.
- Printing the wrong destination. A static code cannot be edited. Check spelling and test the live page before print.
If a QR Code Will Not Scan
- 1Increase the printed size and check the quiet zone is at least 2 modules.
- 2Raise contrast between foreground and background.
- 3Lower the data length, for example with a shorter URL.
- 4Raise error correction one level if the surface may be worn.
- 5Test with the phone's built-in camera app, not only a third-party scanner.
Limits of This QR Code Generator
Be clear about what static codes cannot do, so you choose the right tool for the job.
- No editing after printing. The data is fixed inside the pattern.
- No scan analytics. There is no redirect, so the tool cannot count scans or show locations.
- PNG output. The download is a PNG at up to 1000 px.
- It cannot judge the destination. The generator encodes whatever you give it. It does not check that a link is live or safe.
If you need scan counts or a destination you can change later, you need a dynamic QR service that uses a redirect link. That also means depending on that provider staying online.
Privacy and Safety
The code contains exactly what you typed and nothing else. Avoid encoding secrets you would not print on a poster, such as a work WiFi password, because anyone who scans the code can read it. Treat any WiFi or vCard code like text printed in plain view.
When you scan a code you did not create, check the URL your phone previews before you tap it. Criminals sometimes stick fake QR stickers over real ones, a trick often called quishing.
Static vs Dynamic QR Codes
| Feature | Static (this tool) | Dynamic |
|---|---|---|
| Data stored | Inside the code | A short redirect link |
| Change destination later | No | Yes |
| Scan statistics | No | Usually yes |
| Expiry or subscription | None | Often tied to a plan |
| Works if a provider shuts down | Yes | No |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this QR code generator free?
Yes. It is free with no signup, and the codes you download have no expiry or watermark. Static codes keep working as long as the data they point to still exists.
What is the difference between a static and a dynamic QR code?
A static code stores your data inside the pattern, so it cannot be edited and has no analytics. A dynamic code stores a redirect link, which lets the owner change the destination and count scans, usually on a paid plan.
Which error correction level should I choose?
Use M for most print work. Choose Q if the code will be worn or has a logo added over it, and H for outdoor or rough surfaces. Higher levels make the code denser and harder to scan at small sizes.
How big should a printed QR code be?
At least 2 cm by 2 cm for close scanning. Use 3 to 5 cm on flyers and about one tenth of the viewing distance for banners, so a 3-metre distance needs roughly 30 cm.
Can I make a QR code for WiFi?
Yes. Choose the WiFi type, enter the network name, password and security type. Scanning it on most modern phones offers to join the network. Anyone who can see the code can read the password, so only print it where guests are welcome.
Why will my QR code not scan?
The usual causes are a code printed too small, low contrast, a cropped border, or too much data. Make it bigger, use dark modules on a light background and keep the 4-module border.
Do QR codes expire?
Static codes do not expire, because the data is built into the image. The page they link to can disappear, so keep that destination live.
What can a QR code store?
URLs, plain text, email drafts, phone numbers, SMS messages, WiFi credentials, vCard contacts and map coordinates. The maximum capacity is about 4,296 alphanumeric characters at the lowest error correction.
Can I add a logo to the QR code?
This tool generates the plain code. If you place a logo on top in your design software, use error correction Q or H and test it, because the logo covers part of the data. Make your free QR code Printing a WiFi code? Create a strong guest password with the password generator first.
“#
Ready to try the QR Code Generator?
Free to use. Open the tool and get your result in seconds.
Use the tool