QR Code Generator & Reader

A QR code is one of those small pieces of technology that quietly does a lot of work. It turns a link, a Wi-Fi password, or a short message into a square pattern that any phone camera can read in a fraction of a second. This guide explains what QR codes are, how to make a good one, and how to read a code that is already sitting in an image — all without installing anything.

What is a QR code?

QR stands for “Quick Response.” It is a two-dimensional barcode: instead of the single row of bars you see on a grocery item, a QR code stores data in a grid of black and white squares, called modules. Because it uses two dimensions, it holds far more information than a traditional barcode — a web address, a few lines of text, contact details, or network credentials.

The three large squares in the corners are the finder patterns. They let a camera locate and orient the code instantly, even at an angle. The rest of the grid encodes your data, plus extra redundancy so the code can still be read if it is slightly damaged or partly covered.

Static vs dynamic QR codes

There are two kinds of QR code, and the difference matters.

A static QR code has the content baked directly into the pattern. If it encodes https://example.com, the camera reads exactly that. It works forever, it needs no account, and it cannot be switched off by anyone. The only trade-off is that you cannot change where it points after it is printed.

A dynamic QR code instead encodes a short redirect link owned by a service. Scanning it bounces through that service to a destination you can change later — which is handy, but it depends on that company staying in business, it can be disabled, and many providers charge a subscription or track every scan.

This tool makes static codes on purpose. They are private, permanent, and free — there is no middleman, nothing to renew, and nothing that can expire. For the vast majority of uses (a link on a poster, a Wi-Fi code for guests, a contact card) static is exactly what you want.

How to create a QR code

Creating a code takes a few seconds:

1. Pick a content type. At the top of the generator, choose Link, Text, Wi-Fi, Email, Phone, or SMS.
2. Enter your content. Type the link or details. The preview updates live, so you can see the code take shape as you type.
3. Style it. Set the foreground and background colours, the output size, and the quiet-zone margin (the empty border around the code).
4. Add a logo (optional). Drop your logo into the centre to brand the code.
5. Download. Save it as a PNG image or an SVG vector.

Wi-Fi codes are a hidden gem

The Wi-Fi content type is one of the most useful. Enter your network name, its password, and the security type, and the code becomes a “join this network” shortcut. Print it and stick it on the fridge or a café wall — guests scan it and connect without you ever reading out a long password — the network details are encoded right inside the QR pattern itself.

Adding a logo without breaking the scan

A logo in the centre makes a code instantly recognisable, but cover too much of it and a camera can no longer read it. The safety net is error correction. QR codes deliberately store redundant data so they can rebuild themselves when part of the code is missing. There are four levels:

• L — recovers about 7% of the code
• M — about 15% (a good default for plain codes)
• Q — about 25%
• H — about 30% (use this whenever there’s a logo)

When you add a logo here, the tool switches to level H automatically, so the logo’s footprint is covered by the redundancy and the code keeps scanning. Keep the logo modest — a simple, high-contrast mark that covers no more than about a third of the code — and always test before you publish.

PNG or SVG — which download should you choose?

Both downloads contain the same code; they differ in format.

• PNG is a raster image — a grid of pixels at a fixed size. It is ready to drop into a slide, a social post, an email, or a normal print. Choose a size that comfortably exceeds where it will be displayed.
• SVG is a vector — math, not pixels — so it scales to any size with perfectly crisp edges. Choose SVG for large-format printing (a banner or poster), or when a designer needs to place the code in another file.

A simple rule: PNG for screens and everyday printing, SVG when you need it large or perfectly sharp.

How to read a QR code from an image

You do not always have a code in front of you to point a camera at. It might be a screenshot a friend sent, an image inside a PDF, or a photo already in your gallery. The Read mode handles exactly that:

1. Switch to the Read tab.
2. Drop in the screenshot or photo, choose a file, or paste an image from your clipboard.
3. The code is decoded on the spot and its contents appear, with a button to copy the text or open the link.

This is especially handy on a desktop, where there is no rear camera, or when the code is on the same screen you are working on. For the most reliable read, use an image where the whole code is visible, in focus, and well lit. If a busy screenshot does not decode, crop it so the code fills more of the frame and try again.

Tips for codes that always scan

• Keep strong contrast. Dark code on a light background is the most reliable. Avoid light-on-dark and low-contrast colour pairs.
• Leave the quiet zone. The empty margin around a code helps cameras lock on — do not crop it away.
• Size for distance. A code on a poster across a room needs to be much larger than one on a business card. When in doubt, go bigger, or use SVG.
• Test on more than one phone before printing in quantity.

A QR code is a tiny bridge between the physical and digital world. With a clear, high-contrast pattern, the right error-correction level, and a quick test, the one you make here will scan reliably for years — with no account, no expiry, and no cost.