QR code generator
Create a QR code for a link, some text, your Wi-Fi network, an email address or a phone number, customize the colors and size, and download it as PNG or SVG. It's generated in your browser.
- Free
- No sign-up
- In your browser
Content
Preview
Version 2 · 25 × 25 modules
Scan the code with your phone before printing or sharing it.
How to use this tool
- Choose what you want to encode: text or URL, a Wi-Fi network, an email or a phone number.
- Fill in the details. The preview updates instantly.
- If you like, adjust the error correction, margin, colors and PNG size in pixels.
- Download the code as PNG (for the web, documents or social media) or SVG (for print, because it can be scaled up without losing quality).
- Before printing it, scan it with one or two different phones to make sure it works.
Static QR codes: no expiry, no middleman
The codes this tool creates are static: the information (the link, the text or the Wi-Fi details) is written directly into the code. When it's scanned, the phone reads that data without going through any Utilio server, so the code doesn't expire, doesn't depend on Utilio still being around and doesn't track who scans it.
The trade-off is that it can't be edited afterwards: if the link changes, you'll need to generate and print a new code. The “dynamic QR codes” some services offer point to an intermediate address that redirects to the final destination; they let you change the destination, but they stop working if that service shuts down or the subscription isn't paid.
Error correction: which level to choose
QR codes include redundant information so they can still be read when they're partly dirty, scratched or covered. There are four levels; the higher the level, the more resilient the code, but it also has more modules (small squares) and becomes denser:
- L: recovers about 7% of damaged data. Produces the simplest code.
- M: about 15%. A good balance for most uses and the default option.
- Q: about 25%. Useful for labels or surfaces that may wear.
- H: about 30%. Recommended if you're going to place a logo over part of the code.
Tips for a code that scans reliably
Most scanning problems come from design or printing, not from the code itself:
- Leave a margin: the QR code specification recommends a 4-module quiet zone around it. If you place it on a patterned background, don't reduce the margin.
- Use good contrast: dark modules on a light background. Inverted codes (light on dark) aren't read by every app.
- Print it large enough for the scanning distance: a code on a poster read from several feet away needs to be much bigger than one on a business card.
- The longer the content, the denser the code. For long links, use the shortest address you can.
- Always test it with several phones before printing lots of copies.
QR codes for Wi-Fi, email and phone
A Wi-Fi QR code contains the network name, the security type and the password in a format that most current phone cameras recognize: when scanned, the phone offers to connect without typing the password. Special characters in the name or password (such as ; , : " or \) are escaped automatically.
An email QR code opens the email app with the recipient, and optionally the subject and message, already filled in. A phone QR code shows the number ready to call. In both cases, the person scanning decides whether to send or call.
Examples
A restaurant menu
“Text or URL” type with the link to the menu. Download it as SVG so the printer reproduces it sharply at any size.
Guest Wi-Fi
“Wi-Fi” type: enter the network name and password, security WPA/WPA2/WPA3. Print the PNG and put it by the door or on the table.
A business card
“Text or URL” type with your website or professional profile, error correction M and margin 4. At small sizes, the shorter the link, the better it scans.
Requests by email
“Email” type with the recipient and a subject such as “Quote request”. Whoever scans it only has to write their message.
Frequently asked questions
Do the QR codes expire?
No. They're static codes: the data is inside the code itself and doesn't go through any server, so they'll keep working as long as the destination (for example, the web page) exists.
Can I change the link of a QR code that's already printed?
No. Because the link is written into the code, changing it means generating a new code. If you expect changes, one option is to point the QR code to a page of your own whose content you can update.
Which format should I download, PNG or SVG?
PNG is a pixel image, ideal for websites, documents and social media; choose a generous size if you're going to print it. SVG is a vector format that can be scaled up without losing sharpness, recommended for print shops, posters and design software.
Can I use colors?
Yes, but keep the contrast high and the modules darker than the background. The tool warns you if the contrast is low or the colors are inverted, because some readers can't handle them.
Is my data sent to a server?
No. The QR code is generated in your browser. The text, links and Wi-Fi passwords you type aren't sent to any server or stored.
How much information fits in a QR code?
It depends on the type of characters and the error correction level. A few hundred characters fit easily, but the code becomes very dense and hard to read. If the content is too long, the tool will tell you: shorten the text or lower the correction level.
Related tools
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