How to Make a QR Code for Free (Links, Text and Wi-Fi)

To make a free QR code, type the link or text you want people to open, pick a size and error correction level, check the colours have strong contrast, and download it as PNG or SVG. A static QR code stores the content in the pattern itself, so it never expires. The QR Code Generator makes one instantly, with no account and no tracking.

How do I create a QR code step by step?

1. Open the QR Code Generator.
2. Choose Link or text and type your web address, for example https://example.com/menu. The preview updates as you type.
3. Choose an error correction level. Medium is recommended for most uses.
4. Set the PNG size (256 to 2,048 pixels) and, if you like, the code colour and background.
5. Scan the preview with your phone camera to test it.
6. Download PNG or SVG.

How do I make a Wi-Fi QR code?

Switch to the Wi-Fi tab and fill in:

• Network name (SSID): exactly as it appears on your phone.
• Password: your Wi-Fi password.
• Security: WPA / WPA2 / WPA3 for almost all modern routers, WEP for very old ones, or None for open networks.
• Hidden network: tick it if your network doesn't broadcast its name.

Print it for guests, a café counter or an office meeting room. Anyone who scans it can join without typing the password, so only share it where you'd share the password itself.

What is error correction and which level should I use?

QR codes store their data more than once, so they still scan if part of the code is dirty, scratched or covered. There are four levels:

Level	Damage it can survive	Use it for
Low	about 7%	Clean screens, short links
Medium (recommended)	about 15%	Most printed codes
Quartile	about 25%	Outdoor signs, packaging
High	about 30%	Codes with a logo, rough surfaces

Higher levels make the pattern denser, so for long text keep the level lower or shorten the link. If you want your logo in the middle, use the QR Code with Logo tool, which switches to High automatically. Our guide on adding a logo to a QR code explains why.

Can I change the colours?

Yes, but scanners need a dark code on a light background with strong contrast. The generator warns you if:

• the code is lighter than the background (many phones won't scan inverted codes), or
• the contrast is low (for example light grey on white).

Brand colours work well if they're dark: navy, dark green or deep red on white.

How big should a printed QR code be?

• Business cards and flyers: at least 2 × 2 cm.
• Posters and menus: roughly one tenth of the scanning distance.
• Leave a white margin (the "quiet zone") around the code. The generator adds one automatically; don't crop it off.

For print, download the SVG so the code stays sharp at any size.

Static vs dynamic QR codes

Static codes (like these) contain the link itself. They never expire, nobody tracks scans and they work as long as the link works. To change the destination you make a new code.

Dynamic codes point to a short link on a provider's server that redirects to your site. They can be edited and tracked, but if the provider closes your account or ends a free trial, every printed code stops working. For menus, posters and business cards, static is usually the safer choice.

Tips for QR codes that get scanned

• Add a short call to action next to it: "Scan for the menu".
• Use a short link; shorter content makes a simpler, easier-to-scan code.
• Test on both Android and iPhone before printing hundreds.
• Don't place codes where people can't safely stop, such as on fast-moving vehicles.

Make your QR code

Open the free QR Code Generator and create a code in seconds. It runs entirely in your browser, so your links and Wi-Fi passwords are never uploaded. Need product labels instead? Try the Barcode Generator, and read about barcode types.