How to make a QR code
- Choose what the code should do: Link, Wi-Fi, Text, Email, Phone, SMS or Contact card.
- Fill in the fields. The QR code updates as you type.
- Download it as PNG for documents and chats, or SVG for print at any size.
How it works
The code is built in your browser with the open-source qrcode-generator library and stores your content directly in the pattern. There is no redirect link in between, so the code works forever, costs nothing, and nobody tracks who scans it. The flip side: once printed, it can’t be changed.
Text is encoded as UTF-8, so Korean, Japanese, accented letters and emoji scan correctly on current phones. Under the code you see its version (size), the number of bytes and the smallest sensible print width.
What we checked
We generated codes with the same library and noted their size. Our address https://www.deskumo.com/ (24 bytes) fits in a 25 × 25 grid, version 2, at the default M level. A 103-byte link with tracking parameters needs 41 × 41 (version 6) at M and 57 × 57 at H. A Wi-Fi code with a 9-character network name and 16-character password is 33 × 33.
The tool suggests a minimum print width of 0.5 mm per module including the quiet zone: about 2 cm for the short link and 2.5 cm for the long one. Those are minimums for scanning up close; for posters read from a distance, a common rule of thumb is to make the code at least one tenth of the scanning distance.
When to use it
A Wi-Fi code at the counter or guest room, so visitors connect without typing a password. A link on a flyer, menu, poster or business card. A contact card that adds you to someone’s phone in one scan. A pre-filled email or SMS for feedback or bookings.
Shortening a long link before encoding makes the code smaller and easier to scan. For a guest Wi-Fi password, Password Generator makes a strong one.
Limits
- Static codes can’t be edited or tracked after printing. If the link might change, point it to a page you control.
- Very long content (over about 2,900 bytes at level L) doesn’t fit in one code.
- Fancy colors reduce contrast. Keep a dark code on a light background and the quiet zone at 4 modules for reliable scanning.
- Copying the image needs a browser that supports image clipboard; otherwise download the PNG.
Frequently asked questions
Do these QR codes expire?
No. The content is in the code itself, not behind a link on our server, so it keeps working as long as the destination exists.
Is it really free for business use?
Yes. There’s no watermark, no sign-up and no limit. You can use the codes on products, packaging and ads.
Which error correction level should I choose?
M (15 %) suits most uses. Choose Q or H if the code will be printed small on rough surfaces or might get scratched; the code becomes denser.
PNG or SVG?
PNG for documents, slides and chats. SVG for printing, because it stays sharp at any size and print shops accept it.
Does Wi-Fi QR work on iPhone and Android?
Yes. The built-in camera apps on current iPhones and Android phones recognise Wi-Fi codes and offer to join the network.