How to Make a QR Code for Free — Step by Step

QR Code Generator Guide · June 18, 2026

If you have ever wondered how to make a QR code, the good news is that it is genuinely simple and completely free. You do not need to install any software or create an account. All you need is a web browser on a computer or phone, and you can have a working QR code in under a minute. This guide walks you through every step: choosing the right type of QR code, creating it, picking the best file format to download, and avoiding the mistakes that cause QR codes to fail. Follow along and you will finish with a QR code you can use right away.

Decide what the QR code should link to first

The first step in making a QR code is not opening a tool, it is deciding what the code should connect to. A QR code can hold different kinds of information, and the way you create it changes slightly depending on the type. Here are the five main types you can create with this tool.

By far the most common is the URL QR code. Anything that has a web address — a business listing, your own website, a Google Form — can be turned into a URL QR code. If your use case is clear, the fastest path is to tap one of the "Quick start by use case" presets on the home page (restaurant menu, cafe Wi-Fi, social channel, product label, business card, online store). Choosing a preset automatically sets a size, margin, and error correction level suited to that use.

Make a QR code step by step

Using the most common URL QR code as the example, here is the process from start to finish. The screen layout and the order of steps are the same on both computer and phone.

1. Open the QR Code Generator home page. There is nothing to install and no login. Just visit the site and the editor appears immediately.
2. Pick an input tab. The default is "URL". To store contact details switch to "Contact", or to share Wi-Fi switch to the "Wi-Fi" tab. Each tab shows the fields it needs.
3. Enter your content. For a URL, type just the address such as example.com (the https:// prefix is added automatically). The preview QR code on the right updates in real time as you type.
4. Adjust size, color, and shape (optional). In the customize area you can change the size slider, the foreground and background colors, the QR dot shape (square, rounded, circle), the corner pattern, and the margin. The defaults work fine, so at first changing only the color is more than enough.
5. Run a scan test in the preview. Point your own phone camera at the code to confirm it opens the address you intended. Always do this before you print.
6. Download it. Use "Save PNG" for an on-screen image, or "Save PNG (HD x4)" for printing. "Copy to clipboard" is handy when pasting straight into a document.

That is the entire process. Because you simply enter content, check it, and save, the real time it takes is about a minute. Any Wi-Fi password or contact details you enter are never sent to a server and are processed entirely inside your browser, so even sensitive information is safe to use.

Making one on your phone

The steps are identical on a phone, but two things are worth remembering. First, when you save a QR code it goes into your photo gallery as a PNG file, so you can share it through any messaging app immediately. Second, it is hard to test a QR code with the same phone you made it on. In that case, point a second phone at the screen, or display it on a computer and scan with your phone. If you want to create and test entirely on one device, doing the work on a computer is easier.

PNG or SVG: which format should you choose?

The format choice at the download step can be confusing. Pick based on how you will use the code.

• Standard PNG — Fine for anything viewed on a screen: messaging, blog and social posts, on-screen display.
• PNG HD x4 — Use this for printing menus, posters, and flyers. It saves at four times the resolution so the edges stay crisp even when enlarged.
• SVG — A vector format best for cases where the code must never become blurry no matter how large, such as banners and large-format printing. SVG is also ideal when handing files to a designer.
• Transparent background PNG — Lets you place a QR code over a colored background with no background fill. Just make sure the final background it sits on is light; placing it over a dark background can stop it from scanning.

A blurry QR code will not scan, so once you know where the code will be placed, it is a good habit to save as HD x4 or SVG from the start.

Four common mistakes when starting out

• Printing it too small — A printed QR code needs to be at least 2x2cm (about 0.8x0.8in). Business cards work at 2cm; tables and menus need 3-5cm.
• Weak color contrast — Using pale colors to look stylish may show on screen but fail in a camera. A dark foreground on a light background is the rule.
• An oversized logo — If a center logo covers too much data, scanning fails. Keep the logo within 10-20% of the whole code and set the error correction level to H.
• Skipping the test — Even if it reads on screen, results vary with print size and material. Print at the real size and scan on both iPhone and Android.

Avoiding just these four removes almost every "it won't scan" situation.

Frequently asked questions

Does it cost anything to make a QR code?

Every QR code made with this tool is free. You can print and distribute the codes with no watermark and no usage limits.

Will a QR code I make keep working?

Yes. The codes made here are static QR codes that store the information in the code itself rather than routing through an external server, so they never expire. A URL QR code does stop working if the linked page is deleted or its address changes, so regenerate and replace it if the address changes.

Can I change the QR code to my brand colors?

You can freely change the foreground and background colors. Just keep enough contrast between a dark foreground and a light background.