QR Code Generator

What you can encode

How to create a QR code

1. Choose the content type and fill in its fields. For a URL, paste the full address including https://.
2. Choose an error correction level. Medium suits most uses; use a higher level if the code will be printed on rough surfaces or might be partly covered.
3. Keep a quiet margin around the code and high contrast: dark modules on a light background.
4. Export SVG for print, since it scales to any size without blurring, or PNG for screens and documents.
5. Test the downloaded file with at least two different phones before printing in quantity.

Error correction explained

QR codes contain redundant data so they can still be read when part of the code is dirty, damaged or covered. Higher levels survive more damage but need more modules, which makes the pattern denser and harder to read when printed small.

Size and placement rules that work

• Minimum size: around 2 × 2 cm (0.8 inch) for codes scanned from a hand's length, such as business cards.
• Scanning distance: a common rule of thumb is that the code should be at least one tenth of the distance it will be scanned from. A poster read from 2 metres needs a code of about 20 cm.
• Quiet zone: leave a clear margin of at least four modules on all sides. Placing a code tight against artwork is a frequent cause of failure.
• Contrast: dark on light. Light codes on dark backgrounds and low-contrast brand colours fail on many phones.
• Short data: shorter URLs create simpler codes that scan more easily at small sizes.

A worked example

A café wants guests to join its Wi-Fi without asking staff. Using the Wi-Fi type, they enter the network name, choose WPA, enter the password and export an SVG. Printed at 6 cm on table cards, the code is easily scanned from a seated position, and phones offer to join the network directly. When the password changes each quarter, they generate a new code; printed Wi-Fi codes contain the password itself, so old cards should be replaced.

The same café adds a URL code to the window poster linking to its menu page. Because people scan it from about a metre and a half, it is printed at 15 cm with Medium error correction and a generous white margin.

Static codes and privacy

MyFileNest generates static QR codes: the data is stored in the pattern itself. They never expire, do not depend on a redirect service staying online, and do not track who scans them. The trade-off is that a printed code cannot be changed later, so double-check the address before printing. If you need to change the destination after printing, point the code at a page you control and update that page instead.

Codes are generated in your browser, so Wi-Fi passwords and contact details are not sent to MyFileNest. To check an existing code before trusting it, use QR Code Reader, which shows the decoded content without opening it.

Common reasons a QR code will not scan

• The code is too small for the scanning distance, or the print is blurred.
• Artwork, text or a border sits inside the quiet zone.
• Colours are inverted or too similar in brightness.
• A large logo covers too much of the pattern for the error correction level chosen.
• The code was printed on a glossy or curved surface that reflects light; matte stock and flat placement help.
• The encoded address has a typo. Scanning works, but the page fails to load, which looks like a broken code.

Quick answers

Do these QR codes expire? No. They are static, so the data is in the pattern itself and keeps working as long as the destination exists.

Which file format should I download? SVG for printing at any size, PNG for documents, slides and screens, and JPG only when a system requires it.

Can I track scans? Not with a static code. If you need statistics, link to a page on your own site that uses your existing analytics, ideally with a campaign tag in the address.