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Create a QR code that actually scans.

Website links, Wi-Fi logins, contact cards, SMS, and more — build it, preview it, verify it decodes correctly, then download a print-ready PNG or SVG.

8QR content types
PNG · SVGDownload formats
LiveScan verification

Fill in the details on the left, then generate your QR code.

Before you print

Tips for a reliable scan

Keep the quiet zone

QR readers look for empty space around the code before they even start decoding. Keep at least a 4-module margin — the default here — especially when placing the code near other graphics.

Bump error correction for logos

Adding a center logo blocks part of the pattern. SmartToolNexa switches to High (30%) error correction automatically so the missing data can still be reconstructed.

Test before you commit

Every code you generate here is decoded automatically to confirm it reads back correctly. Still — scan it with your own phone once before sending it to print.

Guide

How to create a QR code

A QR code stores a short piece of data, usually a web address, as a pattern of squares that a phone camera can read. This generator makes standard static QR codes: the content is written straight into the pattern, with no account, redirect or tracking service in between. The code keeps working as long as the content itself is valid.

  1. Choose what the code should do. Pick a type from the tabs: Website / Link, Plain Text, Image, Email, Phone, SMS, Wi-Fi or Contact.
  2. Fill in the details. Required fields are marked with an asterisk. The form checks entries as you go; for example, WPA Wi-Fi passwords need at least 8 characters, and phone numbers should include the country code.
  3. Adjust the look (optional). Open Customize appearance to change the size (220–1000 px), error-correction level, foreground and background colors, transparent background, quiet-zone margin, or to add a center logo.
  4. Select Generate QR Code. The preview shows the code with its pixel size, error-correction level and data size.
  5. Check the verification badge, then download a PNG (for websites, documents and slides) or an SVG (for print and design software). Reset this form clears the current type and its settings.

How to scan and verify a QR code

Every time you generate a code, SmartToolNexa reads it back with a QR decoder running in your browser and compares the result with what you entered:

  • Verified — scans back to the exact content: the decoded data matches character for character.
  • Decoded, but content didn’t match: regenerate the code; if it happens again, simplify the content.
  • Couldn’t verify automatically: usually low color contrast, a quiet zone below 4 modules, or a large logo. Use a dark code on a light background, set the margin back to 4, or raise the error correction.

Automatic verification is a strong first check, but always scan with a real phone too. On an iPhone or most Android phones, open the Camera app (or Google Lens) and point it at the code; a link or action appears on screen. Test the printed version at its final size: as a rough guide, keep codes at least about 2 × 2 cm (0.8 in) for close-up scanning, and larger for posters or signs read from a distance.

Common uses

  • Printed marketing: link flyers, posters, menus and business cards to a website, booking page or social profile. The quick-fill buttons on the Website tab start common social profile addresses for you.
  • Product packaging and inserts: send customers to setup instructions, a manual or a support page.
  • Guest Wi-Fi: let visitors join a network without typing a long password.
  • Contact sharing: a Contact (vCard) code lets someone save your name, phone, email, company and address in one scan.
  • Quick messages and calls: Email, SMS and Phone codes open a pre-filled message or the dialer. The person scanning still decides whether to send or call.

Example: a guest Wi-Fi code

Say your guest network is called CafeGuest, uses WPA2 and has the password coffee2026. Choose the Wi-Fi tab, enter the network name, keep security on WPA / WPA2 / WPA3, type the password and generate. The code contains this text:

WIFI:T:WPA;S:CafeGuest;P:coffee2026;H:false;;

Phones that scan it offer to join the network straight away. Special characters such as semicolons or commas in a network name or password are escaped automatically so the code still reads correctly.

Tip: anyone who scans a Wi-Fi code can see the password, so only share codes for networks you’re happy for guests to use. A separate guest network is ideal.

Privacy and security

  • Made on your device. The links, text, contact details and Wi-Fi passwords you enter are turned into a QR code by JavaScript in your browser. They are not sent to our server or stored by us.
  • Logos stay local. A logo you add is read by your browser and drawn onto the code; it is not uploaded.
  • The Image type links to an image. A QR code can’t hold a photo, so this option encodes the address of an image that’s already online. To show the preview, your browser loads that image directly from the address you typed, so the site hosting it sees that request.
  • No tracking or redirects. We don’t insert short links or scan tracking. That also means a printed code can’t be edited later, so double-check the content before printing.
  • Scan safely. When scanning codes in public places, read the web address your phone shows before opening it. Fake QR stickers placed over real ones are sometimes used to send people to look-alike payment or login pages.

QR code FAQs

Do these QR codes expire?

No. They are static codes: the content is stored in the pattern itself. A website code keeps working as long as the web address does.

Can I change a QR code after printing it?

No. Different content produces a different pattern, so you would need a new code. If a link might change, point the code at a page you control and update that page instead.

Should I download PNG or SVG?

SVG is a vector format that stays sharp at any size, which makes it best for print and design tools. PNG suits websites, documents and slides; choose a larger size if you’ll print it. The transparent background option applies to PNG only.

Why does adding a logo switch error correction to High?

A logo covers part of the pattern. High (H) error correction lets scanners rebuild up to about 30% of hidden or damaged data, so the code stays readable. You can still choose another level yourself.

How much information can a QR code hold?

Up to a few thousand characters in theory, but more data means more, smaller squares that are harder to scan. Short web addresses give the most reliable codes. If your content is too long for the selected level, the generator tells you and suggests a lower level or shorter content.

Can I use the QR codes for my business?

Yes. The codes you create are yours to use, including on products and marketing materials. Please make sure the content you encode is lawful and that you’re allowed to link to it; see our Terms of Service.

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