Encoding a website link
The most common use — a URL becomes a code that opens the page when scanned.
Input
https://motifuse.comOutput
A 256 × 256 px QR code (level M) that opens https://motifuse.com in the phone's browser when scannedQR Code Generator
Turn any link or text into a scannable QR code with adjustable size and error correction, then download it as a PNG or SVG.
- Free public tool
- No sign-up for this tool
- Processing clearly labeled
- Instant results
Content last reviewed
The code regenerates live as you type20 characters · 1 words
Type something above and your QR code appears here instantly.
Quick Start
Enter your text or link
Paste a URL or type any text — the code regenerates live as you type.
Adjust size and error correction
Pick a pixel size from 128 to 512 and an error-correction level; use Q or H for print.
Test and download
Scan the preview with your phone camera, then download the code as PNG or SVG.
Examples
Encoding plain text
Non-URL text is shown to the person scanning rather than opened as a link.
Input
Table 12 — order at the counterOutput
A QR code that displays the message on the scanning phoneAbout the QR Code Generator
A QR code is the shortest path from a physical surface to a digital destination — a poster that opens your site, a table card that opens the menu, a slide that hands the audience a link. This generator turns any text into a scannable code the moment you type it, with a live preview you can test straight from your screen.
It encodes whatever text you give it. A URL is the most common case, but any string works: a short message, a reference number, or a pre-formatted payload such as a Wi-Fi configuration string if you already have one written out. Two controls shape the output — a size slider from 128 to 512 pixels for the PNG preview, and four error-correction levels (L, M, Q, H) that add redundancy so the code still scans when partially covered, printed small, or lightly damaged.
The codes are static: the data lives inside the image itself, so there is no shortener, no tracking redirect, no account, and nothing that can expire. Generation happens in your browser and the finished code downloads as a pixel-perfect PNG for screens or an infinitely scalable SVG for print — the SVG stays crisp at any size, from a business card to a banner.
How to Use QR Code Generator
Type or paste your content into the Text or URL field. The QR code below regenerates live with every keystroke.
Set the Size slider (128–512 px) to match where the PNG will be used. For print, size matters less if you download the SVG, which scales without quality loss.
Choose an Error correction level: L (7% recovery), M (15%, the default), Q (25%), or H (30%). Higher levels make the code denser but more damage-tolerant — pick Q or H for printed material.
Point your phone camera at the preview to confirm the code scans and opens the right destination.
Click Download PNG for a raster image or Download SVG for a vector file you can scale to any print size.
Key Features
Live generation
The code redraws as you type, so you see the effect of every edit immediately.
PNG and SVG downloads
Get a raster PNG sized 128–512 px for screens, or a vector SVG that scales cleanly to any print dimension.
Four error-correction levels
L, M, Q, and H trade code density for damage tolerance — up to 30% of the pattern can be obscured and still scan at level H.
Static, permanent codes
The data is embedded in the image itself. No shortener, redirect, expiry, or sign-up — the code works as long as its destination does.
Built-in quiet zone
Codes are generated with a white margin around the pattern, which scanners need to lock on reliably.
On-screen scan testing
The preview renders on a white card so you can verify with a phone camera before downloading.
When to Use QR Code Generator
Print marketing
Put a link on flyers, posters, packaging, or business cards without asking anyone to type a URL.
Menus and table cards
Link diners to a menu, ordering page, or feedback form from a small printed card.
Presentations
Add a code to the final slide so the audience can open your link or contact details instantly.
Event and venue signage
Point visitors to schedules, maps, or registration pages from posters — use level Q or H for outdoor wear and tear.
Sharing prepared payloads
Encode any text you already have formatted, such as a Wi-Fi configuration string or a reference code.
How It Works
Your text is encoded by a QR library running in your browser. The data is converted into a stream of bits, error-correction codewords are added using Reed–Solomon coding, and the result is arranged into the familiar grid of modules along with finder patterns (the three corner squares) that let scanners orient the code.
Why error correction matters
The error-correction level decides how much redundant data is woven in: L can recover about 7% of damaged modules, M about 15%, Q about 25%, and H about 30%. More redundancy means a denser grid for the same content — so a long URL at level H produces a noticeably finer pattern than the same URL at level L. Dense, fine patterns need to be printed larger to scan reliably, which is the practical trade-off to keep in mind.
The PNG download is rendered at your chosen pixel size; the SVG download describes the same grid as vector shapes, so it can be scaled to any print size without blurring.
Supported Formats and Options
Formats
PNG download
A raster image at your selected size (128–512 px) with a built-in quiet-zone margin — right for websites, documents, and slides.
SVG download
A vector file that scales to any dimension without quality loss — the best choice for professional print work.
Options
Size slider
Sets the PNG preview and download size from 128 to 512 pixels in 32-pixel steps.
Error correction level
L (7%), M (15%, default), Q (25%), or H (30%) — how much of the code can be obscured or damaged and still scan.
Common Errors and Troubleshooting
Common errors
"Couldn't generate a QR code for this input"
The text is too long to fit in a QR code. Even at the largest QR version, capacity tops out at a few thousand characters (less at higher error-correction levels). Shorten the content — for URLs, link to a short, stable address instead.
The printed code will not scan
Usually a size or surface problem: the code was printed too small, on a curved or glossy surface, or with low contrast. Reprint larger, on a flat matte surface, dark-on-light, and keep the white margin intact.
The code scans but opens the wrong page
The encoded text is exactly what you typed — check for a missing https://, a typo, or a staging URL left in by mistake, then regenerate.
Troubleshooting guide
Getting codes to scan reliably
- Phone will not pick it up on screen: increase the size slider, raise screen brightness, and make sure the whole code including its white margin is visible.
- Scans in testing, fails on the poster: printed codes need physical size — a rough rule is one tenth of the expected scanning distance, so a code scanned from one meter should be at least 10 cm wide. Choose level Q or H for material that will be handled or weathered.
- Dense, intricate pattern: your content is long. Shorter text produces a coarser, more forgiving pattern; consider a short URL that redirects to the long one, which also lets you change the destination later without reprinting.
- Blurry when enlarged: enlarge the SVG, not the PNG — the vector version stays sharp at any size.
Limitations and Important Notes
QR capacity is finite: at most a few thousand characters, and progressively less at higher error-correction levels — very long inputs fail with an error message. This generator produces static codes only; it has no URL shortening, scan analytics, or editable destinations, and no dedicated form builders for Wi-Fi, vCard, or calendar payloads (though it will faithfully encode such a string if you paste one that is already formatted). Styling options such as colors and embedded logos are not offered; codes are standard dark-on-light, which is also the most reliably scannable form.
Privacy and Data Processing
Codes are generated entirely in your browser — the text you enter is not uploaded or stored by the tool. Because the output is a static image with the data embedded in it, there is also no tracking layer: nobody, including motifuse, can see when or where your code is scanned.
Tips and Best Practices
Practical tips
Test the code with a real phone camera before printing, and again on the first printed proof.
Encode a short, stable URL you control so you can change the destination later without reprinting.
Use error-correction level Q or H for printed material that will be handled or exposed to weather.
Keep the white margin around the code — cropping it off is the most common reason codes stop scanning.
Download the SVG for print jobs; enlarged PNGs blur, vectors do not.
Best practices
From screen to print without surprises
Start with the content: the shorter the text, the coarser and more scannable the pattern. For links, prefer a short URL on a domain you control — it keeps the code simple and lets you repoint the destination later without touching the printed material.
Match the error-correction level to the medium. M is fine for screens and documents; move to Q or H for anything printed, laminated, or outdoors. Then match the file type to the destination: PNG for digital use at the size you selected, SVG for anything a printer will scale.
Before committing to a print run, print one proof at final size and scan it from a realistic distance with more than one phone. A code that scans from 20 cm on your desk may fail from across a room if it is too small.
Technical Details
Encoding is performed client-side by the qrcode JavaScript library. The PNG is produced as a data URL at the selected pixel width with a two-module quiet zone; the SVG is generated from the same encoding as vector markup. Error-correction levels map to the standard QR L/M/Q/H Reed–Solomon configurations. Inputs the symbol cannot hold (beyond the version-40 capacity for the chosen level) raise a generation error rather than producing a truncated code.
Comparison
Choosing an error-correction level
| Level | Damage recovery | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| L | ~7% | Clean digital displays, maximum capacity |
| M | ~15% | General use — the default |
| Q | ~25% | Printed material that gets handled |
| H | ~30% | Outdoor signage, small prints, rough conditions |
Higher levels embed more redundancy, which makes the pattern denser — for long content on small prints, a lower level with a shorter URL often scans better than level H with a long one.
Who Is This For?
Small businesses and marketers putting links on physical material; restaurant and venue owners linking to menus and booking pages; event organizers and presenters sharing links with a room full of phones; and anyone who occasionally needs to move a link from screen to paper. No design software or account is needed — type, test, download.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do the generated QR codes expire?
No. The data is embedded directly in the image, so the code itself works forever. If it encodes a URL, it keeps working as long as that page stays online — there is no intermediary service that can shut off.
Can I use the codes commercially?
Yes. Codes you generate are yours to use on business cards, packaging, menus, adverts, and anything else, with no attribution or account required.
Should I download PNG or SVG?
PNG for digital use — websites, slides, documents — at the pixel size you selected. SVG for print, because vectors scale to any size without blurring; your print shop will thank you.
Can it make Wi-Fi or contact (vCard) codes?
There is no built-in form for those payloads, but the generator encodes any text faithfully. If you paste a correctly formatted string, such as a WIFI: configuration or vCard text, phones will interpret it — you just need to prepare the string yourself.
Why does my long URL make such a dense code?
QR patterns grow with the amount of data. Long URLs, especially at high error-correction levels, produce fine grids that must be printed larger to scan reliably. A short redirect URL keeps the pattern coarse and forgiving.
How big should a printed QR code be?
A practical rule is at least one tenth of the scanning distance: 2–3 cm for arm's-length scans on a business card, 10 cm or more for a poster scanned from a meter away. Always test a printed proof at final size.
Can anyone track scans of my code?
Not through the code itself — it is a static image with no analytics layer. If you want scan statistics, encode a URL whose visits you can measure with your own website analytics.