Turn a link into a QR code
Turning a link into a QR code is the most common reason people need one: a menu, a form, a price list, a video, a payment page. The part worth understanding before you print a thousand copies is that there are two kinds of QR code, and most free generators quietly give you the kind that can stop working.
Customize
#14201b#ffffffStatic and dynamic codes are not the same thing
A static code contains your web address directly. The pattern of squares is the address. Nothing sits in the middle, so it keeps working for as long as your page exists. A dynamic code contains a short link belonging to the generator’s company, which forwards to your address. That is convenient, because you can change the destination without reprinting, but it means a third party now sits between your customer and your page.
This matters because many free generators produce dynamic codes without saying so. Months later the free tier expires, the account is required, or the company closes, and every printed code leads to a dead page or an advert. People discover this after printing menus and banners.
This tool makes static codes
- The code holds your address and nothing else.
- No account, no expiry, no scan limit, and no company that can switch it off.
- The trade-off: the destination cannot be changed afterwards. A new address means a new code.
- If you need to change the destination later, point the code at a page you control and redirect from there.
Keeping it scannable
A longer address makes a denser pattern that needs to be printed larger to scan reliably. Keep the address short where you can. Use a dark code on a light background, never the reverse, and leave the pale border around the edge intact. Print at least two centimetres wide, and more for a poster people scan from a distance. Always scan the final printed piece before ordering a large run.
Steps
- The Link tab is already open on this page.
- Paste your web address. The preview updates as you type.
- Open Customize for different colours or a larger file.
- Scan the result yourself, then download the PNG for print or the SVG for a designer.
Questions
Will this QR code expire?
No. It is static, so your address is stored in the code itself. There is no account, no scan limit and no service in the middle that could stop working.
Can I change where it points after printing?
No. A static code cannot be edited. If you expect the destination to change, point the code at a page you control and set up a redirect from that page instead.
Why does my code look so dense?
Long addresses need more squares. Shorten the address if you can, or print the code larger. A dense code at small size is the usual reason scanning fails.
PNG or SVG?
PNG for screens and everyday printing. SVG for a designer or a large format print, because it stays sharp at any size.