A basic QR code like the ones this tool creates never expires — it's a static image encoding fixed text, so it works for as long as the image exists and, for URLs, as long as the destination link stays live.

Free QR Code Generator: How to Create a QR Code Online

Q: Why won't my QR code scan?

The most common causes are low contrast between the code and its background, the image being too small or blurry, or too much of the code being covered by a logo or design element.

Q: PNG or PDF — which format should I download?

PNG is best for digital use like websites, emails, or social posts. PDF is better when you need to print the code at a specific size, such as on a flyer, poster, or product label.

Whether it's for a menu, a business card, or a Wi-Fi password, creating a QR code takes under a minute — and you don't need an app or an account to do it.

A QR code is just a compact, scannable way to share a link, a message, or contact details without anyone having to type it in. Creating one takes a few seconds with a free QR code generator — no design skills and no software install required.

What You Can Put Into a QR Code

A QR code can encode any text, which means it can represent:

A website URL — the most common use, for menus, business cards, and posters
Plain text — instructions, a short message, an address
A phone number or email address, so scanning opens the dialer or mail app directly
Wi-Fi network details, so guests can connect without typing a password

How to Create a QR Code Online, Step by Step

Using our free QR Code Generator:

Type or paste the text, link, or details you want to encode.
The QR code updates instantly as you type.
Download it as a PNG image, or as a PDF if you plan to print it.
Add it to your flyer, business card, or wherever it needs to go.

No account, no watermark, and no limit on how many codes you generate.

Create a Free QR Code

PNG or PDF: Which Format Should You Download?

PNG is the right choice for digital use — websites, emails, social media posts, or anywhere the code will be viewed on a screen. PDF makes more sense when you're printing the code at a specific physical size, like on a poster, product label, or table tent, since PDFs scale cleanly for print without quality loss.

Why QR Codes Sometimes Fail to Scan

Low contrast: a QR code needs a clear difference between the dark and light areas — light gray on white, or a busy background image behind it, often won't scan.
Too small or blurry: printing a code too small, or stretching a low-resolution image, makes the individual squares hard for a camera to distinguish.
Too much covered: adding a logo in the middle is fine in small amounts, but covering too large a portion of the code breaks its error-correction and makes it unreadable.
Glare or curved surfaces: a code printed on a shiny or curved surface can create glare that confuses a camera's autofocus.

Do QR Codes Expire?

A simple, static QR code like the ones created here never expires on its own — it's just an image encoding fixed text. If it encodes a URL, the code itself keeps working forever, but it will only be useful for as long as that destination link stays live. If you plan to reuse a printed code for years, link to a page you control and won't delete, rather than a temporary or seasonal one.

Where QR Codes Get Used Well

Restaurants print them on table tents to link straight to a digital menu, skipping the cost of reprinting paper menus every time a price changes. Event organizers put them on posters so people can register or buy tickets without typing a long URL. Businesses add them to packaging so a quick scan pulls up setup instructions or a warranty page. In each case, the code replaces the tedious part — typing a web address by hand — with a one-second camera scan, which is the entire reason the format has stayed useful for so long.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I put into a QR code?

Any text, a website URL, a phone number, an email address, or Wi-Fi credentials — whatever you can type will work.

Do QR codes expire?

A basic QR code never expires — it works for as long as the image exists and, for URLs, as long as the destination link stays live.

Why won't my QR code scan?

Usually low contrast, a blurry or too-small image, or too much of the code covered by a logo or design element.

PNG or PDF — which format should I download?

PNG for digital use like websites or social posts. PDF for printing at a specific size, like a poster or label.

Try It Now

Create your free QR code with the QR Code Generator — no sign-up, no watermark, works directly in your browser.