How to create a QR code — step by step
A practical, no-fluff guide from the QRGen team.
Creating a QR code takes less than a minute — but the details (type, error correction, size, quiet zone) determine whether it actually scans reliably for years. This guide walks through the whole process, from choosing the right type to printing the final file.
Step 1: Decide what the code should do
A QR code carries a single payload: a URL, a Wi-Fi credential set, a contact (vCard), a phone number, a text message, or raw text. Ask yourself what should happen the moment someone scans. "Open my website", "connect me to the guest Wi-Fi", "save your contact" — each answer maps to a different QR type.
If you're not sure, a plain URL code is the safest default. You can always create more specialized codes later — they're free.
Step 2: Prepare your content
- URL: copy the exact link, including https://. Short, clean URLs produce smaller, easier-to-print codes.
- Wi-Fi: have the SSID and password ready, plus the security type (WPA is most common).
- WhatsApp / SMS: use the full international number format (e.g. 15551234567).
- vCard: collect name, company, phone, email and website first.
Step 3: Generate it
In the QRGen generator, pick the type, fill in the fields, and watch the live preview update. That's it — the code is created instantly in your browser, and nothing you typed is uploaded anywhere.
Step 4: Customize (optional but recommended)
Match your brand: choose a dark module color and a light background, and drop in a center logo if you like. Two rules keep the code scannable: keep strong contrast between modules and background, and keep the logo small (we cap it automatically). When a logo is present, the generator raises the error-correction level for you.
Step 5: Test before you print
Scan your code with at least two different phones (an iPhone and an Android). Test from the exact print size you plan to use, not just on the screen. If both phones open the right destination, you're ready.
Step 6: Download at print resolution
Download the PNG at the largest size (1024px) so the code stays crisp at any print size. Keep the white quiet zone around the code — printing software sometimes crops margins, so leave a little extra whitespace in your layout.
Static vs dynamic: which do you need?
Static codes are locked to their content forever — perfect for a stable website or your phone number. Dynamic codes point through a redirect you control, so you can change the destination, track scans, or set an expiration after printing. If anything behind the code might change, choose dynamic.
Minimum print size
Plan for at least 25×25mm (1×1 inch). Below that, small printers and phone cameras start failing. Table tents (A6) and business-card sized codes (9×9cm) are the sweet spot for reliability.