FAQ: QR Code Generator Questions Answered
Whether you are generating your first QR code or your hundredth, the same questions come up again and again. Do free QR codes expire? What size should I use? Can I change the colors? What if my code will not scan? This article compiles the most frequently asked questions about QR code generators and gives thorough, practical answers based on how QR technology actually works — not marketing copy.
Questions About Creating QR Codes
How many QR codes can I generate for free? With our browser-based tool, there is no limit. Every code is generated locally in your browser without server interaction, so there is no account quota, no daily limit, and no cost regardless of how many codes you create. Do I need to create an account? No. The tool requires no registration, no email, and no login. Open the page, enter your content, and download the PNG. There is nothing to sign up for. What is the difference between the input modes? URL mode optimizes the input for web addresses and validates the format before encoding. Text mode accepts any string — plain sentences, numbers, special characters, and formatted data like vCards or Wi-Fi credentials. For maximum flexibility, use text mode. Can I generate a QR code for a phone number? Yes. In text mode, type the number in tel: format: tel:+15551234567. Some generators have a dedicated phone mode; ours handles it in text mode. When scanned, most smartphones recognize the tel: prefix and offer to dial the number. Can I generate a QR code for an email address? Yes. Use the mailto: format: mailto:yourname@example.com. To pre-fill a subject, use: mailto:yourname@example.com?subject=Hello. This format opens the native email composer pre-addressed to you. How long does it take to generate a code? Milliseconds. The entire process runs in your browser using JavaScript — there is no server round-trip. Enter the content, see the preview update in real time, and download when you are satisfied. Can I preview the QR code before downloading? Yes. The tool shows a live preview as you type. You can scan the on-screen preview before downloading to verify the content decodes correctly.
Questions About QR Code Reliability and Scanning
Why won't my QR code scan? There are several common causes. First, check contrast — if you used a light foreground or dark background, the scanner may not be able to find the pattern. Second, check size — if the code is very small on screen or in print, the camera may not resolve the modules. Third, check the quiet zone — if the blank border around the code has been cropped, add it back. Fourth, check the content — if the destination URL has a typo, the code will scan but go to a broken link. Fifth, check error correction vs. logo overlap — if you added a logo to a level-M code, switch to level-H and regenerate. Do all phones scan QR codes natively? All current iPhones (iOS 11+) scan QR codes directly with the Camera app — just point and tap the notification. Android cameras have supported native QR scanning since Android 9 (2018), and many manufacturers added it to older Android versions through camera app updates. Virtually every smartphone in use today can scan QR codes without a third-party app. Can QR codes be scanned from a screen? Yes. Point your phone camera at a screen displaying the QR code just as you would at a printed code. The main challenges are screen glare and refresh rate interference. Matte screen protectors or adjusting the screen angle to reduce glare helps. On OLED screens, refresh-related banding can occasionally interfere — reducing screen brightness sometimes helps. What is the maximum scanning distance? It depends on the physical size of the code and the camera resolution. The practical rule is that the scanning distance equals roughly 10 times the code's width. A 5 cm code scans comfortably from 50 cm. A 30 cm code scans from 3 meters. Longer distances require larger codes or a better camera setup.
Questions About Customization and Design
Can I change the colors of my QR code? Yes. Our tool supports custom hex colors for both the foreground (dark modules) and background. Enter any hex code to match your brand palette. The key constraint is contrast — the foreground must be significantly darker than the background. A contrast ratio of at least 4:1 is recommended for reliable scanning. Can I add a logo to my QR code? The tool generates the base QR code. To add a logo, download the PNG and use a design tool (Canva, Figma, Photoshop, GIMP) to overlay it in the center. Always generate at error correction level H before adding a logo — this gives the code 30% damage tolerance to compensate for the obscured central modules. What file format does the tool export? PNG. This is suitable for most print and digital uses. PNG supports transparency, scales cleanly, and is accepted by all design tools and printers. For very large format print (billboards, banners), ask your printer whether they can scale the PNG sufficiently or whether they need an SVG — some QR tools export SVG for scalable vector output. Can I make a round or shaped QR code? Standard QR codes are square, and the module grid must remain intact for decoding. However, design tools can place the QR code PNG inside a circular or shaped container for visual purposes, as long as the code itself is not cropped. The finder patterns in the corners must remain fully visible. What size should I generate? For web and digital use, 256 or 512 pixels. For print, 512 or 1024 pixels. At 300 DPI (standard print), 512 pixels = approximately 43 mm and 1024 pixels = approximately 87 mm. These sizes give the printer plenty of resolution to scale the code to any practical print size.
Questions About QR Code Longevity and Privacy
Do QR codes expire? Static QR codes — the kind generated by free tools — never expire. They permanently encode whatever text was entered at generation time. The code remains valid for as long as the physical or digital surface it lives on exists. The only expiry risk is the destination URL going offline or changing. Dynamic QR codes from paid platforms may stop working if you cancel your subscription, because the redirect service the codes depend on is shut down. Does someone track when my QR code is scanned? With a static QR code generated by our tool, no. The code just encodes a URL — nobody in the middle sees the scan. When the phone navigates to the URL, your web server receives a standard HTTP request like any other visit. Your web analytics (Google Analytics, Plausible, etc.) records the visit, but the QR tool itself does not. With dynamic QR codes from commercial platforms, every scan is logged by the platform, including device type, time, and location. Is the QR code content stored anywhere? No. Our tool processes everything locally in your browser. The content you type is never sent to a server, never logged, and never stored. When you close the tab, the session is gone. This makes it a privacy-respecting choice for sensitive content like Wi-Fi passwords or private contact details. Can I reuse a QR code? A static QR code encodes exactly what was entered at creation time — it cannot be changed. If you need to update the destination, generate a new code and replace it. If you need the ability to change the destination without reprinting, use a dynamic QR code service or encode a redirect URL you control rather than the final destination URL.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can two different QR codes look the same but link to different places?
- No. Each unique piece of content generates a unique QR pattern. Two codes encoding different URLs will always look visually different because the module arrangement changes with the encoded data. However, two QR codes can link to different content if one uses a redirect URL — they look different but both may appear to go to the same place until you change the redirect. Never assume two similar-looking codes are identical without scanning both.
- Are QR codes accessible for people who cannot scan them?
- QR codes are not inherently accessible. People without a smartphone, those with certain visual impairments, and older users may not be able to use them. Best practice is to always provide the URL in text form alongside the QR code — 'Visit example.com or scan the code below.' Never use a QR code as the only way to access important information. This is especially important for compliance in contexts like menus under accessibility law in various jurisdictions.
- What happens if I encode a URL that later changes?
- The QR code continues to encode the original URL. If that URL no longer works, scanners will reach a 404 page or an error. There is nothing in the QR code itself that can be updated. To prevent this: use a redirect URL you control (a short link on your own domain), so you can change the destination without touching the code; or use a dynamic QR code service. For print materials with a long expected lifespan, always plan for URL changes and use a stable redirect layer.