How to Generate a QR Code?

The use of quick response (QR) codes is common among businesses and marketers. They place them on business cards, billing counters, restaurant walls, and billboards for different purposes. Primarily, QR codes are used to make payments, connect to Wi-Fi, track a product or order, or open a website or menu. In this blog post, we will show you in detail how to generate a QR code for free.

Who Invented QR Codes and Why?

The first QR code was invented in 1994 by Masahiro Hara, an engineer working in Denso Wave, a famous Japanese company. At that time, the purpose of the codes was to make tracking of parts in inventory easier. Later, these codes became a technology that rapidly replaces traditional barcodes.

QR Codes vs Barcodes

The table below highlights the main technical differences between QR codes and barcodes.

Feature	QR Code	Barcode
Code Type	Two-dimensional (2D)	One-dimensional (1D)
Data Storage Capacity	Up to 7,089 numeric characters, 4,296 alphanumeric characters, 2,953 binary bytes, or 1,817 Kanji characters	Usually 8 to 25 characters, depending on the barcode format
Storage Method	Stores data both horizontally and vertically	Stores data horizontally only
Error Correction	Built-in error correction (L, M, Q, H levels) allows scanning even if up to 30% of the code is damaged	No built-in error correction. Damage often makes the barcode unreadable.
Scanning Direction	Can be scanned from almost any angle (360°)	Usually requires proper horizontal alignment
Data Types Supported	URLs, text, phone numbers, email addresses, WiFi credentials, locations, contact cards, events, and more	Mainly product IDs, inventory numbers, and serial numbers
Scanning Device	Smartphone cameras, tablets, and online QR scanners	Laser barcode scanners, CCD scanners, and many smartphone cameras

How to Generate QR Codes?

Generating QR codes is very easy. You simply need to use a QR code generator, input your details, and download your code. The steps vary slightly with the type of QR code you want to generate.

For your convenience, we are demonstrating the process for creating different types of QR codes using the QR generator at QRScanner.net.

How to make a QR code for a link?

To generate a QR code for a link:

Step 1. Open the QR code generator in your web browser. The homepage displays different QR code types at the top.

Step 2. Select the URL to make a QR code for a link.

A horizontal row of QR code type options in a QR code generator, with 'URL' selected and highlighted in blue. The other options are VCard, Text, Email, SMS, WIFI, Facebook, Phone, Location, and Event Card, each shown with an icon.

Step 3. Type or paste the URL in the provided field.

The 'Complete the content' section of a QR code generator, showing a labeled field 'Enter Your URL' with 'https://qrscanner.net/' typed in, highlighted by a red box.

Step 4. Design and customize your code if needed (all changes are implemented automatically in real time).

Step 5. Download or copy the embed URL of your QR code from the output.

The output section of a QR code generator showing a generated black-and-white QR code displayed in a light gray box. Below it are two buttons: a blue 'Download' button with a PNG format dropdown, and a 'Copy Embed Code' button.

How to create a Vcard QR code?

V-Card usually refers to a digital contact file. They often lead back to email addresses and are embedded inside QR codes.

Follow these steps to generate a Vcard QR code:

Step 1. Open the QR code generator and select VCard among the types.

A horizontal row of QR code type options in a QR code generator, with 'VCard' selected and highlighted in blue. The other options are URL, Text, Email, SMS, WIFI, Facebook, Phone, Location, and Event Card, each shown with an icon.

Step 2. Fill in the content. Adding a name is a must; the rest are optional.

The 'Complete the content' form for creating a VCard QR code, outlined in a red box. It contains filled-in fields including Name (Sample Name), Surname (Sample Surname), Telephone (Mobile, 0123456789), Company (Softrix Technologies), Title (Product Manager), Address (United State), Email (user@example.com), and Website URL (https://qrscanner.net/).

Step 3. Design and customize your code (optional).

Step 4. Download & copy the QR code to embed in the output.

How to create a QR code for text?

To create a QR code with simple text embedded inside:

Step 1: Open the QR code generator and select Text input.

A horizontal row of QR code type options in a QR code generator, with 'Text' selected and highlighted in blue. The other options are URL, VCard, Email, SMS, WIFI, Facebook, Phone, Location, and Event Card, each shown with an icon.

Step 2: Type or paste your text inside the input box. Our QR code generator allows a maximum of 800 characters of input.

The 'Complete the content' section of a QR code generator for creating a Text QR code. It shows a required 'Text' field with an empty input box displaying the placeholder 'Enter your text here'

Step 3. Design & customize your code.

Step 4. Download your code as an image or copy the code to embed.

How to make a QR code for an email?

An email QR code lets people start writing an email without typing your email address manually. To create an email QR code:

Step 1. Open the QR code generator and select Email from the available QR code types.

A horizontal row of QR code type options in a QR code generator, with 'Email' selected and highlighted in blue. The other options are URL, VCard, Text, SMS, WIFI, Facebook, Phone, Location, and Event Card, each shown with an icon.

Step 2. Enter your email address in the Email field. Then, add a subject and message (optional).

The 'Complete the content' form for creating an Email QR code, outlined in a red box. It shows a required Email field (user@example.com), a Subject field (Need Qrscanner.net API), and a Message field with the placeholder 'Enter your message'.

Step 3. Design and customize your QR code if you want to change its appearance.

Step 4. Download your QR code as an image or copy the embed code to use it on websites.

How to create QR codes for SMS?

An SMS QR code lets people open their messaging app with a phone number and a pre-written message already filled in.

To create an SMS QR code:

Step 1. Open the QR code generator and select SMS.

A horizontal row of QR code type options in a QR code generator, with 'SMS' selected and highlighted in blue. The other options are URL, VCard, Text, Email, WIFI, Facebook, Phone, Location, and Event Card, each shown with an icon.

Step 2. Enter the recipient's phone number in the Phone Number field. Then, type the message you want to include in the Message box (if any).

Step 3. Customize your QR code if you want to change its design.

Step 4. Download your QR code as an image or copy the embed code.

How to generate a WIFI QR code?

A Wi-Fi QR code lets people connect to a wireless network without typing the network name or password. They simply scan Wifi QR code and get connected to the network in seconds.

To create a Wi-Fi QR code:

Step 1. Open the QR code generator and select Wi-Fi among the types.

A horizontal row of QR code type options in a QR code generator, with 'WIFI' selected and highlighted in blue. The other options are URL, VCard, Text, Email, SMS, Facebook, Phone, Location, and Event Card, each shown with an icon.

Step 2. Enter your Network Name (SSID) and Network Password. If your network does not use a password, leave the password field empty.

The 'Complete the content' form for creating a Wi-Fi QR code, outlined in a red box. It shows a required Network name (SSID) field containing 'QR Code Generator' and a Network Password field with hidden characters and a show/hide password icon.

Step 3. Select your Encryption Type from the list. Choose one depending on your Wi-Fi security settings.

A 'Type of encryption' dropdown menu for a Wi-Fi QR code, outlined in a red box. The field shows 'None' selected, with the expanded list displaying options None, WEP, WPA/WPA2 (highlighted in blue), and WPA3.

Step 4. If your Wi-Fi network is hidden, check the Hidden Network option.

A 'Hidden Network' option outlined in a red box, with its checkbox checked (blue with a white checkmark).

Step 5. Customize your QR code if you want to change its design.

Step 6. Download your Wi-Fi QR code as an image. Or copy the code to embed it on a webpage.

How to make a QR code for Facebook?

A Facebook QR code takes people straight to your Facebook profile or page. Instead of searching for your account, they only need to scan the code.

Here is how to create one:

Step 1. Open the QR code generator and click Facebook.

A horizontal row of QR code type options in a QR code generator, with 'Facebook' selected and highlighted in blue. The other options are URL, VCard, Text, Email, SMS, WIFI, Phone, Location, and Event Card, each shown with an icon.

Step 2. Paste your Facebook profile or page link into the Facebook URL field.

A required 'Enter Your Facebook URL' field outlined in a red box, containing 'https://www.facebook.com/qrscanner.net/'.

Step 3. If you want, customize the QR code by changing its colors or style.

Step 4. Download the QR code. Copy the embed code if you want to place it on a website.

How to generate a location QR code?

A location QR code helps people open a specific place on a map with a single scan. Follow these steps to create one:

Step 1. Open the QR code generator and select Location.

A horizontal row of QR code type options in a QR code generator, with 'Location' selected and highlighted in blue. The other options are URL, VCard, Text, Email, SMS, WIFI, Facebook, Phone, and Event Card, each shown with an icon.

Step 2. Enter the Latitude and Longitude of the location in the required fields.

The 'Complete the content' form for creating a Location QR code, outlined in a red box. It shows a required Latitude field (5.6543) and a required Longitude field (5.0987).

Step 3. Download the QR code or copy it to embed on websites.

All the above steps are demonstrated using the QR code generator by QRScanner.net. Whatever the type of QR code you are looking to generate, you must test it using QR Scanner before sharing in public or embedding on a website.

Conclusion

Using an online QR code generator, such as the one by QRScanner.net, is the easiest way to create QR codes for free. If you need to create a static QR code, open our QR code generator, choose the type you want, enter the details, and download your code as an image. You can also copy the code to embed into websites. After generating, you must test your QR codes using a QR scanner.

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