Frequently asked questions

Do I need an account to use this?

No. Open the site, type what you need and download the code — there is no sign-up wall. A free account only unlocks the colourful gradient presets.

Is it free, and what is the catch?

Creating and downloading codes is free, with no limit on how many you keep. The site is paid for by a small advert and a modest "EzyQRGen.com" label under the code. An optional Pro plan removes both.

How do I make a Wi-Fi QR code?

Choose the Wi-Fi tab, type the network name exactly as it appears when joining, pick the security type (usually WPA/WPA2) and enter the password. Anyone who scans it joins without typing anything.

Watch the capital letters — network names are case sensitive, and a mismatch is the most common reason a Wi-Fi code silently fails.

How do I make a QR code for my contact details?

Use the Contact tab, which builds a vCard. Scanning it offers to save your name, phone, email and company straight into the other person's address book, so nothing has to be typed by hand. This is what makes a business card QR code worth adding.

What is the difference between a QR code and a barcode?

A barcode is a row of lines holding a short number, read by a laser scanner at the till. A QR code is a square grid holding far more data, including links and text, and can be read by any phone camera.

Use a barcode for retail products and stock control, and a QR code for anything you want members of the public to scan with a phone.

Which barcode format should I use?

Code 128 is the general-purpose choice for letters and numbers, such as shipping labels and internal stock codes. EAN-13 and EAN-8 are the retail product barcodes used across Europe and most of the world, and UPC-A is the North American equivalent.

Code 39 is an older format still common in manufacturing, ITF-14 goes on outer shipping cartons, and MSI and Pharmacode serve warehouse inventory and pharmaceutical packaging respectively. If you are selling a product in shops you will need a genuine registered number rather than one you invent.

Can I put my logo in the middle of a QR code?

Yes. Upload an image and it is placed in the centre, with error correction raised to High automatically so the code still reads with part of the pattern covered.

Keep the logo to roughly a fifth of the width. Anything larger starts eating into data the scanner needs, so always test the result before sending it to print.

Will a coloured QR code still scan?

Usually, provided there is strong contrast and the pattern stays darker than the background. Scanners expect dark on light, so inverting that — a light pattern on a dark background — is the most common reason an attractive code fails in the real world.

Pale pastels for the pattern itself are risky. Keep the background near-white and put the colour into the pattern.

What size should I print a QR code?

A reliable rule: the code should be at least one tenth of the distance it will be scanned from. About 3cm across works at arm's length on a flyer or business card, a table menu wants 4–5cm, and a poster read from three metres away needs around 30cm.

Why won't my QR code scan?

Working through the usual causes in order: too little contrast between pattern and background; an inverted light-on-dark design; printed too small for the scanning distance; no clear margin around the edge; a logo covering too much of the pattern; or a low-resolution image that was scaled up and came out blurry.

Raising the error correction level and increasing the size fixes the large majority of cases.

Do I need white space around the code?

Yes. QR codes need a clear margin — the "quiet zone" — of roughly four modules on every side so the scanner can tell where the pattern ends. Downloads already include it, so avoid cropping tight to the edge or butting text right up against it.

Should I download PNG or SVG?

PNG suits screens, documents and most everyday printing — just pick a generous size before downloading. SVG is a vector file that stays perfectly sharp at any scale, making it the better choice for large-format work such as posters, banners and vehicle signage, or when handing artwork to a professional printer.

What is error correction, and which level should I choose?

Error correction adds redundant data so a code still reads when part of it is dirty, damaged or covered. Low recovers about 7% of the code, Medium 15%, Quartile 25% and High 30%.

Medium is a sensible default. Choose High when adding a logo, or when printing onto something that will be handled, scuffed or left outdoors. The trade-off is that higher levels pack in more modules, making the pattern finer.

How much information can a QR code hold?

In theory around 4,000 characters of text or 7,000 digits — but that is not practical advice. The more you store, the finer the grid becomes and the harder it is to scan. Keep links short, and put long content on a web page you link to instead.

Do the codes expire or stop working?

No. These are static codes: the destination is written directly into the pattern. There is no redirect in the middle that could be switched off, no account to keep active and no subscription that could lapse. The code works for as long as the destination does.

Can I change where a code points after printing it?

Not with a static code — the destination is baked into the pattern, so changing it means generating and reprinting. Editable codes, usually sold as "dynamic" QR codes, work by pointing at a redirect owned by the provider, which is why they need a paid subscription and stop working if it lapses.

If you expect the destination to change, point the code at a short URL you control. You keep the ability to update the redirect without depending on anyone else.

Can I track how many people scan my code?

Not directly — a static code carries no tracking. You can still measure scans by pointing it at a page you control and reading your own analytics, or by adding campaign tags to the link so those visits show up separately in your reporting.

Is what I type kept private?

Yes. Codes are generated inside your browser, so Wi-Fi passwords, contact details and links are never uploaded to a server, stored or logged by us. You can prove it to yourself: disconnect from the internet once the page has loaded and the generator still works.

Why is there a small "EzyQRGen.com" label under my code?

A small credit strip is added below the pattern on free downloads, which is how people find the tool. It sits outside the code itself and does not affect scanning. The Pro plan removes it.

What does Pro include?

Pro removes the watermark and adverts, lifts the hourly generation limit and adds vector SVG export for QR codes. Everyday QR code and barcode creation stays free without it — see the pricing page for details.