QR Code Generator — Free Tool
Turn any link or text into a scannable QR code and download it as a PNG. Pick the error-correction level, the export size, and whether to keep the quiet zone — pure black on white, so it actually scans.
Links, plain text, and emoji all work — everything is encoded as UTF-8.
Higher levels keep scanning when the code is scratched, printed small, or partly covered — but they hold less data, so a long link may need a lower level.
The PNG is sized down to the nearest exact multiple of the module size, so every square lands on whole pixels and the edges stay sharp.
A four-module white border on every side — the specification minimum, and what scanners look for.
Features
- Encodes any link or text, including emoji, as UTF-8
- Four error-correction levels, from L to H
- 256, 512, or 1024 px PNG export, always at whole-pixel module sizes
- Spec-minimum 4-module quiet zone, on by default
- Runs entirely in your browser — nothing is uploaded
Frequently asked questions
Which error-correction level should I use?
M is the sensible default and is what most printed codes use. Go up to Q or H when the code will be small, printed on something that gets handled, or partly covered by a logo — those levels can still be read with roughly a quarter to a third of the symbol damaged. The trade-off is capacity: higher correction means less room for data, so a very long link may only fit at L or M.
Why is the downloaded PNG slightly smaller than the size I picked?
Every square in a QR code has to land on whole pixels. The tool divides your chosen size by the number of modules, rounds down, and exports at that exact multiple — so a 512 px request might come out at 481 px. Stretching to hit 512 exactly would put module edges on fractional pixels, which blurs them and is one of the most common reasons a code fails to scan. Scale the PNG up later by a whole multiple if you need a bigger file.
What is the quiet zone, and can I remove it?
The quiet zone is the blank margin around the code — four modules on every side, which is the minimum the QR specification requires. Scanners use it to tell where the symbol starts. You can switch it off here, but only do that if your own layout already leaves a comparable amount of clear white space around the code; without it, many scanners never find the symbol at all.
Why can I not choose custom colours?
Low contrast between the dark and light modules is the single most common cause of QR codes that will not scan, and inverted or pastel pairs fail on a lot of phone cameras. This tool exports pure black on pure white so the result is reliable everywhere. If you need brand colours, recolour the PNG afterwards in a design tool and test the result on several real phones before printing it.
Do these QR codes expire, and is my data sent anywhere?
They never expire. The link is encoded directly into the image, so there is no redirect service in the middle that could go away — but it also means the destination cannot be changed later without generating a new code. Nothing you type is uploaded: the code is generated in your browser and the PNG is written straight to your downloads.
