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How to Create a QR Code for a Link, Wi-Fi, WhatsApp or Contact Card

By the FileTools team · Updated October 27, 2026 · 4 min read

A QR code lets someone open a link, join Wi-Fi or save your contact details by pointing a phone camera at a square of black and white modules. They are on menus, business cards, event posters and product packaging. Creating one takes a minute. This guide covers the types of QR code, how to make them and how to get codes that actually scan.

Static vs dynamic QR codes

A static QR code stores the information itself, such as the full web address. It never expires, costs nothing and cannot be changed after it is printed. A dynamic code stores a short redirect link that you can edit later and that provides scan statistics, usually as a paid service. If your destination will never change, a static code is perfect and does not depend on any company staying in business.

What you can put in a QR code

• Website or link: a page, portfolio, menu or social profile.
• Wi-Fi: network name, password and encryption type, so guests join with one scan.
• WhatsApp: opens a chat with your number and an optional pre-filled message.
• Email, phone and SMS: start a message or call.
• vCard: name, company, phone and email as a contact card.
• Plain text: short notes or codes.

How to create a QR code

1. Open the QR code generator.
2. Choose the type (URL, Wi-Fi, WhatsApp, email, phone, vCard or text).
3. Fill in the fields; the preview updates as you type.
4. Optionally change colors and error correction.
5. Click Download PNG.

The code is generated in your browser, so the information you type is not sent to a server.

Error correction levels

Higher levels make the pattern denser, so the code needs to be printed a bit larger.

Tips for codes that scan every time

• Contrast: use a dark code on a light background. Avoid inverted (light-on-dark) codes, which some scanners cannot read.
• Quiet zone: leave a blank margin around the code, about four modules wide.
• Size: printed codes should be at least about 2 x 2 cm, larger for distance scanning.
• Keep the content short. Shorter data creates a simpler, easier-to-scan pattern.
• Test before printing with at least two different phones.

A Wi-Fi QR code example

Wi-Fi codes use a standard text format, for example WIFI:T:WPA;S:MyNetwork;P:MyPassword;;. The generator builds this for you from the network name and password.

Safety tips

Only scan codes from sources you trust, and check the link your phone shows before opening it. If you put a QR code on public materials, make sure it points to a page you control.

Image format for the download

PNG is best for QR codes because it keeps the squares perfectly sharp; see PNG vs JPG vs WebP.

Practical uses

• Restaurants and cafes: a code on the table that opens the menu.
• Business cards and flyers: a vCard code that saves your details with one scan.
• Events: links to schedules, maps or registration pages.
• Home and office: a Wi-Fi code for guests so nobody has to read a long password aloud.
• Customer support: a WhatsApp code with a pre-filled message such as "Hello, I need help with order".

How large should a printed QR code be?

A common rule of thumb is a scanning distance of about ten times the code's width. A code that will be scanned from one meter away should therefore be about 10 cm wide. For handheld use at 30 cm, 3 cm is enough. Dense codes with a lot of data need to be larger than simple ones, which is another reason to keep URLs short.

Staying safe: QR code phishing

Criminals sometimes stick fake QR codes over legitimate ones or send them in emails to lead people to fake login pages. When you scan, read the address shown by your phone before opening it, be suspicious of codes that ask for passwords or payments, and never scan a code on a sticker that looks like it was placed over another one. When you publish a code, make sure it points to a page on a domain you control.

Troubleshooting a code that will not scan

• Increase its printed size and the margin around it.
• Use a dark foreground on a light background and avoid low-contrast color combinations.
• Choose a higher error-correction level if the surface may be scratched or dirty.
• Shorten the data; a short link makes a simpler code.
• Do not stretch the image; it must remain a perfect square.

Frequently asked questions

Do free QR codes expire?

Static codes do not expire, because the data is built into the image.

Can I put a logo in the middle?

Yes, if you use a high error-correction level and test carefully.

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