Do the QR codes created here ever expire?

No. Every QR code generated by this tool is a 100% static QR code that encodes your URL, WiFi credentials, or contact details directly into the visual pattern. There are no middleman redirect servers, no scan limits, and no expiration dates.

Why won't my phone camera scan my colored QR code?

The two most common culprits are inverted contrast (light-colored squares on a dark background) or low contrast (such as a light teal or yellow foreground on a white background). Always use a dark foreground color (#000000, dark navy, dark forest green) on a very light background (#FFFFFF).

How much of a QR code can a center logo cover before it stops working?

When you set the Error Correction Level to H (High - 30%), up to 30% of the code modules can theoretically be recovered. In practice, keeping your center logo around 15% to 22% of the code width leaves plenty of safety margin for dusty lenses or angled camera scans.

Are my WiFi passwords sent to a server when I make a WiFi QR code?

No. The WIFI:S:... string and QR matrix are computed locally in your browser's memory. Your network name and password are never transmitted over the internet.

Should I download PNG or SVG for printing?

For Word documents, Google Docs, or email signatures, a 1024 × 1024 px PNG is easiest to drop in. For Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, Canva, packaging design, or large-format signage, always choose SVG so the vector squares remain razor-sharp at any physical print size.

Can I change the destination URL of a static QR code after printing it?

Because a static QR code encodes the characters of the URL directly into the printed squares, the encoded string itself cannot be altered once printed unless that URL is a short link or redirect under your control.

QR Code Generator: Custom WiFi, URL & vCard QR in PNG/SVG

Many "free" QR code websites quietly replace your link with their own tracking redirect URL - and then deactivate your printed flyers two weeks later unless you pay a monthly subscription. This local QR code generator creates 100% static, permanent QR codes directly in your browser that never expire and never route through a middleman. Generate codes for website URLs, WiFi auto-connect (WIFI:S:...), vCard contact cards, email, SMS, or plain text, style the foreground and background colors, add a center logo, and download high-resolution PNG or vector SVG files.

Why static, direct QR codes matter before you go to print

There are two ways a QR code can work. A "dynamic" QR code from a marketing SaaS encodes the provider's short link (https://qr-saas.example/x92k), which redirects to your destination as long as you keep paying their subscription. If that vendor goes offline or your trial ends, every restaurant table tent, business card, and product box you printed becomes dead paper.

A static QR code encodes your actual data directly inside the black-and-white module matrix:

Restaurant menus and storefront posters: Encoding your direct menu URL (or a custom short link from your own domain) so the QR code works forever with zero recurring fees.
Guest WiFi signs for offices, cafes, and Airbnbs: Encoding the standard WIFI:T:WPA;S:MyNetwork;P:SecretPass;; payload so guests point their iPhone or Android camera at the frame and join the WiFi network in one tap without typing a password.
Business card vCards: Encoding your name, phone number, email, company, and website in BEGIN:VCARD format so scanning your badge opens the "Add to Contacts" screen offline - even inside a basement conference hall with no cell reception.
Product packaging and asset tags: Exporting true vector SVG QR codes that commercial label printers can scale to any physical dimension without blurry edges.

How to create a custom static QR code step by step

Method 1: Create a Permanent URL, vCard Contact, Email, or Text QR Code

Select your payload tab: Choose URL / Website, vCard Contact (Name, Phone, Email, Company, Website), Email / SMS, or Plain Text at the top of the generator.
Enter your destination data: Type or paste your fields—the static QR matrix updates live in your browser without routing through any third-party redirect link.
Style colors, resolution, and quiet zone: Pick a high-contrast dark Foreground Color and light Background Color, set the Quiet Zone Margin (2 to 4 modules), and choose an export size from 256 px up to 2048 px.
Download raster PNG or vector SVG: Click Download PNG for documents and web pages, or Download SVG for infinite vector scaling in Adobe Illustrator, Figma, InDesign, and commercial print runs.

Method 2: Build a Guest WiFi Auto-Connect Sign with a Branded Center Logo

Switch to the WiFi Network tab: Select WiFi to build a standard WIFI:T:WPA;S:... auto-join payload.
Enter network credentials: Type your exact Network Name (SSID), WiFi Password, and select the encryption protocol (WPA/WPA2/WPA3, WEP, or Open/None).
Set Error Correction to High (H - 30%) & upload your logo: Switch Error Correction Level to Level H (30%) so up to 30% of the center modules can be safely covered, then upload your square company icon or WiFi emblem in the Center Logo slot.
Test-scan and print: Point your phone camera at the live preview on screen to verify instant one-tap WiFi connection before downloading your print-ready SVG or PNG.

Features built for reliable scanning

Error Correction Levels L (7%), M (15%), Q (25%), and H (30%)

QR codes use Reed-Solomon error correction to remain readable even when part of the code is smudged, scratched, or covered by a center logo:

Level L (7%): Smallest module grid, best for long text strings on clean digital screens.
Level M (15%): Balanced default for everyday URLs.
Level Q (25%) & Level H (30%): Redundant data blocks allow up to 30% of the code area to be obscured - essential when placing a brand icon in the center or printing on outdoor stickers.

Structured WiFi and vCard builders

You never have to memorize the exact semicolon syntax of WIFI:T:WPA;S:... or VCARD 3.0 fields. Dedicated input forms build the compliant specification string behind the scenes and update the matrix immediately.

Crisp vector SVG and high-DPI PNG export

When a print designer asks for a QR code for a trade-show banner, sending a 200 × 200 raster image leads to fuzzy corners. Exporting as SVG outputs clean vector <path> geometry that scales from a 2 cm bottle label to a 3-meter billboard with infinite sharpness.

A real example: printing an office guest WiFi sign with a company logo

Suppose you want to frame a WiFi sign for your office reception room for the network Shift_Guest_5G (WPA2 password Welcome#2026!) with your square company icon in the center.

Select the WiFi tab in the QR Code Generator.
Enter Network Name (SSID): Shift_Guest_5G, Password: Welcome#2026!, and Encryption: WPA/WPA2. (Behind the scenes, this formats WIFI:T:WPA;S:Shift_Guest_5G;P:Welcome#2026!;H:false;;).
Switch Error Correction Level to H (High - 30%) and upload your company mark (logo-mark.png).
Set Foreground Color to dark navy #0F172A, Background Color to white #FFFFFF, and Size to 1024 × 1024 px.
Test-scan the live preview on your screen using your phone camera or the QR Code Scanner to confirm instant detection, then download the PNG or SVG.

Practical tips and mistakes that break QR codes

Never invert colors (light foreground on dark background): Many standard smartphone camera scanners fail to recognize inverted QR codes where the modules are white and the background is dark blue or black. Always keep the foreground modules significantly darker than the background.
Keep a minimum 4:1 contrast ratio: Pastel yellow or light grey QR codes on white paper look subtle to humans and completely invisible to camera sensors.
Shorten long UTM links before encoding: A 250-character URL with five utm_ parameters creates a dense, tiny checkerboard that is hard to scan from a distance. Shorten long URLs first with the Custom URL Shortener so the QR grid stays sparse and bold.
Never delete the quiet zone: QR scanners need a blank border ("quiet zone") of at least 2 to 4 modules around the outer finder squares to separate the code from surrounding text or borders.

Privacy and local execution

Your WiFi passwords, private URLs, and vCard contact details are encoded 100% locally inside your browser using JavaScript canvas and SVG generation. Zero network requests (fetch or XMLHttpRequest) are made when generating a QR code - your WiFi credentials never leave your device.

Related tools

Want to verify what an existing QR code image encodes before printing 5,000 copies? Test it in the QR Code Scanner. To keep your QR matrix clean and sparse for long marketing links, create a short link first with Custom URL Shortener, or check foreground/background contrast in the Online Color Picker. Read our full guide on how to create a QR code for free.

QR Code Studio