Free QR Code generator: link, text and Wi-Fi

How to use it

1. Choose the type: link (website), plain text or Wi-Fi.
2. Type the address, the text or the network details. The QR Code updates with every letter.
3. If you like, change the colors and the error correction. For almost every use, the defaults (black code on a white background, medium correction) work best.
4. Download it as PNG, for documents and social media, or as SVG, which can be enlarged without losing quality and is ideal for print shops.
5. Before printing, point a phone camera at the screen and check that it opens what you expected.

The three QR Code types

• Link: opens a website when scanned. If you type just "anotpad.com", https:// is added. It also works for email (mailto:), phone (tel:) and other schemes.
• Plain text: shows the text on the screen of whoever scans it, without opening anything. Good for codes, short messages, addresses and payment codes your bank gives you as text.
• Wi-Fi: anyone scanning with a current phone camera gets the option to join the network, without typing the password. Enter the network name (exactly as it appears), the security type (almost always WPA) and the password.

Making the QR Code easy to scan

• Contrast: use a dark code on a light background. The tool warns you when contrast is low or when the code is lighter than the background, which many readers cannot scan.
• Size: when printing, 2 cm by 2 cm (about 0.8 inch) is a reasonable minimum for close-up scanning. The farther the person is, the bigger the code needs to be.
• Margin: do not crop the white border around the code. It is part of the QR Code and helps the camera find it.
• Short content: more text means more squares and harder scanning. Prefer short links.
• Error correction: higher levels make the code bigger, but it stays readable even with dirt or a damaged corner. Medium is a good balance.
• No logo: the tool does not place an image in the middle of the code.

A QR Code for an AnotPad note

Every AnotPad note has an address, so you can turn a note into a QR Code: copy the link and paste it here. Inside a note, the ⋮ menu also has "Open on phone", which already generates the code for the read-only link. It is handy for a menu, a supply list, house rules or a schedule taped to the wall.

Whoever scans the code opens the note. Never post the QR Code of a note with personal information in a public place, and prefer the read-only link so nobody changes the text.

Static QR Codes

The codes generated here are static: the address or text lives inside the drawing itself. That means the code does not expire, does not depend on AnotPad to work and does not record how many times it was scanned. On the other hand, you cannot change the destination after printing: if the link changes, you need to generate and print another code.

Frequently asked questions

Does the generated QR Code expire?

No. The content is inside the drawing and works as long as the link or text stays valid. If the website it points to goes offline, the code opens a page that does not exist, but the code itself keeps working.

Can I use the QR Code in commercial material?

Yes. The QR Code standard is open and free to use, and the code generated here is yours. Only the name "QR Code" is a registered trademark of Denso Wave.

Are my link or Wi-Fi password stored anywhere?

No. The code is built in your browser and nothing is sent to AnotPad or to third parties. Keep in mind that anyone with the Wi-Fi QR Code can see the password, so do not leave it where people who should not join the network can see it.

What is the difference between PNG and SVG?

PNG is an image with a fixed size (you pick 256, 512, 1024 or 2048 pixels) and suits screens and documents. SVG is a vector drawing that can be enlarged without losing sharpness, best for large prints.