How to make a QR code
November 12, 2026 3 min read
Short answer
To make a QR code, type a link, Wi-Fi details or text into a QR code generator and download the image. A static QR code stores the data inside the code itself, so it never expires and costs nothing. Always scan it with a few phones before you print it.
A QR code is a square pattern that opens a link, joins a Wi-Fi network or shows information when someone points a phone camera at it. You can make one for a menu, poster, business card or guest Wi-Fi in a few minutes.
QR code generatorQR codes for links, Wi-Fi or text.Static vs dynamic QR codes
A static QR code holds the link or data directly. No server sits in between, so the code never stops working and nobody tracks who scans it. The trade off is that you cannot change the content later; if the link changes, you print a new code.
A dynamic QR code holds a short link to a service, which then redirects to your real address. You can change the destination later and see scan counts. Most services charge a subscription for this, and printed codes may stop working when the subscription ends or the service shuts down.
The QR code generator on mp4indir.com makes static codes: free, no sign up, and they never expire.
Step by step
The QR code generator supports links, text, Wi-Fi, phone numbers and e-mail. The code is created in your browser.
- 1Open the QR code generator and choose a type.
- 2Type the link, or your Wi-Fi network name and password.
- 3Change the colours or add a logo in the middle if you like.
- 4Download PNG for screens and social media, or SVG for print.
Tips for menus, Wi-Fi and business cards
For a restaurant menu, put the menu on a web page or a shared PDF and make a QR code for that link. If you update the file at the same address when the menu changes, you never have to reprint the code.
Guests who scan a Wi-Fi QR code join the network without typing the password. On Android phones, the share option in Wi-Fi settings also shows a QR code for the network you are connected to.
For business cards there are two options. A vCard is a contact card format that offers to save you to the phone's contacts; the mp4indir tool has no vCard type, so use a generator that supports vCard for that. The other option is a QR code that links to your personal page or profile.
If you just need a QR code for a web page, Chrome's share menu also has a Create QR code option.
Print size, contrast and testing
QR codes scan best as a dark pattern on a light background. Use black on white or a dark colour on a light one; inverted or low contrast codes fail on some phones. Denso Wave, the company that created the QR code, says to leave an empty margin of 4 modules (the small squares) on every side, with no text or lines in it.
The longer the link, the denser the pattern, and the harder it is to scan when printed small. A short address helps. Print codes larger on posters that people will scan from a distance.
Before printing, scan the code on screen and on a test print with both an iPhone and an Android phone in normal light. If you added a logo, this test matters even more.
Frequently asked questions
- Do QR codes expire?
- Static QR codes never expire because the data is inside the code. Dynamic codes work only as long as the service behind them keeps running.
- Is making a QR code free?
- Making a static QR code is free. Paid plans are usually for the redirect and statistics service behind dynamic codes.
- Can I change the link on a printed QR code?
- Not with a static code. If the link might change, point the code at a fixed address on your own site and update the content there.
- Does a logo in the middle break the code?
- Usually not, because QR codes include error correction. Still, test with a few phones before printing.