How to make a QR code – step by step and free
A QR code is the quickest way to get someone to open your website, join your Wi-Fi or save your number – all they have to do is point their phone camera at it. With the PDFowo generator you make a QR code in seconds: choose what it should contain, adjust the colours and logo, then download a file for print or the web. The code is static, so it never expires and needs no account.
- Choose the code type
A website link, text, Wi-Fi network, business card, email, SMS, phone number, map location, event or payment.
- Enter the details
The preview updates as you type. If something could make scanning harder, a tip appears under the code.
- Adjust the design
Change the colours, the shape of the modules and corner eyes, add a logo in the middle or a “Scan me” caption.
- Download and test
PNG for the web, SVG or PDF for print, or an A4 sheet with many codes to cut out. Scan the code with your phone before printing.
What QR codes you can make
- a link to a website, shop, restaurant menu or form
- Wi-Fi – guests join the network without typing the password
- a business card (vCard) – the phone saves the contact in one tap
- email and SMS with the message filled in
- a Google Maps location and a calendar event
- a payment – Polish bank transfer, Czech QR Platba and SEPA euro transfers (EPC)
How to make a Wi-Fi QR code
Choose “Wi-Fi” and type the network name exactly as your phone shows it (letter case matters), then the password and the security type – on modern routers it is almost always WPA2 or WPA3. Print the code and put it by the door or on the fridge: the camera on iPhone and Android offers to connect straight away.
Payment QR codes
For euro transfers the generator creates an EPC code (known as GiroCode in Germany) with the IBAN, recipient, amount and reference, which many banking apps in the euro area can read. Polish and Czech payment codes are available too.
How to print a QR code well
- the smallest sensible size is about 2 × 2 cm; for a poster seen from afar make it about 1/10 of the scanning distance wide
- a dark code on a light background works everywhere – inverted colours do not work in every app
- leave a white margin around the code
- send SVG or PDF to the print shop – they are vector files and always sharp
- the shorter the content, the simpler and easier to scan the code
Frequently asked questions
Is the QR code generator free?
Yes, completely. No account, no watermark and no limit on the number of codes – commercial use included.
Will my QR code expire?
No. It is a static code – the content is stored directly in the image. Services with “dynamic” codes route every scan through their server and can switch the code off after a trial. That cannot happen here.
Will a QR code with a logo still work?
Yes. When you add a logo we set the highest error correction, so the code still reads even with the centre covered. Keep the logo reasonably small and always test the code with your phone before printing.
How do I scan a QR code?
Open your phone camera and point it at the code – iPhones and most Android phones recognise it on their own. You can also use Google Lens.
Can I change the link after printing?
No – new content means a new code. If the address may change, encode a link to a page you control and set up a redirect there.
Is my data sent anywhere?
No. The code is created in your browser, and your Wi-Fi password or account number never reaches a server.