How to create a QR code

Quick Response (QR) codes are a conveniently scannable way of representing information such as a website link or a Wi-Fi password. Rather than sending a text URL, you can share a QR code with this information. 

These funny-looking boxes have become an omnipresent part of our modern digital lives, and knowing how to make them is a vital skill. Asurion's experts help customers every day with tech support and working with apps that use your phone camera, including how to create a QR code for a link.

Follow these steps

Learning how to create a QR code involves following a few simple steps, depending on the devices or platforms you have available and the data you want to include in the QR code.

Determine the purpose

The right tool to use to generate your QR code depends on what information you need to share. For sharing website links, you'll want to use an internet browser like Chrome or Edge. For other data types, including passwords, digital media, and payment information, you'll want to use an online QR code generator or an app like Canva or Adobe Express.

Choose between static and dynamic codes

A static QR code links to a fixed asset like a piece of text. This means you get the same result any time you scan the QR code in the future. 

By contrast, a dynamic QR code links to a changeable asset like a website URL. Because the content stored at a URL can change, so can the content shared by the dynamic QR code.

Use tools to generate it

To actually generate a static or dynamic QR code, use the following steps.

Using an internet browser like Chrome or Edge to share website URLs

1. Navigate to the desired destination webpage.
2. Right-click anywhere on the page.
3. Select "Create QR Code for this page."

Using online QR code generators

There are many online QR code generator services. Somerequire a paid subscription to access basic features, but sites such QRSurge offer free online QR code generation.To use this option:

1. Go to the site.
2. Select the type of data you need to embed from the following options, which include both dynamic and static data types:
   1. Website: a URL (e.g. google.com)
   2. App Store: an app ID within Apple® App Store® or Google Play® Store
   3. vCard: an electronic business card including personal and business contact info
   4. Email: an email address with an optional subject and message
   5. SMS: a phone number with an optional message
   6. Wi-Fi: a network name and encryption information, including a password
   7. Phone: a phone number
   8. Location: latitude and longitude coordinates
   9. Plaintext: any arbitrary text
   10. Bluesky: a handle for the social media platform Bluesky
3. Select Generate.
4. Select Download and choose the format of the QR code file (.SVG, .PNG, .JPG, or .WEBP).

Using a dedicated image application

Some multimedia applications have special features to support QR code creators. These include Adobe Express and Canva:

1. Download the app.
2. Navigate to the QR Code generation feature.
3. Enter the URL or text to be shared.
4. Click Download and choose your preferred file format.

Customize it

QRSurge, Adobe Express, and Canva all provide options to customize the appearance of your QR code. These custom options include the colors and shapes in the QR code image, and an option to add a custom logo. Customizing the appearance of your QR code can help it stand out in a sea of black-and-whiteQR codes.

Test your QR code

The final step in creating a QR code is testing it to make sure it works as expected. The exact way to scan a QR code will depend on what type of mobile phone you have, but all modern smartphones have built-in scanning features for QR codes.

Using an Android phone camera

With Android 8 and up, you can use the camera on your Android phone to scan a QR code:

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Point your phone at the QR code and center it inside the yellow square.
3. Tap the Tap to Scan pop-up banner.

Using an iPhone camera

To scan a QR code on your iPhone:

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Position your iPhone so you see all four corners of the QR code.
3. Tap the notification that pops up (it will usually say Open in Safari) to go to the website or app.