How to Generate a QR Code
Select your input type: URL (for website links and app store pages), plain text (for Wi-Fi credentials, messages, or vCard contact info), or email address (generates a scannable mailto: link) from the mode selector.
Type or paste your content into the input field. The QR code generates instantly as you type — no button press, no loading, no page reload.
Set your size and error correction level. For digital screens: 256px with Level L or M. For printed materials like business cards or flyers: 512–1024px with Level Q or H. Higher correction levels keep the code scannable even when up to 30% of it is physically covered or worn.
Click 'Download PNG' to save the file directly to your device. All processing happens in your browser using the open-source qrcode.js library — your content is never uploaded to any server. Verify this anytime in your browser's DevTools Network tab.
Why Use UtilDaily QR Code Generator?
- Instant, real-time generation — QR codes appear as you type, no button press or page reload needed
- Four error correction levels: L (7% damage recovery) for screens, M (15%) for codes with logo overlays, Q (25%) for print, H (30%) for high-wear surfaces like t-shirts or product labels
- Four export sizes — 128px for icons, 256px for digital display, 512px and 1024px for 300 DPI print-quality output
- QR codes never expire — unlike subscription QR services that route scans through their servers, these static codes encode your destination directly and work indefinitely with no account or renewal required
- Wi-Fi QR code support — generate a scannable Wi-Fi code in seconds using the WIFI: protocol string in plain text mode
- 100% client-side using the open-source qrcode.js library — your URL or text never leaves your browser
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a QR code and how does it work?
A QR (Quick Response) code is a two-dimensional matrix barcode that encodes data as a pattern of black and white squares. Smartphones decode the pattern using the camera without requiring a separate app. QR codes use Reed-Solomon error correction, which allows them to remain readable even when partially damaged or obscured. A standard QR code (Version 40, the largest) can store up to 4,296 alphanumeric characters, 7,089 numeric digits, or 2,953 bytes of binary data.
Source: ISO/IEC 18004:2015 — QR Code bar code symbology specification
What is error correction level and which should I choose?
Error correction level determines how much of the QR code can be damaged or obscured while still remaining scannable. Level L recovers 7% of data, M recovers 15%, Q recovers 25%, and H recovers 30%. Use Level L or M for digital screens where the code is displayed cleanly. Use Level Q or H for printed materials, product packaging, t-shirts, or any surface where physical wear, folding, ink bleed, or partial coverage is expected. Note: higher correction levels produce denser QR patterns — only go higher than needed, as it reduces the maximum data capacity.
Do QR codes generated here expire?
No. QR codes generated by UtilDaily never expire. These are static QR codes — they encode your URL or text directly in the pixel pattern itself. Unlike dynamic QR code services that route every scan through their own servers (and require an active paid subscription to keep working), a static QR code continues to function for as long as the destination URL remains valid. There is no account, no renewal fee, and no dependency on UtilDaily's servers after you download the PNG.
How do I create a Wi-Fi QR code?
Select 'Plain text' mode and enter your Wi-Fi credentials using the WIFI: protocol format: WIFI:T:WPA;S:YourNetworkName;P:YourPassword;; — replacing YourNetworkName with your network SSID and YourPassword with your password. Use T:WPA for most modern routers, T:WEP for older networks, or T:nopass for open networks with no password. This format is natively supported by the iOS and Android camera apps — no third-party QR reader needed. Use error correction Level Q or H if you plan to print the code.
Is my QR code content sent to a server?
No. QR code generation happens entirely in your browser using the open-source qrcode JavaScript library. Your URL, text, or email content is never transmitted to UtilDaily's servers or any third party. You can verify this by opening your browser's DevTools Network tab while generating a QR code — you will see that no network requests are made during generation.
What size QR code should I use?
For websites and apps, 256px is standard. For print materials like business cards, export at 512px and size the printed QR to at least 2 cm × 2 cm. For posters, flyers, or large-format print, export at 1024px. General rule: a QR code should be at least 1 cm × 1 cm to scan reliably — most smartphone cameras scan cleanly at 2 cm or larger when the code is held still.
What can I encode in a QR code?
A QR code can encode any URL, plain text (up to approximately 4,000 characters), email addresses (as mailto: links), phone numbers (as tel: links), SMS messages (as sms: links), Wi-Fi credentials (WIFI: protocol), and vCard contact information. Common uses include restaurant menus, business cards, product packaging, app store links, marketing campaigns, event check-in, and contactless payment pages.
By UtilDaily · Updated \u2014 free, privacy-first browser tools. No sign-up, no data collection.