What you can put in a QR code
- Website: opens a page. Good for menus, flyers, product packaging and business cards.
- Phone call: opens the phone app with your number ready, so people call with one tap instead of typing it.
- WhatsApp: opens a chat with you, optionally with a message already written, such as "I'd like to book a table".
- SMS and email: start a text or an email with the recipient, subject and message filled in.
- Wi-Fi: guests scan and join your network without typing the password. Handy for cafés, offices and home.
- Contact card: a vCard that saves your name, number, email and company straight to the phone's contacts.
About phone call QR codes
A call QR code holds a tel: link. On Android and iPhone, scanning it opens the dialer with the number filled in, and the person taps Call. Phones never place a call without that tap: it is a safety rule in both systems, so no QR code can start a call on its own.
The number itself can't be kept secret this way. The camera shows the link before it's opened, the dialer shows the number, and the call log keeps it. If you need people to reach you without seeing your personal number, you have a few options:
- Use a virtual or call-masking number from a telephony provider and put that number in the code. Calls forward to your phone and your real number stays private.
- Use a WhatsApp code for a WhatsApp Business account, or a website code that leads to a contact form.
Tips for codes that always scan
- Keep a dark code on a light background. Inverted codes and low-contrast colours fail on many phones; the generator warns you when that happens.
- Leave the margin (quiet zone) around the code. Four modules is the standard.
- Print at least 2 cm (0.8 in) wide, and bigger for posters that are scanned from a distance: roughly one tenth of the scanning distance.
- Shorter content makes a simpler code that scans faster. Use a short URL for long links.
- For print, download the SVG. It stays sharp at any size.
- Test the printed code with two or three different phones before you print hundreds.
Frequently asked questions
Do these QR codes expire?
No. The information is stored inside the code itself, not on our server, so the code keeps working for as long as the printed image exists. There is no scan limit and no subscription.
How does a phone call QR code work?
The code contains a tel: link such as tel:+919876543210. When someone scans it, the phone app opens with the number filled in and they tap Call. Phones never dial on their own without that tap; this is a safety rule built into Android and iOS.
Can I hide my phone number in the QR code?
Not with a normal phone call. The dialer always shows the number it is about to call, and caller records show it afterwards. To take calls without revealing your number, use a call-masking or virtual-number service and put that number in the code, or use a WhatsApp or contact form link instead.
Why won't my QR code scan?
The usual causes are low contrast, a light code on a dark background, a missing quiet zone around the code, a logo that is too big or a print that is too small. Keep a dark code on a light background, a margin of at least 4 modules, and print it at least 2 cm (about 0.8 in) wide.
Is my data sent anywhere?
No. The code is generated in your browser. Wi-Fi passwords, phone numbers and contact details never leave your device.