Turn a long link into a QR code
Paste a link and a short link comes back with a print-ready QR code beside it. Because the code holds the short link, you can change where it goes after printing.
Your short link is ready
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The QR code holds the short link, not the destination, so you can change where it goes even after it’s printed. For print, use the SVG or PDF and keep the code at least 2 cm (¾ inch) wide — about a tenth of the distance people will scan it from, so 30 cm for a poster read from 3 metres.
Your recent links
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- QR code with every link
How to turn a link into a QR code
- STEP 01
Paste the link
Use the address of the page people should land on when they scan, whether that’s this week’s menu, a sign-up form, a video or your shop on Google Maps.
- STEP 02
Press Shorten
You get a short link and its QR code side by side.
- STEP 03
Download the code
The PNG is fine on a screen or in a Word file. For anything printed, take the SVG or PDF, since those stay crisp at any size. Press Style it to add colours or your logo.
Turn a link into a QR code you can still change
A normal QR code has the full web address baked into its squares. Once 500 flyers are printed, a typo in that address stays on all 500. When you turn a link into a QR code here, the code holds your short link instead. Where it leads is a setting on that short link, and you can change it from the Edit page any time.
Change it after printing
Point the short link at a new page and every printed code follows. Nothing to reprint.
Scans counted apart
Every scan arrives tagged as coming from the QR code, so on the Stats page the poster’s scans sit apart from people who typed or tapped the link.
Smaller, easier codes
A short link makes a simpler code with fewer squares, which scans faster and from further away than a long address would.
Free, with no expiry
The code keeps working as long as the short link does. We don’t switch codes off or ask for payment later.
Getting the size right for print
The rule of thumb: make the code at least a tenth as wide as the distance people will scan it from, and never smaller than 2 cm (¾ inch).
| Where it’s printed | Scanned from about | Make the code at least |
|---|---|---|
| Business card or label | 20 cm | 2 cm |
| Table card or flyer | 30 to 50 cm | 3 to 5 cm |
| Shop window or poster | 2 to 3 metres | 20 to 30 cm |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
Use the SVG or PDF for print: they stay sharp at any size. Keep a clear margin around the code, and print dark on light; light codes on dark backgrounds don’t scan on some phones.
Things to know
- Test before you print a batch. Scan the printed proof with two different phones.
- Deleting the short link breaks the code. Anyone who scans an old flyer after that lands on a “deleted” notice. When the page isn’t needed any more, we’d send the link to your home page instead.
- Want your logo and colours on it? That’s what the QR Code Generator is for. Paste your short link into it, so you can still change where it goes.
Questions about QR codes for links
Can I change where the QR code goes after printing it?
Yes. The code holds the short link, so edit the short link’s destination and every printed copy opens the new page.
Does the QR code expire?
No. It works for as long as the short link exists, unless you set the link itself to expire.
Which file should I download?
SVG or PDF for anything printed, since they stay sharp at any size. PNG is fine for screens, slides and documents.
How small can I print it?
No smaller than 2 cm (¾ inch) wide. For anything read from further away, make it about a tenth of the scanning distance.
Can I see how many people scanned it?
Yes. The link’s stats show QR code scans apart from link clicks, by day, country and device.