Text QR code generator

What happens when someone scans it

The phone shows the text exactly as you typed it. There is no link and no internet connection involved, so the code works anywhere, including basements, planes and remote places. Most scanner apps let people copy the text, for example to paste a code or a reference number somewhere else.

Filling in the field

Keep the text short. Every character makes the pattern denser, and long texts need larger prints to scan reliably. One or two sentences, a reference number or a short instruction work best. Line breaks are kept. If the text gets too long for one code, the editor tells you, and you can shorten it or use a link to a page instead. Emoji and special characters take more space than plain letters and numbers, because each one needs several bytes in the code.

Where text codes work well

• Short instructions on machines, equipment or shared spaces
• Serial numbers, voucher codes or reference numbers to copy without typos
• Messages for treasure hunts, games and classroom exercises
• Labels for storage boxes, with a list of what is inside

Text codes are static: the text is stored in the pattern itself and cannot be changed after printing. If it needs updating, make a new code.

Design tips

A call to action such as “Scan for instructions” tells people that the code holds text rather than a link. Text codes often end up on equipment and boxes, so print them on a matte label and keep the white border around the code. If the code is likely to get scratched or dirty, choose error correction Q or H. Download an SVG or PDF for labels and signs, or a PNG for documents. Save the code to your library if you want to print the same text on more labels later.