How a URL QR code works
A static URL QR code stores the full address, for example https://example.com/menu, inside the black and white modules. When a phone camera reads it, the phone opens that address directly. Nothing is looked up on our servers, and no redirect sits in between, which is why it cannot expire and cannot be switched off by us or anyone else.
The trade-off is that the destination is fixed. If you print the code and later move the page, you need a new code. If you expect the link to change, use a dynamic code instead, which points at a short qrnever.com address you can re-aim later.
Tips for codes that scan on the first try
Most scanning problems come from a few avoidable choices:
- Keep the URL short. Long tracking parameters add modules and make the code denser and harder to read from a distance.
- Always include https://. We add it automatically if you forget, since some older scanners treat a bare domain as plain text.
- Print at least 2 cm (0.8 in) wide for close range. A rough rule is one tenth of the scanning distance.
- Keep dark modules on a light background and leave the quiet zone margin intact.
- Test with both an iPhone camera and an Android camera before printing hundreds of copies.
Why other generators ask you to sign up
Many popular sites create a dynamic code by default even when you only wanted a link. The code actually points at their redirect server, and after a trial period that redirect stops unless you subscribe. Your printed menus, flyers and packaging then lead to a paywall page. QRNever's free URL codes are always static, so what you download is what gets scanned, permanently.