QR code blog
Short, useful articles about QR codes — how they work, how to scan and fix them, and clever ways to use them. Want the in-depth how-tos? Browse the guides.
Basics
What is a QR code, and how does it actually work?
A plain-English guide to what a QR code is, how it encodes and recovers data, and why it took over the world.
8 min read
Basics
How to scan a QR code on any phone
Scan any QR code in seconds on iPhone or Android — including from screenshots and saved photos — with fixes for when it won’t work.
7 min read
Basics
Static vs dynamic QR codes: which one do you actually need?
Static codes encode your data directly and never expire. Dynamic codes route through a server, can be edited and tracked — but can also stop working. Here is how to choose.
7 min read
Basics
Do QR codes expire? Yes and no — here is the real answer
QR codes themselves never expire — the pattern is just data. What expires is the subscription behind a dynamic code. Here is how to tell, and how to make one that lasts.
6 min read
Troubleshooting
Why is my QR code not scanning? A complete troubleshooting guide
A QR code that won’t scan usually fails for one of eight reasons. Work down this fault-tree — size, quiet zone, contrast, resolution, glare, logo, damage, dead link — to find yours.
8 min read
Basics
Are QR codes safe? What to watch for, and how to scan with confidence
QR codes are inert images — the risk is always the destination. Here are the real threats, how to scan safely, and why codes you generate yourself are safe.
9 min read
Basics
QR code vs barcode: which one do you actually need?
QR codes vs traditional barcodes — how 1D and 2D codes differ in capacity, resilience and use, and which to choose.
8 min read
Basics
NFC vs QR code: a practical comparison
NFC tags vs QR codes — how each works, what they cost, hardware support, security and the situations where one clearly beats the other.
9 min read
Basics
How to track QR code scans (and the honest catch)
The honest answer to tracking QR scans: static codes can't be counted directly. Use a dynamic code or a trackable link with UTM tags — here are the trade-offs.
9 min read
Design
Do QR code colours affect scanning?
Yes, colour affects scanning — but you can use brand colours safely if you respect contrast. Here are the rules, the safe palettes and the mistakes that break codes.
7 min read
Design
Transparent QR codes
A transparent QR code drops the white background so the code sits cleanly on any design — but only scans if whatever shows through stays light. Here’s how to make one properly.
7 min read
How-to
How to Add a QR Code to a Document (Word, Docs, PowerPoint, Canva, PDF)
How to insert a QR code into Word, Google Docs, PowerPoint, Canva and PDFs — including which file format to choose and how big to make it so it stays scannable.
8 min read
Use cases
QR code marketing ideas
A QR code is the cheapest bridge there is between an offline moment and an online action. Here are 15+ concrete ways to use them in marketing, plus the CTA copy and measurement that make them pay off.
10 min read
Use cases
QR Codes for Small Businesses
A no-nonsense guide to QR codes for small businesses — the uses that actually drive reviews, sales and follows, how to create one for free, and the mistakes to avoid.
9 min read
Use cases
QR codes for Instagram
A QR code turns any printed surface — a flyer, shop window, packaging or business card — into a one-tap route to your Instagram. Here’s how to make one that actually grows your following.
8 min read
Use cases
QR codes for product packaging
A code on the box turns packaging into a channel: instructions, proof of authenticity, reviews and one-tap reorders. Here’s what to link to, how to size it on small or curved surfaces, and the error-correction settings that keep it reliable.
10 min read
Use cases
QR codes for weddings
From RSVPs and photo sharing to registries, playlists and seating — a few well-placed QR codes make a wedding smoother for everyone. Here’s how to make and size them.
8 min read
Use cases
QR Codes for Real Estate: For-Sale Signs, Window Cards and Brochures
A practical guide to using QR codes across estate agency marketing — from for-sale signs sized for kerbside scanning to window cards, brochures and virtual tours.
8 min read
Use cases
QR Codes for Events and Posters: Tickets, Check-in and Programmes
Everything you need to put QR codes on event posters, tickets and programmes — including how big the code must be for the distance people scan from, where to place it, and how to test it before print.
8 min read
Use cases
QR Codes for Churches: Giving, Service Times and Staying Connected
A practical guide to QR codes for churches — giving, service times, newsletters, sermons, events and welcome cards — plus where to place them in bulletins, on screens and noticeboards, and how to share hall Wi-Fi.
8 min read
Use cases
QR Codes for Nonprofits and Fundraising: Donate in One Tap
A practical guide to QR codes for charities and fundraisers — donation codes, campaign posters, events, volunteer sign-ups and Gift Aid links — focused on making donating frictionless and testing codes before they go out.
8 min read
Use cases
QR Codes for Schools and Teachers: Classroom Ideas That Work
A practical guide to QR codes for schools and teachers — homework links, resources, parent comms, library, displays and worksheets — plus guest Wi-Fi for visitors and safeguarding tips for what you link to.
8 min read
Use cases
QR Codes for Gyms and Fitness Studios
Practical ways gyms and fitness studios put QR codes to work — booking classes, signing up members, demoing equipment, sharing Wi-Fi and collecting feedback — with placement tips.
8 min read
Use cases
QR Codes for Tradespeople
A practical guide for plumbers, electricians and builders — putting QR codes on vans, invoices and quote forms to win reviews, leads and repeat work.
8 min read