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QRnook

Text QR code generator

Store a short message directly in the code. It shows up on the phone screen when scanned — no website, no connection needed.

  • Free
  • No signup
  • Runs in your browser
  • Static codes don’t expire

Plain text

0 bytes

What’s inside the codeExample

Locker 14 · Code changes every Monday. Ask at the front desk.

Type your own details to replace the example.

Example33×33
Version
4
Error correction
M
Capacity used
99%
Bytes
62

Scanability

100 / 100

Excellent

Enter valid content above to enable downloads. The code shown now is only an example.

Size & print options5.3 cm

Prints the code at the width above.

Static code — it never expires. The destination is up to you.

Design

Colours
ShapeSquare · Square
Modules
Corner frames
Corner centres
Logo—

PNG, JPG, WebP or SVG up to 5 MB. It stays on your device.

Caption—
Error correction & marginM · 4 modules
Error correction

Higher levels survive more damage and logos, but make the code denser.

4 modules

The spec asks for 4 modules of empty space around the code.

Scanability

100 / 100

Excellent

  • Contrast 21:1 — strong.

    Spec

  • Dark code on a light background.

    Spec

  • Quiet zone of 4 modules.

    Spec

  • Error correction M restores up to about 15% of the data.

    Spec

  • Version 4 (33×33) — light and easy to scan.

    Spec

  • Classic square modules and corners.

    Rule of thumb

  • 5.3 cm wide — fine for 40 cm away.

    Rule of thumb

A weighted estimate from the checks below — not a guarantee. Always test a printed proof with two different phones.

Legibility chart

Units
Estimated scanning distance for each printed width of this exact code.
PreviewWidthReads from about
15 cm≈ 1.1 m
10 cm≈ 76 cm
8 cm≈ 61 cm
6 cm≈ 45 cm
Recommended minimum for Sticker · 5.3 cm
5 cm≈ 38 cm
4 cm≈ 30 cm
3 cm≈ 23 cm

Estimate based on the 10:1 distance rule, adjusted for this code’s density. Phones and light vary.

How to use it

  1. Type or paste your text. Line breaks, accents and emoji are kept.
  2. Watch the byte counter: shorter text makes a smaller code that scans more easily.
  3. Scan the preview to see how phones display it.
  4. Download, and add a caption so people know what they’ll see.

When plain text is the right choice

  • Instructions on equipment, lockers or machines, where there’s no reliable signal.
  • Treasure hunts, escape rooms and classroom activities.
  • Serial numbers, part numbers and inventory labels.
  • A short message on a gift tag or card.
Example: locker instructions

About 60 bytes: a small version 4 code that prints comfortably at 2 cm.

Encoded content

Locker 14 · Code changes every Monday. Ask at the front desk.

How much text fits

A QR code can hold up to 2,953 bytes, but a code that full is enormous and hard to scan. Phones also display long text awkwardly. Aim for under 300 characters; for anything longer, publish the text on a page and use a link code. Accented letters take 2 bytes each in UTF-8, and most emoji take 4.

Text codes aren’t secret

Anyone can read a QR code with a phone — and our decoder shows every character. Don’t encode passwords or personal data you wouldn’t print in plain sight.

Tips

  • Start with the key information — some phones preview only the first line.
  • Avoid text that looks like a link or script (“javascript:…”); scanners may block it.
  • Use error correction Q or H for labels that get scratched or dirty.

Questions

Does a text QR code need internet?

No. The text is inside the code, so it reads offline.

Why does my phone offer to search the web?

Some camera apps offer a web search for plain text. The text itself is shown either way.

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