Plain text QR code
Write a short message and anyone who scans the code reads it on screen, no internet needed.
What is your QR code for?
Make one in three steps
- Type or paste the text you want people to read.
- Keep it short, as the code gets denser with every word.
- Scan the preview, then download the size you need.
What goes inside the code
An example, using sample details:
Example Kitchen guest notes: breakfast is 8am to 10am, checkout is 11am.
- Good uses for plain text
- Plain text suits anything that should work offline: a stock code on a shelf label, an instruction on a machine, a serial number, or a clue in a treasure hunt.
- Stop at a few lines
- Long text makes a dense code that has to be printed larger and scanned closer. After about 600 characters the generator warns you, and a link is usually the better choice.
- Web addresses may not open
- Some scanner apps show text without making web addresses tappable. If you want people to open a page, make a website code instead.
Common questions
How much text fits in a QR code?
This generator accepts up to 2,900 characters, but codes that full are hard to scan. For anything that needs to be read reliably, aim for a short paragraph or less.
Do I need internet to read it?
No. The text is stored in the pattern itself, so a phone can read it in a basement, on a plane or anywhere without signal. Only the camera or a scanner app is needed.
Can I use accents and emoji?
Yes, accented letters, symbols and emoji are kept. Each one takes more room in the code than a plain letter, so the pattern gets denser a little sooner.