What a text QR code does
A text QR code stores words, not a link. When someone scans it, the phone shows the text on screen. Nothing loads from the internet.
Some ways people use them:
- A short welcome note on a gift or in a hotel room.
- Instructions on a machine, for example how to reset a printer.
- Serial numbers or stock codes on boxes and shelves.
- A clue in a treasure hunt or escape room.
- A message on a wedding table card.
How to make one
- Choose Text at the top.
- Type or paste your message. Line breaks are kept.
- Pick a photo code or a styled code.
- Check for the green Scans well note, then download.
Keep it short
Every letter adds squares to the pattern. A few lines of text make a clean code. A full page of text makes a dense code that needs to be printed large and scanned up close.
If your message is long, a better choice is to put it on a web page and make a URL code that opens it. You can then fix typos later, and the code stays simple.
Text or link?
Use text when the message is short, must work offline, or should not depend on a website. Use a link when the content is long, has pictures, or may change.
Common mistakes
- Putting private information in the code. Anyone who scans it can read it. Never store passwords, bank details or personal ID numbers in a text code.
- Expecting the text to be clickable. A web address inside a text code may not open as a link on every phone. For links, use a URL code.
- Too much text for the print size. A long message on a small sticker will be hard to scan. Shorten the text or print bigger.
- Odd spacing. Extra spaces and blank lines count as characters. Remove them to keep the code clean.
Example uses
A museum puts small text codes next to exhibits in a basement with no mobile signal. Visitors scan them to read a short story about each object. There is one code per language, each marked with a small flag.
Questions people ask
Does the person scanning need internet?
No. The text is stored inside the code. The phone reads it and shows it on screen, even with no signal.
How much text fits in a QR code?
Up to about 2,000 letters, but codes with that much text are very dense and hard to scan. For a code people will scan easily, keep it under 300 characters.
Can I use other languages and emoji?
Yes. Chinese, Arabic, accents and emoji all work. They take a little more space than plain English letters.
Can I make the text private?
Anyone who scans the code can read the text. Do not put passwords or private information in a text code that strangers may see.
Why does my phone show the text as a web search?
Some camera apps offer to search the web for text they do not recognise. Tap the preview instead, or use a QR app, to see the plain text.