Text QR code generator
Type up to a short paragraph. Anyone who scans the code reads it on their screen, even offline.
A text QR code holds plain words instead of a link. A scan shows the text right on the screen, offline too. Use it for instructions, labels, serial numbers or a scavenger hunt clue. Type up to 2,000 characters below and download the code; a few sentences print small and scan easily.
The message appears on screen
Stick the code on a locker, a box or a clue card. A scan shows your words, online or off.
Templates for this code
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Note card
A plain code with a short line, for notes that work offline.
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Exhibit label
Classy modules on cream for museum and gallery labels.
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Puzzle clue
Plum diamond modules for treasure hunts and escape rooms.
How to make a text QR code
Write the text first
Draft it somewhere you can count characters. One to three short sentences are ideal; the field takes up to 2,000 characters.
Paste it into the generator
Line breaks are kept, so you can make a short list.
Check how it reads
Scan the preview. Some phones show the text in a small popup with a copy button, others in a full screen view.
Download and print
Free in SVG, PNG, JPG, WebP, PDF and EPS. For labels, choose SVG or PDF so small codes stay crisp.
Fixed or editable for text?
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Fixed QR code (static)
We recommend fixed. The text is part of the code, so it shows instantly, works offline and is readable for as long as the print lasts. Ideal for asset labels, instructions and puzzles.
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Editable QR code (dynamic)
An editable code holds a link, so the phone needs a connection to show anything. Choose it only if the text will change after printing, such as a daily note or a code that should reveal a different clue later; then the text lives on a hosted page you edit.
Good uses for text codes
Labels and asset tags
Serial numbers, part numbers or maintenance notes that a technician can read and copy on site.
Instructions where there is no signal
Basements, plant rooms and hiking huts. The text shows without a connection.
Games and treasure hunts
Each clue hides in a code, and nobody needs a data plan to play.
Short messages and gift notes
A greeting inside a card or a note on a present, readable with any camera.
Print tips for text codes
Characters drive the size
A short sentence prints well from about 2 cm. Several hundred characters can need 4 cm or more. The print check gives the minimum for your exact text.
Avoid decoration on dense codes
Rounded dots and a logo take reading margin away. With long text, keep square dots and no logo.
Durable labels for equipment
For machines and outdoor kit, print on vinyl or a laminated label so the code survives cleaning and weather.
Questions and answers
Before you print
- Is it free?
- Fixed codes are free: make as many as you like, download a PNG with no sign-up, and get every other format and print files with a free account. Editable codes come with a plan, a pass, Keep-alive or the 14-day trial.
- Can I change the link after printing?
- Yes, with an editable code. It holds a short link you control, so you can point the printed code somewhere new any time, and the next scan opens the new page. A fixed code keeps the link it was made with.
- Can I use my own domain?
- Yes. A custom domain is included on passes, from Starter, and during the trial. Starter covers one subdomain, for example go.yourbrand.com, and apex domains start on Pro.
- What happens if I stop paying?
- Editable codes work to the end of your paid period, and after a failed payment every code keeps working for 14 days. Turn codes back on within 12 months. Fixed codes keep working as long as their links do.
How much text can a QR code hold?
A QR code can store a few thousand characters, but anything beyond a few hundred makes it very dense and hard to print small. The generator accepts up to 2,000 characters.
Does a text QR code need internet?
No. The words are inside the code, so the phone reads them directly and shows them on screen.
Can I use emojis and accents?
Yes. Accented letters and emojis are stored as UTF-8, which current phones display correctly. They take more space than plain letters, so the code gets a little denser.
Why does my phone search the web for my text?
Some scanners offer a web search button next to plain text. The text itself is still shown; the search is only an option.
Can I change the text later?
Not in a fixed code: the text is printed into the squares. If it must change, use an editable code that opens a hosted page instead.
Say it in a square
Type your text above, scan the preview, and download a code that reads offline.