QR code not working? Test it here in seconds
Point your camera at the code or upload a photo of it. You see at once whether it reads and what it holds.
Scan the code below with your camera, or upload a photo or screenshot of it. If it reads, you see the content as text and can check where a link leads. If it does not read, the cause is usually contrast, size, a damaged print or a short link that was turned off. The list below shows the fix for each one.
Find the cause in four checks
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Scan it here
Start the camera or upload a photo of the printed code. A code that reads here reads on most phones, so a failure on one phone points to that phone's camera app or its distance from the code.
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Read what it holds
The content appears as text with its type: a link, a Wi-Fi network, a contact card or plain text. A typo in a link or a Wi-Fi password shows up right here.
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Check where the link leads
Press Check this link. We follow the redirects and show the final address, so you can see a short link that stopped, a page that moved or an address that changed.
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Fix the cause
Use the causes below. If the code holds a short link from another service that turned it off, ask that service first. To print a new code, open the generator.
Common causes and their fix
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Low contrast
Light modules on a light background, or a busy photo behind the code, make it hard to read. Use dark modules on a light background with a clear quiet border around the code.
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Too small or too far
A code needs about 1 cm of width for every 10 cm of scanning distance. A code on a poster read from across a room has to be large. The size calculator gives the exact width.
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Damaged or covered print
Folds, glare from glossy paper, a worn sticker or a cut-off edge break the pattern. Reprint on matte stock and keep all three corner squares whole.
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The link stopped
An editable code works through a short link. If the account behind it ended or the link was turned off, the code reads fine but leads nowhere. The check above shows where it stops.
Questions and answers
Why does my QR code scan on one phone but not another?
Older camera apps read small or low-contrast codes less well. Try the scanner on this page from the other phone. If it reads here, the code is fine and the other phone needs a closer, steadier scan.
My code scans but the page does not open. What now?
The code reads, so the print is fine. The link inside it fails: a typo, a page that moved or a short link that was turned off. Press Check this link to see where it stops.
Can I test a code from a screenshot or a PDF proof?
Yes. Upload the screenshot or an image of the proof. A test before printing saves a reprint.
Does the scanner upload my photo?
No. The photo and the camera feed are read in your browser. Only a link you choose to check is sent to our server.
How do I stop this from happening again?
Scan every proof before printing, keep strong contrast and a quiet border, and pick an editable code when the destination may change. You can then change the link without reprinting.
Related tools and guides
- QR code scanner
- QR code safety check
- QR code lapse rules
- QR code generator
- All QR code types
- QR code pricing: plans, passes and Keep-alive
- QR code size calculator
- Embed a QR code generator
oqrely is not affiliated with any service listed here.
Print a code that keeps working
Make a fixed code for free, or an editable code whose link you can change after printing. Open the generator to start.