1. Choose what the code should contain
For a website, select URL and enter the full address, including https://. Open that address yourself to check it reaches the intended page. A restaurant menu, booking page or product guide should work well on a phone, since many visitors will arrive through a mobile camera.
Other QR types encode information such as a text message, email draft, contact card or WiFi settings. QR Now’s social-links option stores a plain-text list of links; it does not create a hosted profile page. Select the content type that matches what you want the scanner to offer.
2. Customize the QR design
Start with a dark code on a light background. You can add a logo or adjust shapes and colors, but keep the corner markers intact and leave the clear border around the code. Larger or more complex payloads produce denser patterns, which can need more space to scan reliably.
Add a caption that explains the action, such as ‘View the menu’ or ‘Save my contact.’ That gives the person scanning a reason to use the code and helps them recognize the expected destination.
3. Download the right file
Download PNG for everyday digital sharing and documents. Choose SVG for a code that needs to scale cleanly in a print layout. QR Now exports at no cost and does not add a watermark. Keep the original file instead of repeatedly saving screenshots, which can blur the edges.
Place the code at a size that suits the scanning distance and medium. Avoid stretching it into a rectangle or cropping its border. Keep text, trim lines and other artwork outside the quiet zone.
4. Test before sharing or printing
Scan the actual exported file with a phone camera. Check that the destination or action is correct, and try another device when possible. For printed material, test a physical proof in realistic lighting and at the expected distance.
A static QR code has no built-in expiry, but a URL can break if its destination disappears. Use a stable address you control for long-lived print campaigns. If you need to change encoded content, create a new code and replace the old one.