How to make a text QR code
- Type or paste whatever you want the code to show.
- Watch the module count beside the preview — longer text means a denser pattern.
- Download the PNG for screens or the SVG for print.
What makes this different from a link code
A link code sends the phone to a website. A text code does not: the words are inside the pattern, and the phone simply displays them. Nothing is fetched, no data connection is needed, and there is no website that can go offline or change.
That makes text codes useful in exactly the situations where a link is fragile — a machine room with no signal, a museum label that must still work in ten years, or a note that should not depend on anyone maintaining a page.
Keep it short
Text codes tempt people into encoding paragraphs. Resist it. Every character adds modules, and a long message produces a dense pattern that needs to be printed large to stay readable.
| Text length | Version | Grid | Practical |
|---|---|---|---|
| A short line, 20 characters | 2 | 25 × 25 | Scans easily at 2 cm |
| A sentence, 80 characters | 4 | 33 × 33 | Comfortable at 3 cm |
| A paragraph, 400 characters | 11 | 61 × 61 | Needs 5 cm or more |
If your message runs past a sentence or two, a link to a page almost always works better. The code stays sparse and you can fix typos afterwards.
Line breaks and accented characters
Line breaks are preserved, so short structured notes keep their shape when displayed. Accented and non-Latin characters work too — the code declares its encoding explicitly so scanners do not have to guess, which is what causes mangled text on codes made by less careful tools.
Where text codes get used
- Equipment labels. Serial numbers, service dates and part references that must be readable without a network.
- Classroom activities. Clues, prompts and answers, covered in .
- Exhibits and displays. A caption in more languages than the label has room for.
- Instructions. A short safety note attached to the thing it concerns.
Common questions
Does a text QR code need an internet connection?
No. The words are stored inside the pattern itself, so the phone displays them without fetching anything. This is the main reason to choose a text code over a link.
How much text can one code hold?
This tool goes up to roughly 800 characters at the lowest error correction. Long before that the pattern becomes dense enough to need careful printing, so keep messages short.
Will accented or non-Latin characters work?
Yes. The code declares UTF-8 explicitly, so scanners do not have to guess the encoding. Codes that omit this are the usual cause of accented text arriving as gibberish.
Can I edit the text after printing?
No. The text is encoded in the pattern permanently. If the message may change, link to a page you control instead.
Are line breaks preserved?
Yes. A short note keeps its line structure when the scanning phone displays it.