How it works
The generator builds standards-compliant QR codes locally with the qrcode-generator library, rendered on a canvas you can download as PNG. Four payload types are supported: free text or URLs, WiFi network credentials, pre-filled email messages, and phone numbers. Each type formats its payload with the de-facto standard schemes (WIFI:, mailto:, tel:) so phones interpret the code natively instead of showing raw text.
Error correction is selectable from L (7%) to H (30%). Higher levels let the code survive damage, dirt or a logo overlay at the cost of a denser grid. For print, M (15%) is the usual default; choose Q or H when the code will be small, outdoors, or partially covered.
Size presets scale the module pitch for different uses — small for screens, XL for posters — and foreground/background colors are customizable. Keep the contrast ratio high: scanners struggle with low-contrast or inverted codes, and a quiet zone (empty margin) around the code remains necessary even though the renderer adds padding.
The library is loaded from a public CDN and executes entirely in your browser; your WiFi password or any other payload is never transmitted to ToolPlex. Generation is deterministic — the same input and settings always produce the same matrix — so you can reproduce a code exactly later.
Worked example
Create a WiFi code for network CafeGuest with WPA2 password correct-horse. The tool formats the standard WIFI:T:WPA;S:CafeGuest;P:correct-horse;; payload.
| Setting | Value | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Type | WiFi Network | Phones offer to join the network directly after scanning. |
| Error correction | M (15%) | Survives minor print damage with a moderate grid density. |
| Size | Medium | Balanced for screens and small prints. |
- Pick the payload type: Text/URL, WiFi, email or phone — each uses the scheme phones understand.
- Fill the fields: Enter the content; WiFi mode takes SSID, password and security type.
- Tune size and correction: Match the size to the viewing distance and the correction to the medium.
- Generate and test: Download the PNG and scan it with a real phone before distributing.
Scanning the result with a phone camera prompts “Join network CafeGuest” with the password pre-filled. Switching the payload type to Text/URL with the same content would only display the raw string instead.
Common errors and edge cases
- Low contrast. A light foreground on white or a dark foreground on black scans poorly. Test with a real phone camera, not just your eyes.
- Missing quiet zone. Cropping the image tight against the modules breaks scanning. Keep the generated margin intact.
- Overloaded payloads. Long URLs create dense matrices that are hard to scan at small sizes. Prefer short links or raise the error correction level.
- WiFi special characters. Backslashes, semicolons, commas, quotes and colons in SSID or password need escaping in the WIFI scheme; the tool handles the formatting for you.
- Inverted colors by habit. Dark-on-light is the standard; light-on-dark fails on many scanners. If you must invert, test aggressively.
Code equivalents
QR generation is available in every ecosystem. These snippets produce the same standards-compliant symbols server-side.
| Language | Example |
|---|---|
| Python 3 | import qrcode; qrcode.make('https://toolplex.net').save('qr.png') with the qrcode package. |
| Node.js | QRCode.toFile('qr.png', 'https://toolplex.net') with the qrcode npm package. |
| WiFi payload format | WIFI:T:WPA;S:SSID;P:password;; — the scheme phones recognize natively. |
Related tools
Frequently asked questions
Do QR codes expire?
Static codes like these never expire — the data is inside the image. A code only stops working if the URL it points to goes away, so prefer stable destinations.
Which error correction level should I choose?
M (15%) is the right default. Use Q or H for small prints, outdoor signage, or when overlaying a logo; L only for clean digital display at large sizes.
Is my WiFi password safe in this tool?
The QR is generated locally in your browser and never sent to ToolPlex. Anyone who scans the resulting code gets the credentials, which is the point — share the image carefully.
Why won't my colored QR code scan?
Insufficient contrast between modules and background. Keep the foreground much darker than the background and re-test with a phone camera.
Can I put a logo in the middle?
Yes, if you raise error correction to H (30%) so the covered modules can be reconstructed, and keep the logo small and centered away from the finder patterns.
Privacy note
All processing happens in your browser. The values you enter never leave your device and are never transmitted to ToolPlex.