Free tool
Will my QR code scan? Check before you print
Upload an image of your QR code: we read it, show you what it contains and check what usually makes a printed code fail.
The image is analyzed in your browser and never uploaded to a server.
Upload an image of the QR code
PNG, JPG, WebP or GIF, up to 10 MB.
How it works
1
Upload the image
Pick the PNG, JPG or WebP of the code (or paste a link to the image). A photo or screenshot works too if the code is sharp.
2
We read it like a phone
A QR reader in your browser finds the code, decodes it and rebuilds its grid of modules.
3
We check what fails in print
Contrast between modules and background, the clear margin around it, the error-correction level and the minimum print size.
Tips
- Leave at least 4 modules of clear margin around the code: ISO/IEC 18004 asks for it and many readers fail without it.
- Dark modules on a light background. Inverted codes (light on dark) work with most modern cameras, but not with every app.
- If a logo sits on top, use error correction Q or H: the logo hides modules and that redundancy is what still lets the code scan.
- Size rule of thumb: the comfortable scanning distance is about 10 times the code's width, and below 2 cm codes get hard to read.
- For large prints, export SVG or PDF: a small PNG blown up comes out blurry.
- Test the printed code with at least two different phones before a large print run.
Frequently asked questions
Is my image uploaded to a server?
Not when you pick a file: reading and analysis happen in your browser. Only if you paste a link to an image does our server download it (5 MB at most) so your browser can read it, without storing it.
What is QR code error correction?
Redundancy that lets the code be read even if part of it is covered or damaged. There are four levels: L restores up to 7%, M 15%, Q 25% and H 30%. More correction makes the code denser.
How much contrast does a QR code need?
The more the better. We compute the contrast ratio between the average module color and the background, as web accessibility guidelines do. Above 7:1 is comfortable; below 4:1 many phones fail in low light. It is an estimate, not a professional verifier's measurement.
What is the quiet zone?
The clear margin around the code. ISO/IEC 18004 asks for 4 modules. If your image is cropped right at the edge, just leave that margin when you lay out the printed piece.
If the tool reads it, will every phone?
It is a good sign, not a guarantee: printing, paper, light and distance matter too. Print a proof and scan it with several phones before the final run.
Need a QR code that always scans?
QR Branding validates every code against ISO/IEC 18004 before export, and its dynamic codes do not depend on a subscription.