Frequently Asked Questions

QR Forge is a free, browser-based QR code generator. It supports nine content types: URLs, plain text, email, phone, SMS, WhatsApp, WiFi, vCard, and location, with customization for colors, dot styles, logos, and size. QR generation and customization run in your browser; no account is needed.

No. QR Forge is free to use for personal and commercial purposes, with no premium tiers, watermarks, or features hidden behind a paywall. QR Forge does not impose a daily generation quota for normal use; browser/device resources and the batch file limit still apply.

No. There is no sign-up, log-in, or account of any kind. Open the generator, create your QR code, and download it. That's the entire flow.

Visit the generator (or any specific tool page like /wifi-qr-code-generator), select your content type, enter your details, customize the appearance, and click Download. The whole process typically takes under a minute.

QR Forge currently supports nine content types: URL / website links, plain text, email (mailto:), phone numbers (tel:), SMS, WhatsApp links, WiFi network credentials, vCard contacts, and GPS/Google Maps locations.

Yes. You can set any foreground color, any background color, or apply a linear or radial gradient to the foreground dots. Gradients include a direction picker and two color stops you can adjust independently.

Six dot styles: Square, Rounded, Dots, Classy, Classy Rounded, and Extra Rounded. Three corner square styles: Square, Rounded, and Dot. Two corner dot styles: Square and Dot. Mix and match for a unique look.

Yes. Upload a PNG, SVG, or JPEG image as a center logo. You can control its width, height, and margin, and choose whether to hide dots behind it. The generator does not raise error correction automatically; consider H level and test the finished code.

Choose a size based on display size, print distance, and the amount of encoded data. Raster exports are available at 512, 1024, or 2048 px; SVG has no fixed pixel resolution. Test the final code at its intended size and distance.

Error correction adds redundancy that can help a scanner recover data when some codewords are obscured or damaged. The commonly cited approximate levels are L 7%, M 15%, Q 25%, and H 30%; these are not guarantees of scanability. Higher levels make the QR pattern denser. Test the finished code, especially when adding a logo.

Yes — the margin slider in the Size & QR tab lets you set the quiet zone from 0 to 40 pixels. A quiet zone of at least four modules is commonly recommended; the pixel width needed depends on the QR version and rendered size.

PNG, SVG, JPEG, and WEBP. SVG is a vector format — it has no fixed resolution and prints sharply at any size. PNG is the most universally compatible raster format. JPEG and WEBP produce smaller files but use lossy compression, which can subtly degrade QR code edges.

SVG is resolution-independent and can be scaled in a design tool. Raster export sizes are 512, 1024, or 2048 px; choose one suited to the intended print size and test the final output.

PNG for maximum compatibility (emails, presentations, web). WEBP for smaller file size on modern websites. SVG for websites where you want a crisp vector rendering at any screen density.

No. Downloaded QR codes are clean — no watermarks, no branding, no attribution required. The image you download is exactly the QR code you designed.

For raster formats, choose 512, 1024, or 2048 px in the export controls. The QR design-size control is separate. For scalable vector output, choose SVG.

No. QR Forge generates static QR codes that encode data directly into the pattern. They have no expiry date and will continue to work as long as the destination (if a URL) remains active. The code itself is permanent.

Many current phones can recognize QR codes with a built-in camera, while other devices may need a scanner app. Recognition and actions offered after scanning vary by device, operating-system version, and app.

Common causes: insufficient contrast between foreground and background (avoid light-on-light or dark-on-dark), too small a quiet zone (increase margin), QR size too small for scanning distance, center logo too large for the error correction level used, or a complex URL that makes the QR very dense. Try increasing error correction to H, simplifying the encoded data, or increasing the QR size.

QR scanners read the pattern rather than the filename extension. PNG, SVG, JPEG, and WEBP can contain the same QR data, but actual recognition depends on image quality, the scanner, and the device.

Yes, as long as there is sufficient contrast between foreground and background. The general rule is a contrast ratio of at least 3:1. Avoid using very similar shades for dots and background, or colors that invert when printed (e.g. light cyan on white).

QR content is generated in your browser and is not uploaded to a QR Forge application server. If you choose to save a design, its QR payload is stored in this browser's local storage until you remove it or clear site data. Analytics and advertising services may separately process website usage or ad information when enabled.

A WiFi QR code contains your network name and password, so physical security matters. Anyone who can scan the QR code can join your network. Treat a WiFi QR like a written password: share it with trusted guests and don't post it publicly on the internet.

When enabled, Google Analytics and Google AdSense may use cookies or similar identifiers. QR Forge also uses local storage for your theme and for QR designs you explicitly save; a saved design can include its payload. See our Privacy Policy for details and controls.

The page itself requires an internet connection to load. Once loaded, QR generation and download are entirely local — they work without further network access. We plan to add a Progressive Web App (PWA) mode for true offline use in a future update.