QR Forever Do QR codes expire?

Free text QR code generator

Put a short message, note, or serial number into a QR code. Phones show the text right on screen, with no internet connection needed.

0 characters. Under 300 is easiest to scan.

Customize colors and size

Type some text to make your code

Type
Static
Scan limit
None
Expires
Never

When to use a text QR code

Text codes are handy when there is nothing to link to: a serial number on equipment, instructions on a machine, a quiz answer, a scavenger hunt clue, or a short note tucked inside a gift.

Because the words are stored in the code itself, a text code works offline. Basements, field trips, flights, anywhere a phone camera works.

How much text fits?

One code can hold about 2,900 characters of plain English text at the lowest error correction. In practice, keep it under 300 characters. Short text makes a simple pattern that scans quickly even when printed small. For anything longer, put it on a web page and use the link generator instead.

Questions

Does a text QR code expire?

No. The text lives inside the code, so there is no server involved and nothing to renew.

Does a text QR code need internet?

No. The phone reads the words straight from the pattern.

What do people see when they scan it?

It depends on the phone. Most show the text with an option to copy it. Some offer to search the web for it.

Can I use other languages or emoji?

Yes. Text is stored as UTF-8, so any language works. Non-Latin letters and emoji take more room than plain English letters, so the code gets denser faster.