The iPhone camera can read QR codes but it can’t make them, and there’s no “create QR code” button in iOS for a link or a contact card. You still have four free ways to make one: build a simple shortcut in Apple’s Shortcuts app, use a browser that can make a code for the page you’re on, use a free generator website, or install a QR code generator app. For a quick link, the Shortcuts app is enough. For Wi-Fi, contacts or a code you’ll print, an app or website is easier.
What kind of QR code do you need? #
Before picking a method, decide what the code should do when someone scans it:
| Code type | What happens when scanned | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Link | Opens a web page | Menus, portfolios, event pages |
| Text | Shows a message | Instructions, serial numbers |
| Wi-Fi | Joins a network | Guests, rentals, offices |
| Contact (vCard) | Saves a contact card | Business cards, name badges |
| Starts an email, prefilled | Feedback, support requests | |
| Phone | Starts a call | Signs, flyers |
| SMS | Opens a text, prefilled | Sign-ups, opt-ins |
Not every method handles every type. The Shortcuts app and browsers mostly do links and text.
Method 1: Apple’s Shortcuts app #
Shortcuts comes with iOS and has a Generate QR Code action.
- Open Shortcuts and tap + to make a new shortcut.
- Add an action that provides the text, such as Text (type your link) or Ask for Input (type something each time).
- Add the Generate QR Code action.
- Add Quick Look or Save to Photo Album to see or keep the result.
- Run the shortcut.
This is free and private, since everything happens on your phone. The downside is setup time and the fact that other code types, like Wi-Fi or contact cards, need you to type the special formats by hand.
Method 2: Your browser’s share menu #
Some browsers can make a QR code for the page you’re viewing. In Chrome, look in the share menu for a QR code option. It’s quick for sharing a page with someone standing next to you. It only does web links, and designs and saving options are limited.
Method 3: A free generator website #
Plenty of websites make QR codes in a browser. For example, QR Code Monkey says its codes are static, free for commercial use and do not expire, and it supports logos, colors and downloads in PNG, SVG, PDF and EPS.
Two cautions:
- Watch for “dynamic” codes and free trials. Some sites make codes that route through their servers so you can edit or track them. Those depend on the site. QR Code Generator (qr-code-generator.com), for instance, starts you on a 14-day free trial for its dynamic codes. Read what happens to a code if you stop paying before you print it. Our article on whether QR codes expire explains the difference.
- Think about what you type in. A Wi-Fi password or your contact details go to the website to build the code.
We compare the main free options in best free QR code generator.
Method 4: A QR code generator app #
A generator app is the most flexible option on a phone, and the codes are made on the device.
QR Handler is a free iPhone and Android app that makes codes in seven modes: link, text, Wi-Fi, contact card, email, phone and SMS. It also has one-tap templates for 11 social platforms, including Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, YouTube and WhatsApp.
To make a link code:
- Open the Create tab and choose Link.
- Type or paste the address. You can leave off
https://; the app adds it. - Pick one of six color presets. They’re all dark shades, chosen to stay scannable.
- Optionally tap Add logo and choose a square image. The app switches to the highest error correction level so the code still reads with a logo in the middle.
- Tap Generate QR code.
- Save to Photos, Share it, or tap the code to show it full screen with the brightness raised.
Every code you create goes into your history, where you can label it, star it and find it again later. It’s free with ads and doesn’t need an account. The codes are static: the content is stored in the code itself, so they don’t expire and don’t depend on any server, but you can’t edit one after printing. If you need scan statistics or an editable destination, you’d need a paid dynamic-code service instead.
How to make specific kinds of codes #
- Wi-Fi: you need the exact network name, the password and the security type. See how to make a QR code for Wi-Fi.
- Business card: a contact (vCard) code saves your details straight into someone’s phone. See how to create a QR code for a business card.
- Text message: an SMS code opens a text with the number and message filled in.
Tips so your code scans #
- Keep it dark on light. Black on white is the safest choice.
- Leave a margin. A blank border around the code helps phones find it.
- Keep the content short. A shorter link makes a simpler code that scans more easily.
- Test it with a couple of different phones before printing, from the distance people will actually stand.
Frequently asked questions #
Can I make a QR code on my iPhone without an app? #
Yes. Apple’s Shortcuts app has a Generate QR Code action, and some browsers, including Chrome, can make a code for the page you’re viewing. A free website also works in Safari.
How do I make a QR code for a link on iPhone? #
The quickest options are the Shortcuts app’s Generate QR Code action, a browser’s share menu, or a generator app: choose Link, paste the address and generate. Save it to Photos to share or print.
Are QR codes made on iPhone free to use? #
Static QR codes are free to make and use, including commercially. Denso Wave, which invented the QR code, says no license is needed to use one. Costs come from dynamic-code services that charge a subscription.
Can I edit a QR code after I make it? #
Not a static one, since the content is built into the pattern. To change it, make a new code. Only dynamic codes, which route through a paid service, can be edited after printing.