Skip to content

Why won't my QR code scan?

Most QR codes that will not scan are too small for the distance, too low in contrast, or missing the white border around the edge. If the code scans but nothing opens, the problem is the link, not the code. Here is how to tell which it is and fix it.

Updated

First, find out where the problem is

There are only three places a scan can fail: the code, the phone, or the link. Thirty seconds of checks tell you which.

  • Nothing happens on any phone: the code. Read causes 1 to 8.
  • One phone scans it and another does not: the phone. Read causes 9 and 10.
  • The phone shows a link, but the page fails to open: the link. Read causes 11 and 12.

Problems with the code

1. Too small for the distance. Phones need each square to be big enough to see. At arm’s length the whole code should be at least 2 cm (0.8 in) wide. A useful rule of thumb is a width of one tenth of the scanning distance: 10 cm for a poster read from 1 metre. The QR code size guide has a full table.

2. Low contrast. Pale grey, yellow or pastel codes often fail, especially in dim light. Use a dark code on a light background. Our generator warns you when the contrast is too low.

3. Inverted colours. A light code on a dark background looks stylish but many phones cannot read it. Keep the code darker than its background.

4. No white border. Scanners need empty space around the code, called the quiet zone, to find its edges. Leave at least 4 squares of blank space on every side, and do not let text, frames or photos run into it.

5. Too much data. Long links and big contact cards make dense codes with tiny squares. Shorten the link, remove optional fields, or print bigger.

6. Logo too big or in the wrong place. A logo that covers a corner square, or more of the centre than the error correction can rebuild, breaks the code. See the logo guide for safe limits.

7. Blurry or stretched. Low-resolution images, screenshots of screenshots, and codes stretched to fit a box all blur the squares. Download SVG or a large PNG and scale it evenly.

8. The surface fights the camera. Glossy lamination causes glare, curved bottles and cups bend the code, and textured paper breaks up thin squares. Use matte finishes, put codes on the flattest part of a curved object, and print bigger on rough materials.

Problems with the phone

9. Camera settings or a dirty lens. Wipe the lens. On an iPhone, check Settings, Camera, Scan QR Codes is on, and use Photo mode. On Android, open the camera or Google Lens; some older phones need QR scanning switched on in the camera settings. How to scan a QR code has the steps for each phone.

10. Distance, angle and light. Hold the phone 15 to 30 cm (6 to 12 in) from a small code, straight on, and let it focus. Avoid shadows across the code and direct reflections of lamps.

11. Typo, missing page or private file. Scan the code and read the address the phone shows. Open that exact address on a phone using mobile data. Private Google Drive files, form links restricted to an organisation, and pages that were moved are the usual suspects. The Google Drive QR code guide shows the right sharing setting.

12. A dynamic code that was switched off. If the address is a short link on a QR company’s domain and it now shows an error or an advert, the subscription behind it may have ended. Static codes from our generator hold your own link, so they cannot be switched off. Static vs dynamic QR codes explains the difference, and do QR codes expire? covers what to do next.

A checklist before you print

  1. Scan the code on two different phones, one iPhone and one Android.
  2. Scan it at the real distance and in the real lighting.
  3. Print one copy at the final size on the final material and scan that.
  4. Check the link opens on mobile data, not just your office WiFi.
  5. Keep the original file so you can reprint without remaking the code.

Make a QR code that never expires

QR code generator

What should the code open?
Website details

Paste the full link. If you leave out https://, it is added for you.

Colors, size and logo

Higher levels survive damage and logos but make the code denser.

Your image stays on your device. Adding a logo switches error correction to High.

Example QR code

Example. Fill in the form to make yours.

Static code. Free forever. It never expires.

How to fix a QR code that will not scan

  1. Try a second phone

    If another phone reads it, the problem is the first phone's camera or settings. If neither does, it is the code.

  2. Check contrast, border and size

    Dark squares on a light background, a clear white border of at least 4 squares, and at least 2 cm (0.8 in) wide at arm's length.

  3. Remake and retest before printing again

    Make a new code with the fix, scan it from the real distance on two phones, then print.

Questions people ask

Why does my QR code scan on one phone but not another?

Older phones and cheaper cameras need more contrast, a bigger code and better light. Some older Android phones also need QR scanning switched on in the camera settings, or a scanner built into Google Lens.

The code scans but the page does not open. Why?

The code is fine; the link is not. Check the link is spelled correctly, still exists, is public, and opens on mobile data. A missing https:// or a typo in the domain are common causes.

Why did my QR code suddenly stop working?

If it used to work and nothing changed physically, it was probably a dynamic code whose subscription or free trial ended, or the website it opens has moved. Scan it and look at the address it shows. If it is a short link on a QR company's domain, contact that company.

Can I fix a code that is already printed?

Sometimes. Wipe glossy surfaces, improve the lighting, or cover a damaged area with a clean sticker of the same code. If the link behind the code is broken, fix or restore the page at that address. If the code itself is too small or too light, it needs to be reprinted.

Do QR codes work on screens?

Yes, if the screen is bright and the code is big enough. Lower the screen brightness if the phone sees glare, and keep the code at least 3 cm wide on the screen.

Does a logo stop a QR code from scanning?

It can if the logo is too big, covers a corner square, or the error correction is too low. Our generator clears a safe centre area and switches to High error correction automatically.