01In Chrome or Edge (free)
Menu paths vary by version: some Chrome versions place it under More, then Cast, save, and share, then Create QR code. On Android, Chrome's Share sheet includes a QR code option; on iPhone, you can use a generator or the Shortcuts app.
- 1Open the pageUse the exact address you want people to land on.
- 2Open the QR optionRight-click the page and choose Create QR code for this page, or use the share icon in the address bar.
- 3Download the imageClick Download to save it.
- 4Test itPoint a phone camera at the code on screen and check it opens the right page.
02Static vs dynamic QR codes
Use a static code for anything permanent: a business card, a sign, a menu that will not move. Use a dynamic code if the destination will change, and check what happens to printed codes if you stop paying; some services deactivate them. A middle path is a static code pointing to a page on your own domain that you control, which you can then change.
| Static | Dynamic | |
|---|---|---|
| What it contains | The web address itself | A short link to a redirect service |
| Can you change the destination? | No | Yes |
| Expires? | Never | If the service or subscription ends |
| Scan statistics | No | Usually |
| Cost | Free | Often a subscription |
03Making sure it scans
Print a test copy before a full run. A code that scans on screen can fail when printed small on glossy paper.
- Size: print at least about 2 cm (0.8 in) square for close scanning, larger for posters.
- Contrast: dark code on a light background; inverted or low-contrast codes fail on some phones.
- Quiet zone: leave a clear margin around the code.
- Short URLs make simpler, more reliable codes.
- Test on an iPhone and an Android phone, in the light where it will be used.
04Where QR codes work, and where they annoy people
QR codes work well for posters, packaging, event signs, business cards and table tents linking to a booking or review page. They annoy people when they replace something they expected on paper: a Hacker News thread on QR code menus split diners between those who leave if there is no printed menu and those who like ordering at their own pace, with most complaints about clumsy pages behind the code.
The page the code opens matters as much as the code. Make sure it loads fast and reads well on a phone; how to make a website mobile friendly covers the basics, and for wedding or event signs, how to collect wedding photos from guests shows a common use.
05Adding a logo or colors
QR codes have error correction, so a small logo in the middle usually still scans, and many generators add one for you. Keep the logo under about a fifth of the code's area, keep strong contrast, and test again after every change. Avoid light codes on dark backgrounds, which some phone cameras read poorly.
What people who tried it say
Hacker News discussions of QR codes, especially restaurant menus, show that people do not mind the code itself; they mind slow or awkward mobile pages behind it and losing the option of paper.
- The restaurant industry's worst idea: QR code menusHacker News
Diners were split: some leave if there is no printed menu, others like ordering and paying at their own pace; the complaints were mostly about clumsy mobile pages behind the code.
Looking for more first-hand opinions? Search Reddit for “how to make a qr code for a website”. We link the live threads rather than summarizing them, so you read them in full.
Our take
use the free static code from your browser and point it at a page on your own domain. You keep control of the destination without paying a QR subscription.
Where this falls short
Browser menu names change between versions. Printing guidance is general; very small or stylized codes need more testing.
If your QR code needs a fast, phone-friendly page to land on, Orlume can build and publish one from a short description.
Free to start · No card required · Live in one click
Sources
- 1.How to share a webpage as a QR code · Brown University IT
- 2.Use web apps · Google Chrome Help
Researched and written by the Orlume team · Updated October 2026
Still stuck?