Why won't my QR code scan? Nine common fixes
When a QR code fails to scan, the cause is almost always a printing problem, not the code itself. Work down this list before you reprint, because one of the nine will usually be it.
1. It's too small for the distance
Divide the scanning distance by ten for the minimum width, and never go below about 0.8 inch (2 cm). If people scan from across a counter, a business-card-sized code won't work.
2. The blank border was cropped
The code needs a clear margin about four squares wide on every side. If a frame, a photo, or a trim line touches the code, the phone can't find its edges.
3. The contrast is low, or the colors are inverted
Use dark squares on a light background. Pale colors, light-on-dark codes, and gradients behind the code all make scanning harder.
4. There is glare
Glossy paper and laminate throw light back at the camera. Use a matte finish, and test the code under the real lighting.
5. A busy background sits behind it
Patterns and photos behind a code blur its edges. Put the code on a plain light panel.
6. It's stretched, curved, or folded
Keep the code perfectly square and on a flat surface. Bottles, cans, creases, and door seams distort the pattern.
7. A logo or decoration covers too much
Codes can survive a small logo in the middle, but a large one removes data the phone needs. If in doubt, leave the middle plain.
8. The print is blurry or low resolution
A code saved as a small image and enlarged turns soft at the edges. Use a vector file, such as the SVG you download from us, which stays sharp at any size.
9. The link is too long
A static code holding a long address needs many tiny squares. If you can't enlarge it, use a shorter address, or use a dynamic code, which stores a short one.
How to test it properly
Print a sample at the real size and scan it with three different phones, at the real distance and in the real light. If it scans on a screen but not on paper, the printed copy has one of the problems above.
Questions
How do I test a QR code properly?
Scan a printed sample with at least three different phones at the real distance and in the real light. Don't rely on scanning it from your computer screen.
Why does it scan on my screen but not on paper?
A screen glows and paper doesn't. Check the printed copy for size, contrast, glare, and a cropped border.
Do I need to reprint if my link changes?
Not with a dynamic code. Change where it points instead. A static code can't be changed, so a new link means a new print.
Get a dynamic QR code for $3
Pay once. Pick the page your code opens, print it wherever you need it, and change the page whenever you like.