Broken links, poor quality, no contrast between code and background, and blurry QR codes. These are some of the most common reasons why your QR Code is not working as well as it should be.
In this guide, we'll help you solve these issues and explore the importance of QR Code testing, top tips and benefits for designing your own, and the difference between Dynamic and Static QR Code options.
There are a few explanations if a QR Code can’t be scanned on your mobile device. Let's explore some of these in detail.
If your QR Code doesn’t work on Android, check your device for software updates. Older models running on Android 8 or below can’t scan codes without a third-party QR Code reader. If this applies to your phone, visit the Google Play Store and download one.
For Apple users, if you have any model between an iPhone 15 and an iPhone 11, you shouldn't run into issues during the QR Code scanning process. However, if your camera app is faulty, you can download one of the free QR Code reader apps from the App Store.
Blurry QR codes are a key contributor to QR Code scanning issues. This is especially true for codes on printed material such as posters, event flyers, and business cards.
If your code is blurry, you’ve probably chosen an unsuitable image file. As a rule, always use high-resolution file formats such as SVG or PDF when printing a QR Code, or at least a PNG.
To make your QR codes work as effectively as possible, they need to be a minimum of 2x2cm in size. Custom QR codes any smaller than this may not be scannable, which could cause issues for your QR Code campaign.
So, when creating custom QR codes, ensure they meet these size requirements.
QR Code customization is encouraged to stand out, but inverting your QR Code colors is a recipe for disaster.
For those who don't know, an inverted QR Code is when you switch the traditionally black area of a code with the white background. This makes scanning the QR Code difficult for most smartphone cameras or third-party apps, so it's best to avoid it.
One of the most common QR Code issues comes in the customization stage. To scan a QR Code, the color must contrast the background image it's placed on, so if you have a red piece of product packaging, don't generate a red QR Code.
It’s simply a case of ensuring that your QR Code doesn’t blend into the background and instead, going for something that stands out from the color it's placed on. An example would be a yellow QR Code on a blue background.
QR Code placement can be the difference between a valid and an invalid QR Code. An example of a poorly placed code is one added to printed materials with folds, creases, or edges. Adding yours to these areas can lead to QR Code scanning problems and could be determined by your QR Code campaign.
Broken links will also deem your QR Code unscannable, but this is more than just the design of the code. Instead of checking your camera settings, ensure there are no broken links and your URL goes to a live digital destination. This will help your code scan properly.
Customizing your code is crucial in a competitive marketplace, but what design choices are available with our QR Code Generator?
There’s no need to stick with black and white when we have such a vast range of colors to choose from. Select colors that match your branding and stand out from your competition, but be careful, and make sure your code contrasts its physical location so it can be scanned.
Adding a frame to your QR Code helps it get noticed by more people. Not just another code in the crowd, this helps you stick in people’s minds and encourage more scans. It also shows off your brand’s personality, giving you a playful edge that appeals to almost all demographics.
Adding your company logo creates an instant level of brand recognition that will be associated with your QR Code. This helps build engagement for your business and goes a long way to turning interested prospects into loyal customers.
Picking the right size for your QR Code is crucial. You don’t want it so small it isn’t noticed, but not so large that it overpowers and is offputting. Think about where your QR Code is being placed and work from there to find the perfect size.
Testing a QR Code is very simple, so take the time to test it before you hit the download button. You should do multiple tests and use different QR Code scanner apps on various mobile devices, as well as the camera apps on iPhone and Android phones.
If QR Code scanning problems persist, go to your QR Code design and revisit what you have in place. Try different colors, sizes, and higher-quality file formats, which will likely rectify the issue.
Find out more about QR Code testing.
Using our QR Code Generator, creating codes is extremely simple. Here are some top tips to generate QR codes that work.
A blurry QR Code could be rendered useless so make sure your file format is the right quality for the job at hand. This is particularly important when printing QR codes onto physical materials where pixelation could become an issue with low-quality image files.
Size matters with QR codes and while you can go as large as you like, never create a code smaller than 2x2cm. QR Code readers and a mobile phone's camera app may struggle to pick up smaller images, making QR Code scanning impossible.
Almost every QR Code scanner app can read a customized QR Code if you don't invert your colors or create a transparent code. These mistakes can lead to poor scannability for your QR Code campaign.
A call to action (CTA) is a great way to encourage more scans for your codes. Something as simple as "Scan QR Code for discounts" will work wonders and whether choosing a Dynamic QR Code or a Static QR Code, CTAs are proven tools to boost engagement.
Engagement is often hard to come by but QR Code leads are easy to generate in a competitive digital space. To make the most of more engagement, ensure your QR Code properly functions as it should and is placed in a suitable location.
QR codes offer the unique opportunity to add digital content to physical marketing materials. Giving users the chance to interact with physical content such as posters or business cards, you can add digital links and text-based information that can be viewed on a phone.
This helps you cross-promote your business and encourage more interactions with your code and brand.
Now more than ever, people want to do business with brands they can trust and that are forward-thinking. This means utilizing effective and easy-to-use technologies, which is what QR codes are to a tee.
Showing off your comfort around efficient tech helps garner trust with your target audience and can lead to more clicks, inquiries, and sales.
Connecting with your audience is paramount in the modern world and a QR Code can help you achieve connections with more people. A WhatsApp QR Code, Facebook Messenger QR code, or even a Discord QR Code are effective tools for interacting with more customers and can help you take your campaign to the next level.
One of the most common questions we get asked as a leading QR Code Generator is "Which is best - Dynamic QR Codes or Static QR Codes?"
Let's explore this question and help you make a decision.
Dynamic Codes offer flexibility for businesses because you can change the URL within your code. You can also access vast QR Code analytics such as scan location, device used, and the time of day, which can be hugely impactful for your campaign.
Lots of our Dynamic QR Code options also come with unlimited scans, which isn't the case for Static QR Code options.
Static QR Codes don't allow you to edit your link after it's gone live and while they'll never expire, there are scan limits in place. That's why they're more suitable for one-time campaigns or low-traffic purposes from individuals rather than businesses.
Find out more about Dynamic QR Codes.
QR Code error connection allows QR codes to be scannable even if a part of it is obscured or damaged. For the most part, QR codes can be scanned with up to 30% damage, but some designs only allow for 7% damage before being unscannable.
You can't restore a broken QR Code unless the link is incorrect and you have generated a Dynamic QR Code. In this case, you can change the link and your code should take users to the correct location. If not, you'll have to redesign your QR Code and resolve whatever issue is causing it to be broken.
Not only can you download QR codes with our QR Code Generator, but you can access QR Codes you've generated and want to keep track of. You can also view analytics and performance data relating to your QR codes to give you an idea of what went wrong and what went right.
iPhone cameras can handle QR codes no matter the model or operating system, so the problem will probably lie within your QR Code design. This could be anything from a blurry QR Code to a broken link, poorly contrasted code, or something else entirely.
You'll have to run QR Code tests to uncover why your QR Code isn't functioning and repair it.
QR Code scanners are built into the camera app on almost every smartphone, so most people don't need a third-party QR Code reader. If you have an Android 8 or below, however, you may need to download a free QR Code scanner.
There's no such thing as an expired QR Code, but some codes have monthly scan limits, which means they can’t be scanned after a certain number of interactions.
You'll need an Android phone with Android 8 or higher to scan codes using your built-in camera app, but you can download QR Code scanner apps if your phone runs on older software.
QR Code scanning issues are rare, but if your code is not working using your camera app you can always download a QR Code scanner app for backup.
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