Create and scan QR codes

Create a QR code

Open QR Codes and enter a website address or text under Website or text. Magpie treats it as a website when it begins with http:// or https://; anything else is stored as text. For another kind of code, change Kind of code and complete the fields that appear.

The creator supports websites, plain text, Wi-Fi details, contact cards, email, phone numbers, SMS, calendar events and links to your public Magpie pages. The preview changes as you work. Save QR code keeps the code on the Saved codes page. A name is optional; Magpie uses the code's content when it is left blank.

Static codes can also be downloaded or printed without saving. Download SVG, Download PNG, Download PDF and Print become available when the preview is ready. SVG suits print, PNG suits ordinary image use, and the PDF includes the code and its readable content. A dynamic code must be saved before downloading because saving creates its permanent Magpie address. Print a final code and test it before distributing it.

To point a QR code at one of your public Magpie pages, choose A page in Magpie and pick a published Form, website, Link-In-Bio List, Store, presentation or newsletter. The QR code points at its public address.

Change how a QR code looks

Under Design and export options you can change the foreground and background colours, the export size, the error correction and the clear space, and add a logo in the centre. The logo comes from your image library, the same picker used everywhere else in Magpie. Choosing one sets error correction to Highest and disables that menu until the logo is removed. The saved code keeps the logo. Browsers that can decode QR images check the finished design and show a warning when they cannot read the preview. Browser decoder support varies, so the warning does not prevent a static code from being downloaded or printed.

Static and dynamic codes

A static code stores its content directly in the image. It works without Magpie, but changing the content requires a new code. Static Wi-Fi codes contain the network password, so save them only when you need to reuse them.

A dynamic code stores a Magpie address in the image and sends scanners to the current website destination. The Static or dynamic choice appears once you enter a website address, because it is the only kind of content a dynamic code can redirect. Open the saved code to change the destination under Destination and status; the change applies from the next scan, printed copies keep the same address, and Destination history lists each earlier destination with when it was replaced. Turn the code off and scans show an inactive page until you turn it back on. Dynamic codes record a total scan count, which does not identify who scanned.

Find a code you saved

Saved codes are listed on their own page: Saved Codes in the QR Codes menu, or the Saved codes button on the creator. They belong to Personal or the selected team. Open one to download it again as SVG, PNG or PDF, change a dynamic destination, turn it off, or delete it (Delete QR code in its More menu).

The native app can list saved codes, inspect their safe website destination, create static or dynamic website codes, plain-text codes, Wi-Fi codes, contact cards, email links, phone links, SMS links and calendar events, rename a saved code, change a dynamic destination, turn a code on or off, delete it, scan a code with the device camera, and share or print a saved code from native actions. Authorized editors can change the saved export size, clear-space margin, error-correction level and foreground/background colours, and choose or remove a logo from the account image library. Open View analytics for a dynamic code to see its aggregate scan count in native. Visitor details are not recorded; other analytics management uses the website.

Scan a QR code

Choose Scan a code on the creator or the Saved codes page, or Scan a QR code in the native app. The website can use the camera (Use camera), upload a PNG, JPEG, WebP or GIF image (Upload image), read one from Your images with Choose from Your images, drop an image, or paste one with Paste image where the browser supports clipboard access. An uploaded, dropped or pasted image is read in the browser and is not added to Your images. The native app uses the device camera and asks for camera permission only when you allow it.

Every way of scanning on the website uses the browser's own QR reader, so it needs a browser that has one. In a browser without it, the page says that the browser cannot decode QR images. The native app reads codes without a browser.

Magpie shows the decoded content before taking an action. A website shows its full address and hostname; it is not opened automatically. Wi-Fi content is not connected automatically. Contact cards show their name, phone and email and can be shared as a vCard; calendar events show their details and can be shared as an iCalendar file. Decoded content is treated as untrusted text.

Print and scan reliably

Keep clear space around the code, use strong contrast, and do not stretch or crop it. Avoid making a code smaller than the viewing distance supports; denser codes need more room. Test the exported file and the printed result with more than one device when the code matters.

If a code will not scan, use a dark foreground on a light background, restore the default clear space, reduce the amount of content, or remove a logo. A warning about colour contrast means the chosen colours may reduce scanning reliability, and a warning that the preview could not be read means the browser could not confirm that design. Downloading remains available; test the file before using it.

If scanning or exporting fails, Contact support.