QR code not scanning? Work through these checks
Find out whether the problem is the printed image, the encoded content, or the destination.
Separate detection from the destination
If a camera never recognizes the pattern, start with the image quality, border, size, and lighting. If it recognizes a link but the page fails to open, check the address and the destination website. Regenerating the same broken address will not repair the website.
A reader may detect WiFi or contact data without offering the action you expected. Try the phone’s built-in camera and a different trusted QR reader to check device compatibility.
Restore a simple, high-contrast image
Try the original download with dark squares on white. Remove any decoration you added in another app, restore the empty border, and use a larger print. Do not invert the colors or place a QR code over a photo.
The generator checks for a dark foreground and light background, but this cannot guarantee a printed result. Paper color, ink, reflections, and camera focus still matter.
Check the actual encoded details
For websites, check the full address, including the path. For WiFi, network names and passwords are case-sensitive; confirm the network security setting too. For contact cards, use concise, current details and review the import preview.
A changed WiFi password or an old printed contact card needs a newly generated code. Editing the form does not modify files that have already been downloaded or printed.
Test at the point of use
Clean the camera lens, move out of glare, and change the distance until the camera can focus. Check the code on a second phone. If a digital download works but the print does not, the printing or placement is the next thing to fix.