QR code help
Why is my QR code not scanning?
Most QR codes fail for a small number of reasons: too small for the scanning distance, weak contrast, a missing blank border, blurry or stretched artwork, glare, or content so long the pattern is too dense. Check them in that order, then test the exact printed copy on two phones.
Common causes
- The code is too small for the distance people scan from.
- Contrast is weak, or the colours are inverted.
- The blank border around the code was cropped or covered.
- The image was enlarged as a bitmap and its edges blurred.
- Glare, a curved surface or laminate distorts the pattern.
- The destination is long, so the pattern is dense and hard to resolve.
How to fix it
- Scan the code on your screen first. If that works but the print fails, the problem is the print, not the code.
- Hold a phone at the real scanning distance. If it will not focus or read, make the code larger.
- Restore clear space on all four sides, at least four modules wide.
- Export again as SVG or vector PDF, or a large PNG, and place it without stretching or smoothing.
- Use dark squares on a plain light background with no gradient behind the code.
- Move the code away from glare, or choose a matte material.
- If the web address is long, use a managed code: the printed pattern then encodes a short link.
How to prevent it
Print one proof at final size on the final material and scan it with an iPhone and an Android phone in the lighting where it will hang.
Frequently asked questions
Does a QR code stop working over time?
The pattern itself does not expire. Fading ink, scratches or a sticker over part of it can stop scans. A managed code also depends on its short link staying active.
Is it my phone or the code?
Try two or three phones and a different scanner. If only one phone fails, check its camera settings and focus. If all fail, fix the code or the print.