QR code help
Why is my QR code so dense, with lots of tiny squares?
The more data a QR code holds, the more squares it needs and the smaller each one is. Long web addresses, tracking parameters, long text and high error correction all increase density. Shorten the data, use a managed code with a short link, or print larger.
Common causes
- The URL is long or full of tracking parameters.
- A lot of text is encoded, as in a full contact card.
- A high error-correction level was chosen for a logo.
- The code is printed small.
How to fix it
- Use a managed code. The image encodes a short link and the long address is stored in the workspace.
- Remove tracking parameters you do not need. Keep the ones the destination requires.
- Cut unneeded text from contact cards and notes.
- If there is no logo, a lower error-correction level reduces density.
- Print the code larger.
How to prevent it
Aim for the least data that does the job. A sparse code scans faster and from further away.
Frequently asked questions
Why does a managed code look simpler?
It encodes only a short redirect link, however long the real destination is.
What is error correction?
It adds redundancy so a damaged code can still be read, with a cost in density.