How to link a QR code to a website, and pick the right page

To link a QR code to a website, copy the full page URL, paste it into a QR generator, and export the code. Then choose dynamic if the web address or destination might change after printing.

You can do this in about three minutes. The only part that really matters is picking the right URL before you print 100 copies.

How to link a QR code to a website#

1. Open QRFLOW.codes and choose the link or website QR type. You do not need an account just to generate and test a code.

2. Copy the exact website address you want people to open. Use the full URL, including https://, not a homepage. If you really want a menu, form, product page, or booking page, include it.

3. Paste that URL into the generator and create the code. If the page loads in a browser tab, the code can point to it.

4. Decide whether the code should be static or dynamic. Static points to one fixed address, while a dynamic code lets you change the destination later without reprinting.

5. Give the code a plain name before you download it. Names like “spring flyer homepage,” or “front window booking page,” are much easier to find later.

6. Download PNG for quick use or SVG for print layouts. SVG is usually the safer pick for signs, menus, packaging, and anything a designer might resize.

7. Scan the code with your phone and check the landing page. Make sure it opens the mobile version, not a desktop layout that is annoying on a small screen.

8. Place the code where people already want the next step. A code for your menu belongs on the table, while a code for a portfolio belongs on the card, not both by default.

A website QR code is only as good as the page behind it. If the code goes to a slow, cluttered, or confusing page, the square did its job and the page did not.

If your page is not ready yet, park the print run for an hour. It is much cheaper than handing out cards that open the wrong thing.

Need the simple version for a plain web link? Our guide to how to create a QR code from a link covers the same setup from the URL side.

Which website link should you use?#

The best website link is the exact page that matches the reason for the scan. If someone scans to book, send them to booking. If they scan to see hours, send them to hours.

This is where most people lose the plot. They paste their homepage because it is handy, then make the visitor hunt for the thing they just asked for.

Use these quick picks:

• Use your homepage only when the goal is broad, like “see what we do.”
• Use a product or service page for posters, shelf talkers, and packaging inserts.
• Use a booking page for window signs, service counters, and appointment cards.
• Use a menu page for restaurant tables and takeout bags.
• Use a review page for receipts and after-service handouts.
• Use a location or directions page when the scan happens away from your door.

Short links can work, but they can also hide mistakes. If you own the destination page, the clearest option is usually the real page URL.

A good landing page should load fast, fit a phone screen, and answer one question well. One page, one job.

If your destination is a form, not a normal page, the setup is slightly different. See how to make a QR code for a Google Form if that is your next move.

If you are putting the code on packaging, a checkout counter, or printed promos, making it editable is often worth it. Your first dynamic code is free in QRFLOW.codes, which is genuinely handy when a product page moves after the cards are already out.

Should the QR code be static or dynamic?#

A static code is fine for a website page that will stay at the same URL. A dynamic code is the safer choice if the page might move, change, or be replaced later.

Static is simple. The website address is baked into the code itself. If you later switch from yourdomain.com/menu to yourdomain.com/summer-menu, the old static print keeps sending people to the old address.

Dynamic adds one extra hop, but it solves the real print problem. You can change where the code points after the sign, label, or card is already in the world. That is the whole reason people pick it.

Choose static when:

• the URL is stable
• you only need a few prints
• you do not care about scan stats

Choose dynamic when:

• the site is still being rebuilt
• the page slug might change
• different campaigns may need different destinations later
• you want scan analytics

If you are in the middle of a redesign, read what happens to your QR codes when you change your website. That is where printed codes usually get stranded.

For one website code, the choice is mostly about reprints. Reprinting 500 table cards because one URL changed is annoying. Repointing one dynamic code is not.

How do you tell QR scans apart from your other website traffic?#

Telling QR scans apart from other website traffic takes one of two things: a dynamic code, which counts every scan itself, or tracking parameters on the end of the link, which label the visit inside your own analytics.

A static code sends people straight to the page, and once they land they look exactly like someone who typed the address or clicked a search result. Your analytics has no way to know a phone camera sent them.

The two fixes answer different questions.

A dynamic code counts the scan. The count happens before the visitor reaches your site, so you get the number even if the page is slow, they leave straight away, or the page never loads at all. You also get the day, the city and the device.

Tracking parameters label the visit. Adding something like ?utm_source=flyer to the end of the address tells your analytics where the visitor came from, so scans show up beside your email and social numbers. Tracking QR code scans in Google Analytics covers the exact parameters to use.

Use both when the print run is large. The code's own count tells you how many people scanned it, and the parameters tell you what they did once they arrived.

One caution with parameters: keep them short, and put them on the real page rather than a shortener. Every extra character makes the pattern denser and harder to read at small sizes, and 1 inch (2.5 cm) of card does not leave much room to spare.

What should you check before you print?#

The main checks are simple: the code opens the right page, the page works on mobile, and the print is large enough for the way people will scan it. For most handouts, 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide is a safe starting point.

Scan from a normal distance, not nose-to-paper. A postcard or business card is usually scanned from about 8 to 16 inches (20 to 40 cm), while a wall sign may be scanned from 3 to 6 feet (1 to 2 m) away.

A few smart checks before you send the file out:

• Test on iPhone and Android if you can.
• Check both Wi-Fi and cellular.
• Make sure the page does not ask for a login unless that is the point.
• Confirm the page title and hero section match the promise near the code.
• If you used a custom color, keep strong contrast between the dark squares and the background.

If you want size help, see how big should a QR code be when printed?. If a scan opens but nothing useful happens, my QR code will not scan is the right fix page.

For websites tied to menus, bookings, reviews, or events, the easiest win is matching the code to the exact action. You can make that code and download it from the free QR code generator, then place it where that decision happens.

A QR code can only open what you link it to. Pick the right page, make it editable if the destination may move, and test once before you print.

Questions people ask about website QR codes#

Can I link a QR code to any website?#

Yes, you can link a QR code to any website as long as you have the correct URL. Just make sure the page is mobile-friendly and loads quickly to ensure a good user experience.

How do I update a QR code if my website changes?#

If you used a dynamic QR code, you can update the destination URL without reprinting. Log into your QR code generator account, find the code, and change the linked URL. Static codes cannot be updated this way.

What size should a QR code be for printing?#

For most handouts, a QR code should be at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide. For larger signs, consider the distance from which it will be scanned. A wall sign may need a code that is several inches wide for easy scanning.

Do QR codes work without an internet connection?#

QR codes themselves do not require an internet connection to scan. However, if the code links to a website, an internet connection is needed to open the page. Ensure the user has access to Wi-Fi or cellular data.

If you want a code you can make now and change later, start with QRFLOW.codes. Keeping every code editable, branded and trackable is what the paid plans add.