How to Create QR codes

by Ed Sawicki

This page will cover how you can create your own QR codes. There are many ways to create a QR code, and this page will show you a few of them.

Browsers on desktop computer

If you want to create a QR code for a web page (a URL), and you're using a desktop computer and a mouse, your web browser can create the QR code. If you're using Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge, go to the desired web page. Right click on an empty area of the page. You will see a menu entry similar to Create QR code for this page. Tap that item and the QR code will appear with buttons to Copy or Download the image.

Chrome on an iPad or iPhone

If you're using the Google Chrome browser on an iPad, go to the desired web page. Tap the Share icon , then tap the More icon, which appears as three dots. You'll see a menu item called Create a QR Code. Tap it, and the QR code appears.

Duck Duck Go Browser

If you're using the Duck Duck Go browser, simply enter "qr" followed by the web page address (URL) in the Search Bar. For example, you could enter this:

qr Lonwc.com/seniornet/qrcodes/

It will create a QR code image. If you're on an iPad, hold you finger on the image until a menu appears that allows you to copy, save, or share the image.

Apple Shortcuts app

Apple Shortcuts App
Shortcuts

If you're using an Apple iPhone, iPad, or a Mac, you can use the Shortcuts App to create QR codes. The app is preinstalled on iPhones and iPads starting with iOS 13 that came out in September 2019. It became a built-in feature of macOS Monterey in October 2021.

You'd follow these steps to create a QR code on an iPad. It will be similar on a Mac. The procedure on an iPhone is a little different:

  1. Run the Shortcut App on the iPad, or the Shortcut program on macOS.
  2. Tap the Plus sign near the top of the Shortcut window.
  3. Enter "qr" into the Search Actions box.
  4. Double tap Create QR Code. You'll see a box open with the words Create QR code for... followed by a place to enter your text. Enter the text for the QR code. That text can be a URL for a webpage.
  5. When you're finished entering the QR code text, tap the right arrow at the top of the screen. The QR code will appear.
  6. Tap the QR code image and save it. It will go into your photos.