How to create a QR code for contact details

You want someone to save your contact details without typing them in or needing an internet connection. A contact QR code can put your name, phone number, email address, and other details into a pattern that a phone camera can read.

Use the QR Code Generator to create the code, then scan it with a phone before you share or print it. The key is to include only the details you want other people to have.

Create the contact QR code

1. Open the QR Code Generator and choose the contact option.
2. Enter the details you want to share, such as your name, phone number, email address, organization, or website. Leave out any field you do not want to publish.
3. Review the generated code and check that the contact details are correct. If you change a character, generate the code again.
4. Save or download the code using the option available in the generator. Scan it with your phone camera or a QR scanning app, and check what contact information appears before you send it to anyone.

You can share the saved image digitally or place it on a business card, event sign, or other printed material. Scan the version you plan to share, not just the preview, since resizing or editing an image can affect how easily it reads.

Choose what the code should contain

A simple personal contact

For a personal contact card, start with your name and one useful way to reach you, such as a phone number or email address. Add a company or website if it helps the person recognize you. A shorter contact entry is easier to review and avoids sharing details that the recipient does not need.

A business or event contact

For work, you might include a job title, organization, business phone, and website along with your name. For an event, include a contact method that will still be useful after the event ends. Check every detail carefully, especially phone numbers and email addresses, because a scanner will reproduce what is encoded, including mistakes.

Color and logo choices

The generator lets you customize QR code colors and add a logo. Keep strong contrast between the code and its background, and do not let a logo cover so much of the pattern that a phone cannot read it. A plain, dark code on a light background is a reliable starting point. If you want to compare color options, test each version with more than one phone before printing.

What happens when someone scans it

The contact details are stored in the QR pattern, so a phone can read them without loading a webpage. Many phones show a contact preview and offer to add the details to the address book. The exact prompt depends on the phone and the scanning app, so test with the type of device your audience is likely to use.

Fix problems scanning the code

1. Use a clearer color contrast. Choose a light background and a darker code. Avoid a low-contrast combination or a busy background behind the pattern.
2. Leave the code unobstructed. Keep text, borders, and logos away from the small square pattern. Leave a clear margin around it so the camera can distinguish the code from nearby content.
3. Make the displayed or printed code larger. If the camera will not focus, enlarge the code and try again from a comfortable distance. There is no single size that works for every print distance, so test the actual layout you plan to use.
4. Check the saved image. If a messaging app or design program resized or compressed the image, create a fresh copy from the generator and scan that. For more scan checks, see QR code not scanning? Fix size, contrast and layout.
5. Try another phone or scanner. If one app does not recognize the code, test a second phone camera or scanning app. If neither reads it, return to the generator, review the details and make a new code.

Keep the contact information in mind

A contact QR code is convenient, but it is not private. Anyone who can see a clear copy can scan it and read the information inside, whether the code is on a card, a public sign, or a shared image. Do not include a home address or personal number unless you are comfortable giving it to anyone who gets a copy.

Contact details encoded directly in the code do not need an internet connection to scan. If you put a website address in the contact details, opening that website will still require internet access. Test the finished code and share only the details you intend to make public.