What is a text QR code?
A text QR code stores plain text directly inside the code. When scanned, the phone simply displays the text — no internet connection or website is needed.
It’s ideal for short instructions, serial numbers, inventory labels, secret messages for games, or any information you want people to read on their phone. Unicode is fully supported, so Arabic, Spanish accents and emoji are encoded correctly.
How to convert text to a QR code
- 1
Type or paste your text in the box.
- 2
Watch the QR code update live as you type.
- 3
Increase the error-correction level if the code will be printed on rough surfaces.
- 4
Download the PNG or SVG file.
Features
Works offline
The text is inside the code itself, so scanning never needs an internet connection.
Every language
UTF-8 encoding supports Arabic, Spanish, Chinese, emoji and more.
Up to ~2,000 characters
Fit a long paragraph — though shorter text gives a cleaner, faster-scanning code.
Live preview
See the code change as you type, with a character counter.
Ideas for text QR codes
Equipment labels
Encode serial numbers or maintenance notes on machines and devices.
Treasure hunts
Hide clues for games and classroom activities.
Gift messages
Add a personal note to a present that the recipient reveals with their phone.
Frequently asked questions
How much text can a QR code hold?
A QR code can technically store up to about 2,900 bytes, which is roughly 2,000 Latin characters or fewer for Arabic and emoji. For reliable scanning, keep it under a few hundred characters.
Does a text QR code need internet?
No. The phone reads the text directly from the code, so it works completely offline.
Can I write Arabic text in a QR code?
Yes. Text is encoded as UTF-8, so Arabic and other non-Latin scripts display correctly on modern phones.