QR codes aren’t always easy to implement or use. While the technology is improving, you might be experiencing issues with your QR codes and need a quick fix for them.
There are QR code generators everywhere. You have 1, 2, 3, and 4 step generators that take you through the process. But no matter what steps you follow, your QR code still isn’t working.
In this article, we will touch upon several common reasons for why this might be happening, and provide some resolution steps to help you get your code up and running.
5 QR Code Issues You Might be Facing
Reason 1: Poor Print Quality
The first reason why your QR code isn’t working might be due to the poor print quality.
The quality of the image can have a big impact on how well your QR code works. If it’s blurry or pixelated, it will be harder for mobile users to scan.
It is important to use a QR code that was downloaded in a size adapted to the printed material in HD so it doesn’t get pixelated. Unitag business plans give the option to download QR codes to a customised size and format.
Reason 2: Colour Inversion
A common reason that QR codes don’t scan is the colour of the code itself. If your QR code is printed on a dark background, it can appear light when scanned. This means that the scanner will see white dots rather than black ones, which can lead to errors or a total lack of scanning altogether. Colour inversion can lead to a lack of contrast, which makes the QR code harder to read. It is therefore not recommended to use complementary colours. Unitag QR code generator warns the user when a design might be challenging to read.
Reason 3: Too Much Info
If you try to cram too much information into your QR code, it won’t work. The code needs to be small enough for a user’s phone camera to read it, and it should be easy for the software on their phone to recognize the information contained in the code. If you have too much data, your QR code will look like a big blob of black and white dots. Make sure that there are no more than 4296 characters in your code. Also, if the logo that is uploaded on the design is too big, it will obstruct the pieces of information contained in the modules.
Reason 4: Broken Link
One of the most common issues with QR codes is that the link they are pointing to is broken or incorrect. The easiest way to test this is by scanning the code with your phone or tablet and seeing if you get any sort of response. If nothing happens when you scan the code, the odds are that the website it links to has been taken down for some reason.
In this case, you’ll have to find a new website for the QR code and update it accordingly.
Reason 5: Inappropriate Sizing
The most common reason for QR code failure is that the size of the code is not optimized for its intended use. A poorly sized code can be unreadable or may not fit on small devices such as mobile phones. We recommend using at least 1cm*1cm QR code size.
How to perfectly test your QR code?
Testing is the most important part of any project. The quality of your product depends on it.
QR codes are no exception. You can’t just put them everywhere and assume that they will work like magic. You need to test them first!
Make Sure The QR Code Is Straight And Visible
Here are a few things to keep in mind when testing your QR code:
- Make sure the QR code is straight and visible. If someone can’t even see it, there’s no way they’ll be able to scan it.
- Make sure the QR code is readable from afar. If people can only read it up close, then they might not use your app/website as much as you had hoped.
Test By Scanning From A Few Different Angles
To make sure the different camera lenses detect your QR code, you will want to test it from several different angles.
You will want to make sure that the QR code is straight and that the camera isn’t tilted when you scan it. If a user scans from too far away or from an angle, their phone won’t be able to read all of the data in the code.
Check To See If The QR Code Is Readable In Low Light
In order to test if your QR code is readable in low light, you should use a QR code reader app. Scan the QR code and see if it can be read. If you cannot read it, then this means that the camera of your phone or tablet will not be able to read it either.
If you can read the QR code with your scanner app in low light conditions, then this means that there is a good chance that other people will also be able to scan and view the data from your QR Code.
Test The QR Code In Black And White
You should test your QR code in black and white. If it’s not readable in black and white, it’s not going to be readable at all. If the QR code is readable in black and white. If the QR code is readable in black and white, but not after you applied your colours, then the problem arises from a lack of contrast.
This may seem obvious, but a lot of people forget about this step or just don’t think about it as much as they should.
Check the definition of the QR code when printed
It’s important to make sure your QR code looks good when printed. QR codes that you have on screen can differ in quality (pixelated) from the one printed. So make sure that it is readable when printed. Check to see if it is readable when printed on different types of paper. Test your QR code in a variety of lighting conditions as well, including direct sunlight and low light settings.
Test The Code With Different Mobile Devices
Try using a different type of camera on your device if possible. If you’re using an older phone with a less advanced camera, try scanning from another device with a better camera instead.
Even if it’s just a picture taken from another device, the quality of the image captured by each device will vary greatly and may affect how well your 2D barcode reader can read it.
The Unitag Connection
In most cases, people using random online QR code generators are the ones that run into such issues. The chances are, you’re most likely facing similar problems because of this. Although there’s no two ways about a sales pitch, we will say this: There’s a reason why leading brands such as Unilever, L’Oreal, Warner Bros, Chanel, Schneider Electric etc. are on board with Unitag.
Use our free QR code generator to go from a multitude of QR code issues to none.