How to make a QR code for a PDF, photo or video

You have a price list, a brochure, a photo album or a short video, and you want people to open it by scanning a code on a poster, a table card or a product box.

Here's the short answer: a QR code can't hold the file itself, but it can open it. The code holds a link, and the link points to wherever the file lives. This guide shows two ways to set that up — one completely free with a share link, and one where you upload the file to QR Hub — and how to test it so it works on every phone.

Why the file can't go inside the code

A QR code is a small grid of black and white squares, and that grid has a hard limit. The largest QR code can store at most 2,953 bytes of data — about 3 KB (Keyence). A PDF, a phone photo or a video is far bigger than that.

So every "PDF QR code" or "video QR code" works the same way: the file sits online, and the code opens its link. What changes is where the file lives and whether you can change it later.

Two ways to do it

Way 1: Share link + a free QR code

Step 1: Get a public link to your file

Google Drive (PDFs and photos): select the file and click Share. Under General access, choose Anyone with the link, set the role to Viewer, then click Copy link (Google Drive Help).

Dropbox: hover over the file, click Share, choose a view-only link and copy it. People without a Dropbox account can still preview the file (Dropbox Help).

Videos: YouTube is the easiest home for a video. If you don't want it public, upload it as Unlisted: it won't show in search or on your channel, but anyone with the link can watch it, and viewers don't need a Google account (YouTube Help).

Step 2: Make the code

1. Open the free PDF QR code tool below (it also works for photo and video links).
2. Paste the link you copied.
3. Add a frame text so people know what they'll get, like "Scan for the price list" or "Watch the video".
4. Download PNG for screens and home printing, or SVG for a print shop.

Make this QR now

This is a static code: the link is written into the pattern itself, so it never expires and works without our servers. The catch is that you can't change where it points after printing. If you delete the file or turn off sharing, the code opens an error. Want the details? Read Do QR codes expire?.

Way 2: Upload the file and get a code you can update

If the file will change — a menu with new prices, a monthly flyer, an event programme — uploading it is easier than juggling share links.

1. Sign in (a free account is enough to start) and open My codes.
2. Make a new code and, under What should the code open?, choose PDF, image or video.
3. Upload your file. PDF, JPG, PNG and WebP work on every plan; MP4 and WebM videos come with Pro.
4. Add a title and a short description if you like, then save and download your code.

When scanned, the code opens a simple page with your file. Next month, open the same page and use Replace the file. The printed code stays the same, so nothing needs reprinting.

The free plan hosts one PDF or image up to 5 MB. Pro raises that to 25 MB per file, adds video and gives you up to 50 hosted pages.

Test it before you print

Most broken file codes fail for one reason: the link only works for you. Your phone is signed in to your Google or Dropbox account, so it opens fine for you and shows "Request access" to everyone else.

1. Scan the code with a phone that isn't signed in to your account, or paste the link into a private browser window.
2. Check that the file opens without a sign-in screen.
3. Try it on mobile data, not only your Wi-Fi, especially for videos.
4. Open a PDF to the end and zoom in: small print that reads well on paper can be hard to read on a phone.

Make your file phone-friendly

People will open your file on a phone, often standing up. A few small changes help a lot:

• Keep PDFs short. One or two pages beats a 40-page catalogue. Split long documents and make one code each.
• Make files smaller. Large photos and PDFs load slowly on mobile data. Export images as JPG or WebP at a sensible size.
• Keep videos short. Under two minutes is a good target for a product demo or a welcome message.
• Name things clearly. A title like "Lunch menu — November" tells people they opened the right thing.

Where people use file QR codes

• Shops and cafés: price lists, catalogues, menus and opening hours.
• Teachers: worksheets, reading lists and short lesson videos on the classroom wall.
• Events: the programme, the venue map or a photo album guests can open afterwards.
• Products: a manual, a warranty card or a how-to video on the box.
• Estate agents: floor plans and photo tours on a window card.

Common mistakes

• Sharing set to "Restricted". Change it to Anyone with the link before you make the code.
• Deleting or moving the file after printing. A static code then opens an error page.
• Printing too small. On a flyer, about 2–3 cm wide is a sensible minimum; on a poster read from a few steps away, go bigger.
• Light colours or no white border. Keep the code dark on a light background with clear space around it.
• No hint of what it opens. A short line under the code ("Scan for our menu") gets more scans than a bare code.

Got a file ready? Copy its share link or upload it, make your code, and test it on a friend's phone before you print.