AI Summary
Would you like to put a scannable code on a flyer, poster, or table tent that takes people straight to your form? WPForms includes a QR Code setting that turns any page or link on your site into a code you can copy or download for print.
This tutorial will show you how to create, customize, and download a QR code in WPForms.
Before you get started, be sure to install and activate WPForms on your WordPress site. You’ll need WPForms 2.0.1 or higher to use the QR Code setting.
Setting Up Your QR Code
To get started, create a new form or edit an existing one to open the form builder. Then go to Settings » General.
Near the bottom of the panel, just below Submit Button Processing Text, you’ll find the QR Code dropdown. It’s set to None by default.
Your QR code points to a page or a web address that you choose. It doesn’t point to the form itself, because forms don’t have their own web addresses unless you display them with Conversational Forms or Form Pages.
So for most forms, embed the form on a page first. Then point your QR code at that page.
Linking to a Page
To send people to a page on your site, open the QR Code dropdown and select Page.
Then open the Destination Page dropdown and choose the page you’d like people to land on. If you have a lot of pages, start typing in the search box to narrow the list.
Linking to a Custom URL
To send people anywhere else, select Custom URL instead. This is the option to use for a blog post, a landing page built with Form Pages, or a link to another site.
Then enter the full web address in the Destination URL field.
Choosing a Logo
Your QR code displays the WPForms logo in the center. To change it, open the Logo dropdown.
Then pick one of 3 options:
- None: Leaves the center of the code empty.
- WPForms: Displays the WPForms logo. This is the default.
- Custom Logo: Displays an image of your choice, such as your own brand mark.
When you select Custom Logo, an Upload an Image link will appear. Click it to open the media library, then choose an existing image or upload a new one.
Your image will appear below the dropdown along with its file name. To swap it for a different one, click Remove Image and choose again.
Generating Your QR Code
Once you’ve chosen a destination and selected the logo, click Generate QR Code.
You’ll see a spinner while your code is created, followed by a green checkmark. Then your finished code will appear in the preview.
Copying and Downloading Your QR Code
After your code is generated, the Copy and Download buttons will replace the Generate QR Code button. Click either one and you’ll be asked to pick a format.
- PNG Image: A standard image file. This works well for websites, emails, and documents.
- SVG Vector: A vector file that can be resized to any size without getting blurry. Choose this one for printed materials like posters and banners.
Download saves the file to your computer, where you’ll find it named wpforms-qr-code. Copy places the code on your clipboard so you can paste it straight into another program.
Updating a QR Code
A QR code is a picture of a link. The destination is built into the pattern at the moment you generate it, so a code always points to whatever you had selected at the time.
This means that if you pick a new destination later, the code you already have still points to the old one. WPForms flags this for you so you don’t share the wrong link by mistake. Your preview fades, a refresh icon appears over it, and Regenerate QR Code replaces the Copy and Download buttons.
Click Regenerate QR Code to build a new code for your new destination.
Changing the logo doesn’t require regenerating. Your preview updates right away. Any file you’ve already downloaded keeps the old logo, so download your code again to get the new one.
When you’re happy with your code, be sure to save your form.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below, we’ve answered some of the most common questions about QR codes in WPForms.
Does my QR code link to my form?
Not directly. Your QR code opens a page or a web address that you choose, and your form is whatever happens to be on that page.
Forms only get their own web address when you display them with Conversational Forms or Form Pages. If you’re using one of those, you can paste that address into the Destination URL field.
Can I change where a printed QR code goes?
No. The destination is part of the pattern, so changing it means generating a new code and reprinting anything the old one appeared on.
If there’s a chance the destination will move, point your code at an address you control and can redirect later. That way you can send people somewhere new without reprinting.
Why don’t I see the Copy button?
Browsers only allow copying to the clipboard on secure (HTTPS) pages, so WPForms hides the Copy button on sites that aren’t using HTTPS yet. The Download button works either way.
What happens to my QR code if I duplicate my form?
The copy keeps the same QR settings and the same generated code, so both forms point to the same destination. If you’d like the copy to go somewhere else, choose a new destination and generate the code again.
What happens if I delete my form or its page?
Deleting the form doesn’t stop the code from working. It still opens the page you chose, but your form won’t be there anymore for the people who scan it.
Deleting or unpublishing the page affects everyone who scans your code. They’ll land on a missing page, and the page also drops out of your Destination Page dropdown. To fix it, choose a new destination and generate a new code.
I changed my logo after printing. Do I need to reprint?
Only if you want the new logo on the printed piece. The logo is decoration on top of the code, so anything you’ve already printed or shared still scans to the same destination.
To update the artwork, download your code again and use the new file the next time you print.
Does my QR code expire?
No. It’s a picture of a link, so it keeps working for as long as the destination does.
Why is my Logo dropdown locked?
Choosing your own logo requires a Pro license level or higher. On other license levels you can still create, copy, and download a fully working QR code. It will display the WPForms logo in the center.
Will the QR code appear on my form or in my entries?
No. This is a form setting rather than a field, so it doesn’t add anything to your form for users to see and it doesn’t affect the data you collect. Your code only appears in the form builder, where you can copy or download it.
That’s it! You can now create a QR code that sends people straight to your form.
Next, would you like to explore the other ways you can share your form? Check out our complete guide to displaying forms on your site for all of the options available to you.