Generating a QR code on 1smart.link

This guide walks you through creating a QR code on 1smart.link, customising its colours and logo, and downloading it in the right format for your use case. Use QR codes on packaging inserts, business cards, posters, or anywhere you want to bridge the gap between a physical surface and a digital destination.

Note: You need a 1smart.link account to follow this guide. QR codes can be generated for any smart link or bio page you own.

Where you can generate a QR code

There are two places to create a QR code, depending on what you need:

QR Codes Manager (/dashboard/qr) — Creates a new smart link with a QR code attached to it. Use this when the QR code is your primary distribution method (e.g. a packaging insert or a printed flyer). These QR-only entries are kept separate from your regular links dashboard, so your link list stays uncluttered.
Bio Pages (/dashboard/biolinks) — Each bio page has a QR Download button that generates a QR code pointing to that page's public URL. Use this when you already have a bio page and simply want a scannable way to share it.

Tip: QR codes created from the QR Codes Manager are tagged with a qr source, making it easy to filter analytics later and see how your print campaigns are performing separately from your regular links.

Create a QR code from the QR Codes Manager

Log in to your dashboard at www.1smart.link.
Click QR Codes in the left sidebar to open the QR Codes Manager.
Enter the destination URL — this is where people will land after scanning.
Give the link a name (internal only — scanners will not see it).
Click Create or Generate to produce your QR code. The code appears immediately in the customisation panel.

Create a QR code for a bio page

Navigate to Bio Pages in the left sidebar.
Find the bio page you want a QR code for.
Click the QR Download button next to that bio page.
The QR code is generated instantly, pointing to the bio page's public URL.

Customise the QR code colours

Once your QR code is generated, you can style it to match your brand.

Colour presets

1smart.link includes seven built-in colour presets:

Preset	Best for
Classic	Maximum scanning reliability — black dots on a white background
Orange	Warm-toned branding
Dark	Light backgrounds where you want strong contrast
Navy	Professional or corporate materials
Purple	Creative or lifestyle branding
Green	Eco, health, or nature-themed products
Gold	Premium or luxury packaging

To apply a preset, click the corresponding colour swatch in the customisation panel. The QR code updates immediately.

Custom colours

If the presets do not match your brand, set your own colours:

Look for the Foreground colour picker — this controls the QR dots (the dark modules).
Enter a hex colour code or use the picker to choose your foreground colour.
Look for the Background colour picker — this controls the blank space behind the dots.
Enter a hex colour code or use the picker to choose your background colour.
The QR code preview updates in real time.

Warning: Keep the contrast between foreground and background high. A dark foreground on a light background scans far more reliably than two mid-tones. If you are unsure, test with your phone camera before committing to a design. The Classic preset (black on white) is always the safest choice for critical use cases.

Add a logo overlay

A logo in the centre of the QR code reinforces your brand identity. 1smart.link handles the technical details — it automatically increases QR error correction to compensate for the area your logo obscures.

In the QR customisation panel, find the Logo section.
Upload an image from your device or select one from your Media Library.
The logo is centred on the QR code with a rounded-square white backing, so it sits cleanly against the QR pattern.
Check the preview to confirm the logo is legible and the QR code still scans.

Tip: Simple, high-contrast logos work best. Avoid photographs or images with fine detail — they become unreadable at small QR code sizes. A clean icon or wordmark is ideal.

Download your QR code

1smart.link offers two download formats. Choose based on how and where you plan to use the QR code.

Format	Type	Best for
PNG	Raster image	Digital use (websites, emails, social media) and most standard printers
SVG	Vector image	Large-format printing — posters, packaging, billboards, banners

Click Download PNG or Download SVG below the QR code preview.
The file downloads to your device immediately.

Note: QR codes are generated entirely on your device using QRCode.js. The image is never uploaded to a server, so generation is fast and your data stays private.

Print recommendations

Getting the physical size right is essential. A QR code that is too small or too pixelated will frustrate scanners and waste your print run.

Minimum 2 cm × 2 cm for items scanned at close range — business cards, product labels, packaging inserts.
Minimum 10 cm × 10 cm for posters or signage scanned from a few metres away.
Use SVG for anything larger than 10 cm. Vector files scale to any size without pixelation, so your QR code stays crisp on a billboard just as it does on a sticker.
Test before mass-printing. Print a single copy and scan it with two or three different phone camera apps. Test in varying lighting conditions if you can. This five-minute check can save an entire print run.

What happens next

Once someone scans your QR code, they are redirected through 1smart.link to your destination URL. All scans are tracked in your analytics dashboard — you can see scan counts, geographic data, and device breakdowns just as you would for any smart link.

If you later need to change where the QR code points, edit the destination URL of the underlying smart link. The QR code itself does not change — it always points to your 1smart.link short URL, which then redirects. This means you never need to reprint.

Troubleshooting

The QR code will not scan

Low contrast. Switch to the Classic preset (black on white) and test again. If it scans, your custom colours lack sufficient contrast.
Logo is too large or detailed. Try removing the logo temporarily. If the code scans without it, choose a simpler logo image.
Print size is too small. Ensure the printed QR code meets the minimum size recommendations above.

The downloaded image looks blurry

You are likely using a PNG at a large print size. Download the SVG version instead — it scales without quality loss.

I cannot find my QR code in the links dashboard

QR codes created from the QR Codes Manager appear under QR Codes in the sidebar, not in the main Links section. This is by design to keep your dashboards organised.

Still stuck? Contact the 1smart.link support team through the help widget in your dashboard.

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