Generate QR Codes with Python in Minutes

Leandro Hirt

Atualizado em: 01/06/2026

Published on: June 1, 2026

Reading time: 3 minutes

Generating a Quick Response code — the famous QR Code — has become an essential skill for developers bridging the physical and digital worlds. Whether sharing a website link, Wi-Fi credentials, or payment data, knowing how to generate QR codes with Python lets you build personalized solutions extremely quickly. Python stands out for its simplicity and vast library ecosystem, making this task accessible even for beginners.

Why automate QR code creation with Python?

Third-party websites can generate QR codes for free, but relying on external tools becomes a bottleneck when you need to generate hundreds at once or integrate them into a larger system. With Python you gain the autonomy to apply this feature in automation scripts, inventory systems, or personalized digital invitations.

Imagine working at a company and needing a unique code for each employee to access an internal portal. Doing it manually would be impractical. With Python you can read a list of names from a file and generate all the codes in seconds — and save them in organized folders using the os module to create directories automatically.

Installing the required libraries

pip install qrcode[pil]

The [pil] suffix ensures Pillow is also installed. Without it the library can generate QR code data but cannot turn it into a visual file like PNG or JPG.

Creating your first simple QR code

import qrcode

# Define the destination link
link = "https://www.wikipedia.org"

# Generate the QR code image
image = qrcode.make(link)

# Save the file
image.save("my_first_qrcode.png")

Running this script creates a file called my_first_qrcode.png in the same folder as your Python file. The make() method is a convenience function that uses default settings to create the code quickly — an ideal starting point for anyone following a Python beginner’s guide.

Customizing with the QRCode class

For more control over design and error tolerance, use the QRCode class. Key parameters include version (1-40, controls size and data capacity), error_correction (readability when damaged), box_size (pixels per module), and border (white border thickness).

import qrcode

qr = qrcode.QRCode(
    version=1,
    error_correction=qrcode.constants.ERROR_CORRECT_L,
    box_size=10,
    border=4,
)

qr.add_data("https://www.python.org")
qr.make(fit=True)

img = qr.make_image(fill_color="black", back_color="white")
img.save("custom_qrcode.png")

The fit=True parameter instructs the library to automatically find the smallest version that fits the data, optimizing the final image size.

Batch generation with loops

import qrcode

links = {
    "Google":  "https://www.google.com",
    "Python":  "https://www.python.org",
    "GitHub":  "https://github.com"
}

for name, url in links.items():
    img = qrcode.make(url)
    img.save(f"qrcode_{name}.png")
    print(f"Code for {name} generated successfully!")

Adding custom colors

# Custom color example
img = qr.make_image(fill_color="darkblue", back_color="lightyellow")
img.save("colored_qrcode.png")

When choosing colors, ensure sufficient contrast so phone cameras can scan the code reliably. Very light fill colors can make the code unreadable in real environments.

Complete project script

import qrcode
import os

def generate_custom_qr(content, filename, fill="black", back="white"):
    try:
        # Create output folder if it doesn't exist
        os.makedirs("my_qrcodes", exist_ok=True)

        qr = qrcode.QRCode(
            version=1,
            error_correction=qrcode.constants.ERROR_CORRECT_H,
            box_size=10,
            border=4,
        )

        qr.add_data(content)
        qr.make(fit=True)

        img = qr.make_image(fill_color=fill, back_color=back)
        output_path = os.path.join("my_qrcodes", f"{filename}.png")
        img.save(output_path)
        print(f"Success! Code saved to: {output_path}")

    except Exception as e:
        print(f"Error generating code: {e}")

if __name__ == "__main__":
    generate_custom_qr("https://www.python.org", "python_tutorial", "darkgreen", "white")

Practical uses beyond links

QR codes can encode plain text (quick notes or safety instructions), vCards (digital business cards that save contacts), Wi-Fi credentials (auto-connect without typing a password), and email templates (open a mail app with recipient and subject pre-filled).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I create a QR code that never expires?

Yes. Locally generated QR codes are static — the information is encoded directly in the image. As long as the destination link or text remains valid, the code works forever.

Can I add a logo in the center?

Yes, but it requires using Pillow directly to overlay images. Use the highest error correction level (ERROR_CORRECT_H) so the code remains scannable with the logo on top.