Link Management
How to Generate a QR Code for a Short Link
Want people to reach your link from a poster, flyer or product label? Generate a QR code for it. In URL Shortify PRO, every short link has a QR code you can download as a PNG or SVG straight from its share widget — no third-party generator needed. Because the QR points at your short link, all scans are tracked like any other click, and you can change the destination later without reprinting the code.
PRO feature
QR code generation is available in URL Shortify PRO. It uses the bundled phpqrcode library, so codes are generated on your own site.
Where to generate a QR code
The QR code options live in the link's share widget, which appears in three places. Use whichever is convenient:
- The Links list screen (share widget in each link's row).
- The individual link statistics screen.
- The edit link screen.
Download a QR code
- Go to URL Shortify → Links (or open a link's statistics or edit screen).
- Open the share widget for the link.
- Choose the format you need:
- PNG QR Code — a raster image, best for on-screen use and quick sharing.
- SVG QR Code — a vector image that scales to any size without blurring, best for print and large formats.
- Save the generated code and place it wherever you need it.
Both formats encode the same short link, so scanning either one takes the visitor to your short URL and records the click.
PNG or SVG — which to use
| Format | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PNG | Screens, email, social posts, small print | Fixed resolution; can look blocky when enlarged a lot |
| SVG | Posters, packaging, signage, any large print | Vector — scales to any size with no loss of quality |
Turn the QR code option on or off
QR generation is controlled by a global setting that is on by default:
- Go to URL Shortify → Settings → Links.
- In the Default Link Options section, find the QR Code toggle.
- Leave it on to show QR options in the share widget, or turn it off to hide them.
| Setting | Default | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| QR Code | On | Shows the PNG and SVG QR code options in each link's share widget |
Why QR codes point at your short link
The QR code encodes your short link, not the final destination. That gives you two advantages:
- Scans are tracked. Every scan is a click on the short link, so it appears in your click reports alongside web traffic.
- The destination stays editable. Because the code points at the short link, you can change where that link redirects at any time — even after the code is printed — without generating or distributing a new QR code.
Conclusion
QR codes turn any short link into something people can scan from the physical world, and URL Shortify PRO generates them as both PNG and SVG right from the link's share widget. Print the SVG for large formats, use the PNG for screens, and rely on the short link underneath so every scan is tracked and the destination stays changeable. To see those scans, open Link Tracking.
FAQs
Is QR code generation free in URL Shortify?
No. QR codes require URL Shortify PRO. The free version creates and tracks short links, but the PNG and SVG QR code options in the share widget appear only when PRO is active.
What formats can I download the QR code in?
Two: PNG and SVG. PNG is a raster image suited to screens and small print, while SVG is a vector image that scales to any size without losing quality, making it the better choice for posters, packaging and other large-format print.
Are QR code scans tracked as clicks?
Yes. The QR code encodes your short link, so every scan is recorded as a click on that link and shows up in your click reports just like a visit from the web. You do not need to set up anything extra to track scans.
Can I change where a QR code points after printing it?
Yes. Because the QR code points at your short link rather than the final URL, you can edit the link's destination at any time and the printed code keeps working. This lets you reuse the same printed code across campaigns without reprinting.
How do I hide the QR code option?
Go to URL Shortify → Settings → Links, open the Default Link Options section, and turn the QR Code toggle off. It is on by default. Turning it off removes the PNG and SVG QR options from every link's share widget.