How a text QR code works
A text code holds exactly the characters you type, with no prefix and no link. Scanning it does not need the internet: the text is read straight out of the pattern. That makes it suitable for places without a signal, or for information that should not depend on a website staying online.
What the phone does with plain text varies. Many Android scanners and Google Lens show the text with a copy button. The iPhone Camera app may show it in a banner or offer a search, depending on the iOS version. If what you need is for people to open a page, use a URL code instead; if they should read a sentence, text is the right choice.
Capacity is the main limit. Accented letters, Asian scripts and emoji take two to four bytes each, so they fill the code faster than plain English letters. In practice, a few hundred characters still scan comfortably; when content gets too long, the preview tells you.
Where it helps
- A workshop labels equipment with codes that contain the serial number and last service date, readable even in a basement with no reception.
- A teacher hides the answer to a puzzle in a code on the worksheet, so students check their work only when they are ready.
- A warehouse prints bin locations or part numbers as text codes that any phone can read without special software.
- A gift tag carries a short personal message that appears when the recipient scans it.
Tips before you print
- Keep it short. Every extra sentence makes the squares smaller, and small squares need a larger print and better light.
- If the preview says the content is too long, set Error correction to Standard under Style, or move the text to a web page and use a URL code.
- Do not use a text code for secrets. Anyone who scans it can read every character.
- Test with both an iPhone and an Android phone, since plain text is displayed differently on each.