Microsoft QR Code Generator: How to Use It (and What It Can't Do)
Microsoft has no standalone QR product - it has one built into Edge. Here is how it works, and where it runs out.
There is no standalone Microsoft QR code generator, which is why this search is confusing. What Microsoft actually ships is a generator built into the Edge browser: right-click any page, choose Create QR code for this page, and download it as a PNG. It is free, already installed, and genuinely the fastest route to a code for a page you have open. It is also the most limited option on this list - it encodes whatever URL the tab is on, exports PNG only, and reports nothing.
How to make a QR code with Microsoft Edge
The feature is built into the browser, so there is nothing to install. It works on any page you can open.
- 1
Open the page you want the code to link to in Microsoft Edge.
- 2
Right-click on a blank area of the page.
- 3
Click "Create QR code for this page" in the menu that appears.
- 4
The QR code appears - share a link to it, or download it as a PNG image you can email or print.
- 5
To reuse a code you already generated, click the QR code icon on the right side of the address bar.
QRmkr vs Microsoft at a glance
| Feature | QRmkr | Microsoft |
|---|---|---|
| Free to use | Free forever, never expire | Free - built into Edge[1] |
| Already installed | No - a web app you visit | Yes - part of the browser[1] |
| Download formats | PNG and SVG | PNG[1] |
| Content types | 30 types incl. WiFi, vCard, PDF, payment | The URL of the current page[1] |
| Design control | Colours, gradients, dot/eye styles, logo, frames | None[1] |
| Edit the destination after printing | Yes - dynamic codes re-point anytime | No[1] |
| Scan analytics | Real-time scans: time, device, location | None[1] |
| Can be disabled by IT policy | N/A - a website | Yes - QRCodeGeneratorEnabled group policy[2] |
QRmkr details match our pricing page. Microsoft claims are cited to Microsoft's own pages, last checked 2026-08-17. Products change - follow the links to confirm. Where Microsoft does not document a capability we say so rather than assert it is absent.
Sources
Every claim about Microsoft above comes from Microsoft's own documentation, read on 2026-08-17.
Make a QR code right here, free
No sign-up, no email, no watermark. Pick a type, paste your link, and download it as a PNG or SVG - the code never expires.
Free forever · No watermark · Never expires
Design & brandingcolors · logo · frames
Center logos use 30% error correction so the code still scans.
Want to edit or track this?
This makes a static code (permanent). Create a free account for dynamic codes you can edit after printing, with scan analytics.
Make it dynamic →When Microsoft is the better pick
Anyone who needs a throwaway code for a web page they already have open in Edge. Nothing is faster than a right-click, and for a code that will live on a slide for ten minutes it is the correct tool.
When QRmkr is the better pick
Anyone whose code goes to print, needs to be anything other than a plain URL, needs to look like it belongs to the brand, or needs to be re-pointed or measured.
Why teams pick QRmkr
Print-grade output
Edge exports a PNG. QRmkr exports SVG, so the code stays sharp at poster size instead of softening.
More than a URL
WiFi credentials, contact cards, PDFs and payment links - none of which Edge can encode.
The destination stays yours
Edge bakes in the URL of the tab. A dynamic code encodes a redirect you own and can change for as long as the print exists.
Looking for a Microsoft alternative?
QRmkr is a focused Microsoft alternative for businesses that print: create a free code, upgrade to a dynamic one you can edit after printing, and watch every scan roll in. Edge's built-in generator is the right tool for a quick, disposable code from a page you have open. Use QRmkr when the code is printed, branded, encodes something other than a URL, or needs to be edited and measured later.
FAQ
Does Microsoft have a QR code generator?
Not as a standalone product. Microsoft Edge has one built in: right-click a page and choose "Create QR code for this page", then download it as a PNG.
Where is the QR code button in Edge?
Right-click a blank area of the page, or use the QR code icon on the right side of the address bar to reuse a code you already generated.
Can Microsoft Edge make dynamic QR codes?
No. Edge encodes the URL of the current tab directly, with no way to change it afterwards and no scan tracking.
Why is the Create QR code option missing in Edge?
It can be turned off centrally - Microsoft documents a QRCodeGeneratorEnabled group policy that controls the feature, so on a managed work device your IT team may have disabled it.
Can I change where the QR code points after printing?
Yes - with a QRmkr dynamic QR code. It encodes a short redirect link, so you can update the destination anytime from your dashboard and every printed copy instantly points to the new URL. Static codes encode the destination directly and can't be changed.
Do QRmkr QR codes expire?
No. Static QR codes are free forever and never expire - they encode your destination directly and don't depend on our servers. Dynamic codes keep working as long as your account is active, and you can pause or re-point them whenever you like.
Can I track how many people scan my code?
Yes. Dynamic QR codes come with real-time scan analytics: total scans plus device, location, and time-of-day breakdowns, so you can see exactly which placement is working. Scan tracking is part of the Pro plan.
Is there a watermark on the QR code?
No. Every QR code you create with QRmkr - free or paid - is watermark-free and downloadable as a crisp PNG or scalable SVG, ready for print at any size.
Before you print it
If the code you are about to print may ever need to point somewhere else, create it as a dynamic QR code you can edit after printing. The printed pattern never changes; only the destination behind it does.
Try QRmkr free - no card required
Create a code in seconds. Make it dynamic to edit anytime and track every scan.
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