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Free · 3 PDFs with a free account

QR code for PDF: turn a PDF into a QR code

Upload your PDF and get a QR code that opens it. Replace the file any time and the printed code keeps working. Already have the PDF on Google Drive, Dropbox or OneDrive? Paste its link instead, no account needed.

  • Upload a PDF up to 10 MB, no expiry date
  • Replace the file without reprinting
  • Or paste a Drive, Dropbox or OneDrive link

Drop your PDF here

PDF only · up to 10 MB · 3 free PDFs with a free account

Uploaded PDFs are public to anyone with the link and are stored on files.zapqr.net. Only upload files you have the right to share. See our Terms.

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Content

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Template

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Style

The template is already tuned. Change anything you like.
Body
More shapes

Body Shape

Current: Square
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◆
⬢
★
♥
▲
✚
➕
｜
－
／
＼
●
❀
🍃
⚙
🧩
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Eye Frame Shape

Current: Square Frame
🔲
⬜
⭕
◇
⬡

Eye Ball Shape

Current: Square Ball
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▢
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♦
▲
★
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Preview · Download

QR code · Preview
Checking…Estimate

Made on this device. Nothing is uploaded.

Change the destination after printing? Dynamic QR

How to make a QR code for a PDF

  1. Upload your PDF

    Choose a PDF up to 10 MB. You need a free account with a confirmed email address, so we know who to contact about the file. If you pick the file before signing in, we keep it in this browser until you are back.

  2. Style the QR code

    Your file’s link is filled into the generator below. Add colors, a frame or your logo, and check the preview.

  3. Download and print

    Download PNG for screens or SVG for print. To change the PDF later, replace it in your account; the printed code keeps working.

Prefer not to create an account? Choose Paste a link and use a PDF you already share from Google Drive, Dropbox or OneDrive.

PDF to QR code: upload the file or paste a link?

Most PDF QR code generators host the file for you, and that is what Upload PDF does. If your PDF already lives in cloud storage, you can paste its link instead. Here is how the two compare on ZapQR.

  • Upload PDF

    Good for

    • You don’t need Google Drive, Dropbox or a website.
    • Replace the file later and the printed code keeps working.
    • No expiry date and no ad page before the PDF.

    Watch out for

    • Needs a free account with a confirmed email.
    • Up to 10 MB per file and 3 live PDFs per account.
    • Anyone with the link can open the file, so don’t upload private documents.

  • Paste a link

    Good for

    • No account; the PDF stays in your own storage.
    • No size limit from us; your storage service sets it.
    • The code is static, so nothing on our side can switch it off.

    Watch out for

    • You must set the link so anyone can view it.
    • If you move or delete the file, the code stops opening it.
    • To change the PDF after printing, you need a new code or a Dynamic QR code.

Share settings for Google Drive, Dropbox and OneDrive

Menu names below come from each service’s help center (checked November 2026). Services change their menus from time to time, so follow the official page if yours looks different.

  • Google Drive

    1. Select the PDF and click Share.
    2. Under General access, choose “Anyone with the link”.
    3. Keep the role as Viewer.
    4. Click Copy link, then Done.
    Google Drive Help: share files ↗

  • Dropbox

    1. Sign in at dropbox.com and hover over the PDF.
    2. Click Share, then Copy link.
    3. To make sure it is view-only, open Manage and choose “Link for viewing”.
    Dropbox Help: how to share ↗

  • OneDrive

    1. Select the PDF and click Share.
    2. Open the link settings (gear icon) and choose “Anyone”.
    3. Uncheck “Allow editing” so people can only view, then click Apply.
    4. Click Copy to copy the link.
    Microsoft Support: share OneDrive files ↗

If the QR code does not open the PDF

  • It says “This file is not available”

    The owner archived or deleted the uploaded PDF, or it was taken down after a report. If it is your file, open your account: restore an archived PDF to turn the code back on.

  • It asks people to sign in

    The file is shared privately. Change the sharing to “Anyone with the link” in Google Drive or “Anyone” in OneDrive, then scan again. If the service gave you a new link, make a new QR code with it.

  • It says the file was not found

    The file was moved, deleted or uploaded again as a new file, so the old link no longer points to it. Share the file again and make a new QR code.

  • The PDF is slow to open on a phone

    Large PDFs take a while on mobile data. Compress the file or split it, and keep it to a few megabytes where you can.

  • People outside my company cannot open it

    Work or school accounts in OneDrive, SharePoint and Google Workspace often block public links. Ask your admin, or share the PDF from a personal account or your own website.

Using a share link and want to change it later?

A static QR code stores the link itself, so it cannot change after printing. If you uploaded your PDF here, just replace the file. If you paste a share link and expect it to change, use a Dynamic QR code: the printed code points to a short link that you can edit at any time.

Learn about Dynamic QR codes →

PDF QR code FAQ

Is it free, and do I need to sign up?

Both ways are free. To upload a PDF you need a free account with a confirmed email address, and you can keep up to 3 PDFs live. To paste a share link you don’t need an account at all.

Can I upload my PDF?

Yes. Choose Upload PDF, sign in, and pick a file up to 10 MB. We host it at a link on files.zapqr.net and fill that link into the QR code generator for you.

Do you store my PDF?

If you upload it, yes: we store the file so people who scan can open it, and anyone with the link can view and download it. Don’t upload confidential documents. If you paste a link instead, we never receive the PDF; the QR code only holds your link and is drawn in your browser.

Can I replace the PDF without reprinting?

Yes, for uploaded PDFs. In your account, choose Replace PDF and pick the new file. The QR code and its link stay the same, and people who scan see the new file within a few minutes.

Will the QR code expire?

There is no expiry date. An uploaded PDF stays online while your account exists, unless you archive or delete it or it breaks our Terms. A pasted link works as long as the file stays shared at that address.

How big can the PDF be?

Uploads can be up to 10 MB. For pasted links there is no limit on our side; your storage service sets it. Either way, smaller files open faster on phones.

What do people see when they scan?

For an uploaded PDF, a simple page with the file name, a preview where the phone or browser supports it, and an Open PDF button. There are no ads and no sign-up. For a pasted link, they see whatever that link opens, such as the Google Drive preview.

Can I make a QR code for a Word document or another file?

Upload accepts PDF only, so save Word documents and slides as PDF first. With Paste a link, any file you can share publicly from Google Drive, Dropbox or OneDrive works.

Can I print the QR code?

Yes. Download SVG for print, because it stays sharp at any size. Scan a test print with your phone before printing many copies.

How is this different from a Dynamic QR code?

An uploaded PDF already lets you swap the file behind the code. A Dynamic QR code does the same for web links: the printed code points to a short link that you can send anywhere. Both need a free account and show basic scan counts.