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Wedding Studio Help Center

My printed QR code won't scan

If the code scans on your screen but not on paper, the QR itself is fine. Something changed when it was placed in a design or printed. Work through these checks.

1. Size

  • Aim for about 1.2 to 2 inches (3 to 5 cm) square on a table card.
  • Too big is a problem too. If your printer stretches the code to fill a whole page, phones struggle to fit it in frame up close. In your print settings choose "Actual size" rather than "Fit to page", or place the code into a document or Canva template at the size you want.

2. Contrast and background

  • Keep the code dark on a plain white or very light background.
  • Leave a clear white margin around all four sides.
  • Don't place it over a photo or patterned background, don't make it transparent, and don't recolour it to pale gold, blush or grey.
  • Don't ask an AI image tool to "add" or redraw your QR code in a picture. It will generate a lookalike that doesn't scan. Always place the original file you downloaded.

3. Quality

  • Use the PNG or PDF download rather than a screenshot, and don't stretch it out of square.
  • Matte paper scans better than glossy. If you're framing it, watch for glare on the glass.

4. How guests scan

Guests just open their normal camera app, point it at the code and tap the link that appears. No QR app is needed. Very old phones may need Google Lens.

It scans, but opens the wrong page

See Guest link vs. your admin link and Welcome page vs. direct-to-album.

Still not scanning?

Email a photo of your printed card to info@wedding.studio and we'll take a look.