STATIC QR WORKSHOP
Location QR Code Generator
Turn a place into a QR code that opens a map with a pin on it. Paste a map link or type the coordinates, choose which map app it should open, and print it on invitations, signs and flyers.
- Paste a map link
- Google Maps, Apple Maps, geo:
- Coordinates stay on your device
- PNG & SVG
What happens when someone scans it
A location QR code stores a point on the map as latitude and longitude. What the phone does depends on the format you choose under “Opens in”:
| Format | What the phone does |
|---|---|
| Google Maps link | Opens the Google Maps app if it is installed, otherwise Google Maps in the browser, with a pin at the coordinates. Google documents this link format as working the same on Android, iOS and desktop. This is the default because it works on almost every phone. |
| Apple Maps link | Opens Apple Maps on iPhone, iPad and Mac with a pin and, if you add one, your own place name. |
| geo: location | Offers to open a map app on most Android phones. iPhone cameras may only show the coordinates as text, so use it only when you know your audience uses Android. |
How to get the coordinates
Paste a map link
Copy the address from your browser while looking at the place on Google Maps, Apple Maps or OpenStreetMap and paste it into the first field. The latitude and longitude are read from the link on your device and filled in below. Shortened share links such as maps.app.goo.gl do not contain coordinates; open them first and copy the full address from the browser bar.
Or type them
On Google Maps on a computer, right-click a spot and click the coordinates at the top of the menu to copy them. They look like 40.748817, -73.985428 — latitude first (−90 to 90), then longitude (−180 to 180). You can paste that pair into the map-link field too. Six decimal places locate a point to about ten centimetres, which is more precise than phone GPS, so longer numbers are rounded.
Pin the entrance, not just the building
A pin is only as useful as where you put it. For a large venue, a campus or a car park, drop the pin on the entrance people should use, the gate for deliveries or the meeting point — not the middle of the roof. That is the main advantage of coordinates over an address: they point to exactly the spot you choose, even in places without a street address such as a trailhead, a beach or a field at a festival.
Common mistakes
- Swapped numbers. Latitude comes first. If your pin lands in the ocean or the wrong continent, the numbers are probably swapped or a minus sign is missing.
- Copying a short link. It cannot be read without contacting the link service, so the generator asks for the full link instead.
- Choosing geo: for a mixed audience. iPhone users may only see numbers. The Google Maps link is the safe choice.
- Not checking the pin. Open “Encoded content”, copy the link and open it on your phone before you print.
Where location codes work well
- Wedding and party invitations, with the pin on the venue entrance.
- Event posters, festival maps and sports fixtures.
- Hotel and holiday-rental welcome cards for the nearest beach, station or supermarket.
- Delivery instructions and site-access signs.
- Hiking trailheads, geocaching and outdoor education.
Adding a date and time as well? Pair it with an event QR code that puts the event in the guest's calendar.
Questions
Which format should I choose?
The Google Maps link, unless you have a reason not to. It opens on iPhone and Android, in the Google Maps app or the browser. Choose Apple Maps for an Apple-only audience, and geo: only for Android-only use.
Can I paste a Google Maps share link?
Full links from the browser address bar work. Short links such as maps.app.goo.gl do not contain coordinates, so open them first and copy the full address.
How precise is the location?
The code keeps six decimal places, about ten centimetres — more precise than phone GPS. Where the pin lands is up to you.
Can I use a street address instead of coordinates?
This generator uses coordinates, which point to an exact spot and work where there is no street address. To share an address as text, use the text generator or include it in a vCard.
Does the code track who scans it?
No. It is a static code with the map link inside. QR Studio never sees who scans it; the map service the phone opens has its own privacy policy.
Is my location uploaded?
No. The coordinates are read from the link and the code is made in your browser.