Free · No account needed
PDF QR Code Generator
Turn your PDF link into a QR for a menu, brochure, or handout. Keep your current file host and download a free PNG or SVG.
Use a file URL or a sharing link from your file host. Check that your readers can open it.
Free static QR. No watermark, no scan limit, and no expiry set by Scanely. The destination must remain available.
Your QR code
Generated in your browser. Scanely does not upload your link to generate this static QR.
This checks the URL format, not the file type or permissions. The QR opens the link exactly as supplied.
Need somewhere to host the PDF?
Upload and replace a PDF in Scanely with a monthly Starter, Pro, or Business subscription. Up to 20 MB per file; your plan’s storage limit applies. File hosting is not included in Free or Lifetime.
Compare monthly plansKeep the print. Change the link.
Create an account to make an editable QR and see scan counts. Your link, colors, and size will be ready in the creator.
A dynamic QR is a new code. Create and download it before printing; this static download will not become trackable.
How to turn a PDF into a QR code
- Put the PDF on your website, Drive, Dropbox, or another file host.
- Copy the file link and test it in a private browser window.
- Paste it above, choose your colors and size, then download PNG or SVG.
- Scan the downloaded QR with a phone and check the document opens for your intended audience.
A file-sharing link does not have to end in .pdf. Some hosts open a preview; others download the file. The QR keeps that behavior. It does not contain the PDF itself.
Choose a file link or hosted upload
Use the free generator when you already have a public PDF link. To change URLs after printing, continue with an editable QR and review the link in the dashboard’s General option. This also works for Lifetime customers who host their files elsewhere.
Choose File / PDF in the dashboard if you want Scanely to host the document on an eligible monthly plan. After creating the code, you can replace the file while keeping its printed QR. See the file hosting and storage limits.
Put the document where people need it
A restaurant can place a menu QR on a folded table stand. An event can put a program QR on a handout, and a property agent can link a brochure from a sign. Check your printed QR size before ordering copies.
For collecting answers instead of sharing a document, try our Google Forms QR generator. For public customer reviews, use the Google review QR generator.
Questions before you print
Is this PDF QR code generator free?
Yes. A QR from a PDF link you already host is free, with PNG and SVG downloads and no account. Uploading a file to Scanely is a separate feature on monthly Starter, Pro, and Business subscriptions.
Do I need to upload my PDF here?
No. This free tool encodes your existing public link in your browser. It does not upload, fetch, or inspect the document. If the PDF is only on your computer, host it somewhere accessible first or use Scanely’s paid file hosting.
Can I use a Google Drive or Dropbox link?
Yes. Copy the file’s sharing link and check it in a private browser window. Your intended readers need permission to view the file. A QR cannot bypass a login or sharing restriction, and a file-sharing link may open a preview rather than a direct download.
Can I replace the PDF without printing a new QR?
The free static QR keeps the same URL. It works with an updated PDF only if your host keeps that exact URL. For a different URL, use a new code or create a dynamic QR before printing. Scanely-hosted File / PDF codes let eligible subscribers replace the uploaded file.
Will the PDF QR expire?
Scanely adds no expiry to this static code. The file must remain available at the encoded URL. Deleted files, permission changes, or expiring sharing links can stop access.
Does Lifetime include PDF hosting?
No. Lifetime accounts can create dynamic General codes pointing to an externally hosted PDF. Scanely file hosting requires a monthly Starter, Pro, or Business subscription, with a maximum of 20 MB per file and the plan’s storage limit.