# How to make a QR code in Notion

> Add an image block in Notion, choose the Embed link tab, and paste https://useqr.app/q/your-data.png — the QR code renders immediately, no file to download or upload. The same URL works in markdown syntax and in database Files & media properties, so every row of a Notion database can carry its own code.

Source: https://useqr.app/docs/how-to/how-to-make-a-qr-code-in-notion · Last reviewed 2026-08-21 · UseQR is free forever, MIT licensed, no signup.

---

## 1. One URL is the whole method

UseQR serves a QR code PNG directly at a path you can write by hand:

```
https://useqr.app/q/https%3A%2F%2Fexample.com.png
```

Anything between `/q/` and `.png` (URL-encoded) becomes the code's payload. For more
control — size, colours, error correction — use the
[full API URL](/docs/developers/free-qr-code-api-no-key) instead:

```
https://useqr.app/api/v1/qr?data=https://example.com&size=600
```

Both return a raw image, which is exactly what Notion's embeds want.

## 2. Put it on a page

- **Image block**: type `/image`, switch to the **Embed link** tab, paste the URL. The
  code renders in place; drag the handles to size it.
- **Markdown**: Notion imports markdown, so this line works in any imported document or
  pasted markdown content:

```
![Menu QR code](https://useqr.app/q/https%3A%2F%2Fexample.com%2Fmenu.png)
```

- **Callout or column blocks**: an image block nests inside both — a code beside its
  explanation is a tidy pattern for internal wikis and
  event pages.

If the payload is not a URL — plain text, a WiFi payload — build it in the
generator first and copy the API link, or upload the downloaded PNG with the image
block's **Upload** tab. Uploading also suits styled codes with logos.

## 3. Use it in databases

The same URL works in a **Files & media** property via **Embed link**, which unlocks the
genuinely useful pattern: an asset-register or inventory database where **each row shows
the QR code for its own ID or URL**. Combine with a formula property that builds the link
(`"https://useqr.app/q/" + prop("Asset ID") + ".png"` as a text column to copy from — Notion
formulas cannot render images themselves, but the gallery card image can show the embedded
file). For dozens of physical labels from that database, export to CSV and run it through
the [bulk tool](/bulk) at print resolution instead — embeds are screen-resolution
conveniences, not [print files](/docs/how-to/how-to-make-a-high-resolution-qr-code).

## 4. Know how Notion treats the embed

An embedded-by-link image is **fetched from the URL when the page renders** — Notion does
not permanently copy it the way Google Docs does. Practical consequences:

- The image needs the viewer to be online (true of Notion pages generally).
- The code itself is static — the payload is baked into the URL, and
  [static codes never expire](/docs/basics/do-qr-codes-expire).
- If you want the page to be self-contained — say, before exporting the workspace — use
  the **Upload** tab with a downloaded PNG instead of the link.

## 5. Verify once

Scan the rendered block straight off your screen — phones handle
[scanning from a monitor](/docs/scanning/scanning-a-qr-code-off-a-monitor) without fuss —
or paste the image URL into the [validator](/validate) to confirm it decodes to exactly
what you intended, encoding and all.

## Gotchas

- **Encode the payload.** `/q/https://example.com/a b.png` breaks on the space and slashes;
  URL-encode what sits between `/q/` and `.png`. The `?data=` form is more forgiving.
- **The Embed tab vs image block**: a generic `/embed` block wraps the image in an iframe
  card; the **image block** renders the PNG cleanly and resizes better.
- **Exports**: PDF and markdown exports of the page include the image as rendered — check
  the exported PDF if the page is destined for print, and mind the code's
  quiet zone against dark page backgrounds in dark mode. A code
  on Notion's dark theme sits on its own white tile only if the PNG has a white
  background — avoid [transparent codes](/docs/how-to/how-to-make-a-transparent-qr-code)
  in Notion dark mode.

Build the URL and paste it into an image block: [make a QR code](/url?data=https://example.com).

## FAQ

### How do I add a QR code to a Notion page?
Add an image block, choose the Embed link tab, and paste https://useqr.app/q/your-encoded-data.png or a full API URL. The code renders immediately without downloading a file.

### Can Notion database rows each have a QR code?
Yes — a Files & media property accepts an embedded link, so each row can reference the image URL for its own ID. For printable labels, export the database to CSV and use a bulk generator.

### Does the QR code break if UseQR is unreachable?
The embedded image needs fetching when the page renders, so upload the PNG instead if you want the page self-contained. Printed or downloaded codes are static and work regardless.

### Why does my Notion QR code look wrong in dark mode?
A transparent or dark-styled code loses contrast against Notion's dark background. Use a code with a solid white background so it carries its own light surface everywhere.

## Try it

- https://useqr.app/url
- https://useqr.app/validate