How to convert a PDF to QR code.

A man in an office uses his laptop to learn how to create a QR code from a PDF.

Learn how converting PDF files to QR codes can help you share your documents quickly and easily.

Need to learn how to convert a PDF file to QR code but don’t know where to begin? QR codes are becoming increasingly common in everyday life. Many restaurants have replaced menus with QR codes, while banks and other businesses use them to conveniently share information. Their use has broadened so much that the general public now uses them to share work, school projects, and other documents.

If you’re interested in using QR codes, read on to learn how they work and how you can easily convert one of your PDF files into a QR code.

What are QR codes?

Think of Quick Response (QR) codes as upgraded barcodes. They function similarly to barcodes by storing data — usually URL addresses — in a black-and-white machine-readable label. You can also store other information in a QR code, such as email addresses, phone numbers, or calendar invitations.

How to create a QR code for a PDF.

You can follow these instructions to learn how to create a QR code for PDF.

1. Scan or upload a PDF for a QR code.

First, you will need a PDF file to share. If you only have a physical paper document, scan it into a PDF file with a scanner or a free scanner app for mobile.

Then, you must upload the PDF to an online file-sharing platform and set it to be publicly available.

2. Copy the PDF URL and use a PDF QR code generator.

You’re now ready to copy the PDF’s URL and turn it into a QR code. Some file-sharing systems can generate a QR code for your files.

There are also many online services that can convert the PDF’s URL address to a QR code for free. Make sure the service you use is secure to avoid any privacy or data theft problems.

Once you have your QR code, you can share it. You can put it up on a website, send it as an email, or simply print it on paper. People can then scan the code with a QR code scanner, like Adobe Scan, and freely access your PDF file.

What information is stored in a QR code for PDF files?

The QR code is simply a link to a web-based PDF or another type of file. While the code stores the link, the PDF or linked address can store any information you decide to share.

What are the advantages of converting a PDF to a QR code?

If you choose to direct people who scan your QR code to a mobile-friendly page first, you can provide them with additional information such as your website, your company name, a document description, portfolio images, a YouTube channel, a LinkedIn profile, an Instagram account, or even an optional welcome screen.

This information helps scanners get more familiar with your company, business, or whatever you want to advertise, and this type of link can direct more traffic to your website. It’s also a great way to engage customers with a quick response and give them an interactive experience.

Other advantages of using a PDF code generator are:

They are an easy way to share information.
They can track where, when, and how people scanned the QR code.
They are a better way to organize your advertising materials.
They improve your target audience’s customer experience.
They are a great way to improve brand recognition.

What are the benefits when you create a QR code for a PDF?

There are multiple scenarios in which creating a QR code for a PDF can come in handy. Here are some examples:

Presentations. Including a PDF QR code on the cover page of a presentation or lecture can make it easier and more interactive for attendees to directly download important documents to their phones so they can revisit the content of the presentation later.
Infographics and classroom posters. PDF QR codes can expand the information you have on a poster or an infographic. With a code, you are not limited by the amount of physical space you have to work with. Plus, you can update, edit, and change the information without having to reprint the QR code.
Menus. Printing and binding a menu can be pricey, time-consuming, and wasteful for restaurants or food businesses. PDF QR codes in restaurants save owners from having to print and reprint new material every season for seasonal menu items. By using a QR code generator for PDF, you can also reduce the number of separate menus at the table, creating a clutter-free environment for the customers.
Advertisements. You can market your services to a broader audience and at a lower price when you turn your ads into a PDF QR code that you can print and distribute on college campuses or busy streets or post on social media for people to scan.

Can you edit an existing QR code to link to another PDF?

If you’re done creating your QR code but want to link it to another PDF, you will need an editable or dynamic QR code.

An editable QR code lets you change the content or destination, making it so you don’t need to reprint it.

Depending on the QR code generator that you use, you can make editable QR codes. This makes it so you can edit your PDF QR code and replace it with another PDF without having to create another QR code, no matter whether it has been printed or not.

What happens if I edit the PDF after I create a QR code for a PDF?

After creating the PDF QR code, you may want to edit or change the encoded PDFs by adding or deleting files. To do this, you can simply edit the QR code you created. Because a PDF QR code is dynamic in nature, you can edit its content anytime you want without your QR code being different.

Some QR code generator tools let you edit the PDFs you linked to a QR code, as well as enable password protection, GPS location, lead generation, and even customize the short URL.