FAQ

Is QRForge free?

Yes. It is MIT licensed and requires no paid services to develop, run or self-host. There is no paid tier in the code.

Do I need an account to create a QR code?

No. The Studio generates static codes in the browser without an account or a server. Accounts are needed only for dynamic codes, analytics and saving codes on a QRForge server.

Is my data sent anywhere?

Not for static codes, which are generated locally by @qrforge/core. Uploaded logos are also processed locally. Data reaches a server only when you save a code or create a dynamic code on your own QRForge server.

Do static codes expire?

No. The content is stored in the pattern itself, so nothing has to stay online.

What happens to dynamic codes if my server goes down?

They stop redirecting until the server is back, because they point to it. Keep backups and use a hostname you control. If a code must keep working without any infrastructure, make it static.

Which content types are supported?

URL, plain text, Wi-Fi, contact (vCard 3.0), email (mailto:), SMS (SMSTO:), phone (tel:), location (geo: or an OpenStreetMap, Google Maps or Apple Maps link) and calendar events (iCalendar VEVENT). Dynamic codes redirect to URLs.

Will a styled code still scan?

The presets are chosen to scan reliably, and every design is checked as you edit it. Low contrast, inverted colors, a missing quiet zone, very small modules, oversized logos and mixed corner shapes all produce warnings. The core test suite decodes every style with an independent decoder. Still, test with a few phones before printing.

Which error correction level should I use?

M (15%) suits most codes. Use Q or H when adding a logo or when the code may be damaged. Higher levels produce denser codes.

Why is the country shown as unknown?

QRForge does not include a GeoIP database or call geolocation services. Set QRFORGE_COUNTRY_HEADER to a header added by your CDN or proxy, such as CF-IPCountry. See Analytics.

PostgreSQL or SQLite?

Both are supported. SQLite is built in and suits single-instance installations. PostgreSQL is used by the default Docker Compose stack and is required for running more than one instance.

Can I run it without Docker?

Yes. The server is a single Go binary; see Installation.

How do I reset a password without email?

Use Forgot password. When SMTP is not configured, the reset link is written to the server log.

Can I stop others from registering?

Set QRFORGE_REGISTRATION=closed, or turn off Open registration under Admin → Settings. The first account can always register.

Is there an API?

Yes. The REST API uses API keys and is described by an OpenAPI document at /api/v1/openapi.yaml. A JavaScript SDK is also available. See REST API.

Can QRForge run on GitHub Pages?

Only the Studio. GitHub Pages serves static files, so the server features (accounts, dynamic codes, analytics) need a self-hosted QRForge server. See GitHub Pages.