How to Generate QR Codes Without Redirects

QR codes are everywhere today — on business cards, restaurant menus, ads, and product packaging. They’re essentially square barcodes that store information, most often a URL. Scanning a QR code with your phone camera instantly takes you to that link.

Creating one seems simple: you enter a link, get a QR code, and you’re done. But there’s a catch.

Most free QR code generators you find online do not give you a “clean” QR code. Instead, they wrap your link in a redirect. For example:

QR code → qr-code-tool.com/abc123 → yourwebsite.com

This isn’t ideal for businesses. Redirects can:

• Add tracking you don’t control
• Break trust with customers if they notice a strange domain
• Cause problems if the generator service shuts down or changes policies

Different Ways to Create QR Codes Without Redirects

I’ve been in this place myself when I needed a QR code with a logo without any redirects. So here I am sharing different ways how it can be done.

1. Generate QR Codes in Google Chrome

This one is pretty straightforward if you have a Chrome browser.

1. Open the website you want a QR for (button will be disabled if no tabs are open).
2. Go to settings (three dots), choose Cast > Save and share > Create QR Code.

This gives you a simple, redirect-free QR code with Chrome’s little T-Rex icon in the middle.

It works instantly — but you can’t customize it with your own logo or brand colors.

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2. Generate QR Codes with Python (More Control)

If you want customization — like adding your logo, changing colors, or generating QR codes in bulk — Python is the best option.

All you need is the qrcode package. This is an easy way to generate QR codes without redirects while keeping your brand identity.

One caveat: you need to be comfortable with a bit of coding (or vibe coding).

Install the libraries with:

pip install qrcode Pillow

Here’s a simple script you can use:

#!/usr/bin/env python3
import qrcode
from PIL import Image
import os

def create_qr(url, output="qr.png", size=600, logo="logo.png"):
    qr = qrcode.QRCode(
        error_correction=qrcode.constants.ERROR_CORRECT_H
    )
    qr.add_data(url)
    qr.make(fit=True)

    img = qr.make_image(fill_color="black", back_color="white").convert("RGBA")
    img = img.resize((size, size), Image.Resampling.LANCZOS)

    # Add logo if it exists
    if logo and os.path.exists(logo):
        logo_img = Image.open(logo).convert("RGBA")
        logo_size = size // 5
        logo_img = logo_img.resize((logo_size, logo_size), Image.Resampling.LANCZOS)
        pos = ((size - logo_size) // 2, (size - logo_size) // 2)
        img.paste(logo_img, pos, mask=logo_img)

    img.save(output)
    print(f"✅ Saved {output} → {url}")

if __name__ == "__main__":
    urls = [
        "https://www.scamraven.com",
        "https://example.com"
    ]
    for url in urls:
        name = url.split("/")[-1] or "homepage"
        create_qr(url, f"qr_{name}.png")

Some instructions:

• Add the URLs you want in the urls list
• If you want a logo, place logo.png in the same folder
• Run the script, and you’ll get clean .png QR codes with your links directly embedded

Here is the outcome:

3. Use Trusted QR Generation Tools

If you don’t want to mess with code, you can use QR code generators that don’t insert redirects or watermarks.

Examples:

• goqr.me — not open source, but gives clean, no-redirect QR codes (logos require paid upgrade)
• LibreOffice / Inkscape extensions — open-source tools that can generate QR codes directly inside documents or graphics

Always test the QR code before printing or sharing: scan it and check if it leads directly to your URL — no extra stops.

QR Code Scams to Watch Out For

Since this is ScamRaven, it’s worth mentioning: QR codes can also be abused. Common tricks include:

• Fake parking meter stickers with malicious QR codes leading to phishing sites
• Restaurant menu swaps where scammers place a fake QR over the real one
• Phishing emails embedding QR codes to bypass spam filters

Final Thoughts

If you only need a quick QR code → Chrome works.

If you need custom branding → Python gives you full control.

If you want zero risk and transparency → use open-source tools.

The key thing to remember: avoid generators that wrap your link in redirects. They may look convenient, but they introduce risks — from broken links to unwanted tracking.

A QR code should be as simple as possible:

👉 QR code → yourwebsite.com Nothing more.