How to make a QR code for a PDF, video, audio or photos
Updated:
Upload a PDF, MP3, video or photo gallery and get a QR code that opens it on any phone. Allowed file types, size limits per plan, and how to swap the file.
File QR codes open a mobile page hosted on QR Crab with your file ready to view or play. Use them for brochures, manuals, price lists, audio guides, product videos or a set of photos. Because the page lives on QR Crab, you can change the file any time and see how often the code is scanned.
Which file types can I upload?
| Type | What you upload | What people see |
|---|---|---|
| One PDF file | The title and file size, an Open PDF button and the PDF shown in the page | |
| MP3 | One audio file (MP3, M4A, AAC, WAV or OGG), optional Cover image | An audio player with the title and Artist / author |
| Video | One video file (MP4, WebM or MOV) | A video player that plays in the page |
| Image gallery | Up to 20 images (JPG, PNG, WebP or GIF) | A photo grid; tapping a photo opens it full screen, and you can swipe between photos |
For restaurant menus, the How to make a QR code menu for your restaurant type can also use a PDF or menu photos.
File size limits by plan
| Free | Premium | Pro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max size per file (PDF, audio, images) | 5 MB | 25 MB | 100 MB |
| Video uploads | No | Yes, up to 25 MB | Yes, up to 100 MB |
The limit applies to each file, and the upload field shows the limit for your plan. If a file is too big, the editor tells you which plan allows it. Compare everything in QR Crab plans compared: Free, Premium and Pro.
Create a file QR code
- Confirm your email. Uploads and trackable codes need a confirmed email address. If you haven't yet, click the link in the confirmation email. Lost it? Use Resend email in the dashboard banner.
- Pick the type. In the dashboard, click New QR code and choose PDF, MP3, Video or Image gallery under Pages, files & forms.
- Add a title and upload the file. Fill in Title (and an optional Description), then upload your PDF file, Audio file, Video file or up to 20 Images.
- Style and create. Wait until the upload finishes, adjust the design, then click Create QR code and download it.
The guided editor (Try the new editor (beta)) has the same fields, split into Content, Look and Finish steps.
Keep files phone-friendly. A 2 MB PDF opens quickly on mobile data; a 60 MB one may make people give up. For long videos, a How to make a QR code for a website pointing to YouTube or Vimeo can work better.
Change the file later
The QR code points to your page, not to the file, so you can swap the file without reprinting. In the dashboard, open the code → Edit & design, remove the old file, upload the new one and click Save changes. People who scan from then on get the new version.
Is it tracked?
Yes. File codes are always trackable, so they use one of your trackable codes (3 on Free) and every scan appears under Stats. On the Free plan, the page shows a small “Made with QR Crab” badge; Premium and Pro remove it.
Common questions
Can I replace the PDF without reprinting the QR code?
Yes. Open the code → Edit & design, upload the new file and click Save changes. The printed QR code keeps working and opens the new file.
Why can't I upload a video?
Video uploads are part of Premium and Pro. On Free you can upload PDFs, audio files and images.
My file is too big. What can I do?
Each plan has a per-file limit: 5 MB on Free, 25 MB on Premium and 100 MB on Pro. Compress the file (most PDF tools have a “reduce size” option) or upgrade for bigger files.
Can people download the PDF?
Yes. The page shows the PDF and an Open PDF button that opens the file itself, which people can save from their phone's viewer.
Can I make a static PDF QR code?
No. A QR code can't hold a whole file, so file codes always open a page hosted on QR Crab. That makes them trackable: they use one of your trackable codes and count scans.