How do I create a GS1 Digital Link QR code?
Updated September 14, 2026 · 2 min read
Open Create new → Create a QR Code, click More under the type grid and pick the GS1 tile. Fill in Product Name * and GTIN / Barcode Number *, add a batch or lot if you have one, then design and click Download ✓. The code carries the GTIN inside a GS1 Digital Link URI and opens a hosted product page when a shopper scans it. GS1 codes are dynamic only.
Video transcript
Here is how to create a GS1 QR code. One code on the pack carries the GTIN and opens a product page when scanned.
Use it on retail packaging in place of a plain link code, on batch and lot labels, and on any product whose page will change. Because the code is dynamic, you can update ingredients, recycling notes or a video later without reprinting the pack.
In the dashboard, click Create new, then Create a QR Code. Click More, pick GS1 from the type grid and leave it on Dynamic. Give the code a name, type the product name, the GTIN, the company and a lot number. Choose a theme, then Download. The code is saved and ready to print.
Three fields matter. First, the product name. Shoppers see it at the top of the page. Second, the GTIN. It is the number under your barcode, so type it exactly. Third, the lot number. It is optional and points the code at that batch.
Try it on the seven-day free trial. No credit card, five dynamic QR codes. Link in the description.
When to use a GS1 Digital Link code
- Retail packaging. Print it on the pack in place of a plain link code, with the GTIN carried inside the URL.
- Batch and lot labels. Add a lot number and the code points at that batch's page.
- Product pages that change. Update ingredients, recycling notes or a video later without reprinting the pack.
There is no Static option here. The page is hosted by us, so the pack keeps working while the content behind it changes.
Steps in the dashboard
- Start the wizard. Click Create new, then Create a QR Code.
- Pick the type. On the Type step click More and choose GS1. The toggle stays on Dynamic.
- Product Name. The name shoppers see at the top of the product page — required.
- GTIN / Barcode Number. The number printed under your existing barcode, 8 to 14 digits, typed exactly. It goes inside the link itself, so a typo changes what the code means. Required.
- Company / Brand and Product URL. Optional, shown on the page.
- Batch / Lot Number and Serial Number. Optional. Fill in the lot and the code points at that batch's page.
- Fill in what you want the page to show. Description, price, expiry date, ingredients, nutrition facts, certifications, sustainability and recycling notes, a Call to Action button, a video URL and social links are all optional.
- Design and download. Click Next →, choose a theme on the QR Design step, then Download ✓ and pick a format in Save as.... Packaging artwork usually needs SVG or a print-ready PDF.
The form shows a read-only GS1 Digital Link URI box so you can see the exact URL the code encodes. The GS1 QR code generator page runs the same wizard.
After you download
Because the page is hosted, you can open the code and click Edit to change the description, ingredients, recycling notes, video or call-to-action at any time. That is the point of putting one on a pack: the artwork has a two-year print run and the content does not.
Scans are recorded — time, device, operating system, browser, referrer and country — and shown under Full analytics. Changing the GTIN changes the meaning of the code, so treat that field as fixed once the pack is printed.
For the difference between a Digital Link code and an ordinary URL code, see GS1 Digital Link vs a normal QR code.
Before you print the pack
Check the GTIN digit by digit
Read it off the existing barcode, not from a spreadsheet. The number is inside the encoded URL, so it cannot be corrected after the print run without a new pattern.
Give the code enough room
Packaging varnish, curved surfaces and small print all cost you scan reliability. Follow minimum print size and leave the quiet zone clear.
Scan the real proof, not the screen
Test the printed proof with an ordinary phone camera before signing off. Testing before printing lists what else to check.
Frequently asked questions
Can a GS1 code be static?
No. It is dynamic only, because the product page is hosted and needs to stay editable.
Can I change the GTIN later?
You can edit the field, but it changes what the code encodes and the printed pattern will no longer match. Treat the GTIN as fixed once the pack is printed.
Does an ordinary phone camera read it?
Yes. It is a standard QR code pattern, so any phone camera opens the product page.
What does the batch or lot number do?
It is added to the encoded link, so scans of that print run resolve to that batch's page. Leave it blank if every pack should share one page.
Related articles
How do I create my first dynamic QR code?
Click Create new, pick a type, leave the toggle on Dynamic, fill in the content, style it, then click Download. The code is saved with its redirect built in.
How do I create a Product QR code?
Pick Product in the wizard, enter the product name, brand, description and Buy / Shop URL, then download. Scanners open a product page you can edit later.
How do I create a barcode (EAN-13, UPC, Code 128)?
Pick Barcode in the type grid, choose the format, type the number under your existing barcode and download. Barcodes are static and need a paid plan.
Can I download my QR code as SVG, PDF or another vector format?
Yes. Open the code, click Download, and pick SVG in the Save as... dialog. JPEG, PNG and PDF are there too. Paid plans and the free trial get all four.
What size should I print my QR code?
Print at least 2 cm square for a phone held close. Further away, divide the scanning distance by 10. Always leave a clear margin around the pattern.
Still stuck?
Email support@qrcodestack.com with the email on your account and, if it is about one code, its name or short link. A person replies within one business day, usually sooner.