How do I add a "Scan me" frame or label to a QR code?
Updated September 14, 2026 · 3 min read
Expand Frame on the wizard's QR Design step and pick one of the 20 frames — banner, card, phone, ticket, polaroid and so on, plus None to remove one. Then set Frame Color, Text Color and Background, and type your own wording into CTA Text (up to 30 characters), for example Scan Me or See the menu. The frame is drawn into every file you download, including the SVG.
Steps in the wizard
- Create or edit a QR code and go to the QR Design step.
- Expand Frame ("Choose a decorative frame for your QR code").
- Click a frame. The buttons are thumbnails — hover one to see its name. The first is None.
- Set Frame Color and Text Color. Picking a frame sets a sensible text colour for you; change it if you want.
- Set Background, or tick Transparent next to it to leave the area behind the frame empty.
- Edit CTA Text. It starts as Scan Me; replace it with your own wording, up to 30 characters, or clear it for a frame with no label. A counter under the field shows how much room is left.
- Finish the wizard. The frame is saved with the code and appears on every download from then on.
Which frames are available
Twenty, plus None: Banner, Card, Top+Bot, Border, Focus, Phone, Tablet, Button, Clipboard, Polaroid, Speech, Notebook, Receipt, Gift, Cup, Ribbon, Shopping, Badge, Ticket and Envelope.
Focus is the odd one out: it draws corner brackets around the code and carries no text, so it has no Text Color picker and no CTA Text field. Every other frame takes a line of your own wording.
A frame changes the shape of the finished artwork — most are taller than they are wide. Leave room for that in your layout, and remember the printed code itself ends up smaller than the overall image. There are visual examples on the QR code frames page.
How frames behave in each download format
Frames are drawn on our servers as part of the file, so every format gets the same result.
| Format | What you get |
|---|---|
| PNG | Frame and code in one image. A transparent frame background stays transparent. |
| SVG | Frame and code as vector shapes in a single file — scale it to any size. |
| JPEG | Frame and code in one image. JPEG cannot carry transparency, so a transparent background comes out white. |
| The framed code centred on the page you chose. A transparent background is filled with white. |
When a frame is on, the download's File size setting applies to the longest edge of the framed artwork, and the aspect ratio is kept. A 2048 px download of a tall frame is 2048 px tall, so the code inside it is smaller than 2048 px.
Common problems
My frame text is invisible
Text Color is matching the frame or the background. Frames that print their text on a white strip want dark text; frames that print it on a coloured bar want white text. Switch the picker and watch the live preview.
The text is cut off
CTA Text is capped at 30 characters and the frame scales the wording to fit. Short imperative phrases work best — Scan me, Order here, Tap to pay.
The code inside the frame is too small to scan
The frame takes up part of the artwork, so the code ends up smaller than the overall image. Either download a larger size, or print the framed artwork bigger — see the minimum print size.
I want the frame but not the label
Clear the CTA Text field, or use the Focus frame, which is corner brackets only.
Frequently asked questions
Can I write my own text instead of "Scan Me"?
Yes. The CTA Text field is pre-filled with "Scan Me" and takes any wording up to 30 characters. Clear it if you want a frame with no label.
Do frames make the code harder to scan?
No, as long as you keep the finished artwork large enough. The frame sits outside the code's quiet zone, so it does not interfere with the pattern itself.
Can I add a frame to a code I already made?
Yes. Open the code, click Edit, choose a frame on the QR Design step and save. On a dynamic code the destination is unchanged, so printed copies keep working.
Does the frame appear in the SVG?
Yes, and it stays vector. The frame and the code are composed into one scalable file.
Can the frame background be transparent?
Yes — tick Transparent next to Background. It holds in PNG and SVG; JPEG and PDF fill it with white.
Related articles
How do I change the colours, dot style and corners of a QR code?
Everything lives in the wizard's QR Design step: Themes for a one-click look, QR Code Style for dot pattern and colours, Corners for the three eyes.
How do I add a logo to my QR code without breaking it?
Open Add Logo on the QR Design step, pick a preset or upload a file under 2 MB, and set the size. Error correction jumps to H so the code still scans.
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.
Can I download a QR code with a transparent background?
Yes, in PNG and SVG. Tick Transparent background in QR Code Style before you save the code. JPEG always flattens to white, and the PDF page is white.
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.