How do I add a Meta, Tag Manager or TikTok pixel to a QR code?
Updated September 14, 2026 · 3 min read · Pro and Business
Open the code, go to the Content step, expand Stats & Tracking and find Tracking & Analytics. Paste your Facebook Pixel ID, Google Analytics (GA4), Google Tag Manager or TikTok Pixel ID, then save. From then on every scan fires those pixels, so the people who scan your printed material become an audience you can retarget. The section needs a Pro or Business plan and a dynamic code.
Add pixels to a code
- Open the code from My QR Codes and click Edit, or start a new one.
- On the Content step, expand Stats & Tracking (subtitle: "GPS tracking & retargeting pixels").
- Under Tracking & Analytics, leave Tracking Profile on Manual configuration unless you have a saved profile.
- Fill in the fields you need under Retargeting Pixels:
- Facebook Pixel ID — digits only, for example
1234567890 - Google Analytics (GA4) —
G-XXXXXXXXXX - Google Tag Manager —
GTM-XXXXXXX - TikTok Pixel ID —
CXXXXXXXXXX
- Facebook Pixel ID — digits only, for example
- Finish the wizard and click Update ✓ or Download ✓.
Nothing about the printed pattern changes, so you can add pixels to a code that is already in the field. Setting the same IDs on many codes is what tracking profiles are for.
When and where the pixels fire
It depends on whether the code redirects or shows a page we host:
| Type of code | What happens on a scan |
|---|---|
| Redirecting types (URL, Website, Maps, social profiles and similar) | A brief "Redirecting…" page fires lightweight beacons, waits a fraction of a second so the requests are not cut off, then sends the visitor to the destination. The wait is around 0.4 seconds for Meta alone, and around 0.9 seconds when a Google or TikTok tag has to load. |
| Display types (vCard, PDF, menu, event, feedback, product and the rest) | The full tags load on the hosted page itself and stay active while the visitor is on it. |
Either way the pixel fires on our scan page, not on your website. If you also want the destination site's own analytics to attribute the visit, add UTM parameters as well.
Meta Event Options and the Conversions API
Once a Facebook Pixel ID is filled in, a Meta Event Options block appears:
- Event fired on scan — QRScan (default), or Lead, Contact, Schedule, CompleteRegistration, ViewContent, Purchase, PageView only, or Custom event… with your own name.
- Conversions API token — optional. Adding one also sends the event from our server, which recovers scans lost to browser and device privacy limits. Both copies carry the same event id, so Meta counts the scan once.
The event carries the code's name and type, so you can build an audience of people who scanned one specific poster rather than everyone who touched your pixel.
Common problems
The section shows a PRO badge and is greyed out
Retargeting pixels need a Pro or Business plan. Starter and the free trial do not include them.
I saved an ID and nothing fires
The IDs are validated before use and a malformed one is ignored silently. Check the shape: Meta is 10 to 20 digits, GA4 starts with G-, Tag Manager starts with GTM-, TikTok is 10 to 30 letters and digits.
Fewer events than scans
Expected. Ad blockers, tracking protection and visitors who leave during the brief redirect all cost events. Adding a Conversions API token recovers a share of the Meta ones.
The redirect feels slower
It is, by design — the page waits briefly so the requests complete. Removing the Google and TikTok fields shortens the wait.
My static code has no such section
Static codes never reach our servers, so there is nothing to fire. Only dynamic codes can carry pixels.
For the case study version of this setup, see QR code retargeting.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put pixels on a code that is already printed?
Yes, as long as it is dynamic. The pattern does not change.
Does the scanner see anything different?
On redirecting codes they see a brief loading page instead of an instant hop. On hosted pages there is no visible difference.
Can I use more than one pixel on the same code?
Yes. All four fields can be filled at once.
Do pixels affect my QRCodeStack scan counts?
No. Scan counting is separate and happens whether pixels are set or not.
Is a Conversions API token required?
No, it is optional. Without it, Meta events are sent from the browser only.
Related articles
How do I reuse pixel settings with tracking profiles?
Save your pixel IDs once on the Marketing page, then pick that profile in the QR wizard's Tracking Profile selector instead of retyping them on every code.
How do I track QR code scans in Google Analytics 4?
Add UTM parameters to the destination with Edit parameters under the URL field. GA4 then files each scan under your campaign instead of Direct.
How do I read my QR code scan analytics?
Open Analytics in the sidebar, pick a date range, and read Total Scans, Unique Visitors, Avg Scans/Day and Active Devices. Only dynamic codes report scans.
How do I group QR codes and links into a campaign?
Open Campaigns, click New campaign, name it and set UTM defaults, then use Attach to add links, QR codes and pages. Campaigns are on every plan.
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.