Password protected QR code: a scan alone is not enough
A password protected QR code asks for a password before it opens the destination. Anyone can scan the code, but only people you have told can get through. It is included on Pro and Business.
No credit card required. Plans from $9 a month after the trial.
When to use it
- Staff documents on a noticeboard or in a shared space
- Pre-release material for press or partners
- Member-only content printed on a public poster
- Course material meant only for enrolled students
Add time and scan limits
On the same plans you can set an expiry date, or a cap on the number of scans. Together with a password, those let you run a time-limited release from one printed code.
What it does not do
The password gate works only on dynamic codes, because it runs on the redirect. A static code holds its data in the pattern and cannot be protected. A shared password also protects no better than the people who hold it, and it is not a substitute for proper access control over sensitive records. To share WiFi access, use a WiFi QR code instead.
How to set one up
- Create a dynamic code and open its rules section.
- Turn on password protection and choose a password.
- Tell your audience the password separately from the code, for example by email or in a briefing.
- Scan it yourself, enter the password, and check that the destination opens.
Do not print the password next to the code, because that removes the point of having one. Choose something easy to type on a phone, and change it when someone leaves the group. The printed code stays the same when you do. Anyone who already knows the old password loses access, so tell those who still need it.
Scan analytics still work on a protected code, so you can see activity over time. If you want to limit a code to a period rather than to a group, an expiry date may be all you need.
Common questions
Can I change the password later?
Yes. Edit the code in your dashboard, and the printed code stays the same.
Which plan includes it?
Pro from $19 a month and Business from $59 a month. See the pricing page.
Protect your first code
Start on Pro and set a password in the code's rules.
Start Free TrialNo credit card required.