How-To

How to Make a QR Code in Google Docs

By Ben Stockton

Updated December 20, 2023

QR codes a great way to quickly share documents with others using their smartphone. To create a QR code for Google Docs, follow this guide.

Google Docs is built for collaborating and sharing your work with others, but there’s a problem. The sharing URLs are far too long—and certainly aren’t memorable.

Fortunately, you can create QR codes for your shared document—if you know how. In just a few clicks, you’ll be able to share the link in an easily scannable format.

To get started, here’s our guide to help you make a QR code in Google Docs.

How to Use Google Chrome to Make QR Codes in Google Docs

The easiest way to make a QR code for a Google Docs document is to use Google Chrome. Chrome has a built-in tool for creating QR codes for any website—including Google Docs documents.

To make a QR code for Google Docs in Chrome:

1. Open Google Chrome.
2. Next, open the Google Docs document you want to create a QR code for.
3. Look for the Share icon next to the URL of the document. To be clear, this isn’t the Share button in Google Docs itself, but the icon that usually appears on the address bar in Google Chrome. The icon is shaped like a square with an arrow pointing out of it.
4. Click the Share icon to proceed.
   
5. In the Share menu, select Create QR code. This will generate a QR code for the Google Docs document.
6. Take a picture of the QR code using another device (such as your phone) or click Download to download it as an image to share elsewhere.
   
7. Alternatively, right-click on the white space next to (or above) the Google Docs menu and select Create QR Code for this page. This will generate a QR code for the Google Docs document.
   

Once the QR code has been generated, you can then print the QR code or share it with others.

How to Make a QR Code for Your Google Docs Document Using a Third-Party Tool

You can also use third-party tools to create QR codes using your shareable Google Docs link. Plenty of these tools are available, but Adobe offers a good, trustworthy (and free) option.

To use Adobe Express to create a QR code for Google Docs:

1. Open your Google Docs document.
2. Click Share in the top-right corner. This is the Share button in Google Docs itself.
   
3. In the Share settings dialog, change the access level to Anyone with the link can edit or Anyone with the link can view.
4. Press Copy Link to copy the sharing link to your clipboard.
   
5. Open a new browser tab or window and go to the Adobe Express QR code generator page.
6. Click Create your QR code now.
   
7. In the text box provided, paste the sharing link that you copied earlier.
8. Click Create QR code.
   
9. You can set your preferred QR code style, color, and file type in the side panel for the image download.
10. Once you’ve set your desired settings, click Download to download the QR code image.
    

Save the file to your computer and share it elsewhere, as required.

Sharing Your Google Docs Documents

As we’ve shown above, creating a QR code in Google Docs is easy, allowing you to share documents quickly.

Want to make the document creation process even easier? Using the document outline in Google Docs can help streamline your workflow. You can also add a table of contents if you want to navigate through larger documents easily.

Enabling dark mode in Google Docs is another way to improve readability and reduce eye strain.