The Complete Guide on How To Convert Files to QR Codes

QR Codes are one of the fastest and most interactive ways of collaboration. And the fact that you can virtually convert any file into a QR Code is a bonus.

Converting files into QR Codes is easy with the right QR Code generator. But all QR Code makers are not created equal. When sharing files—which can be sensitive—security is key and is something you cannot ignore.

If you’re looking to convert your files to QR Codes to share them with the world in a secure and efficient way, you’ve come to the right place.

In this article, let’s talk about what kind of files you can convert to QR Codes, how Beaconstac can help, and why converting files to QR Codes makes file sharing, collaboration, and accessibility easier than ever.

Table of contents

1. What are the different types of files you can convert to QR Codes?
2. How to convert files to QR Codes in 4 simple steps
3. What are the advantages of converting files to QR Codes?
4. Who can benefit from converting files to QR Codes?
5. Frequently asked questions

What are the different types of files you can convert to QR Codes?

Here are the types of files you can convert to QR Codes:

1. PDFs to QR Codes

You can securely share PDFs (as presentations, eBooks, menus, brochures, and so on) with many people without requiring any messaging platforms or email IDs.

Executives often need to share a PDF with various stakeholders – either internal or external. A PDF QR Code is a great way to ensure your file reaches its intended audience conveniently.

Consider this: Pete has just finished a smashing presentation to 500+ attendees on the “Basics of Content Strategy”. He is bombarded with requests for his presentation, especially the PDF templates he shared during the session. His final slide contains a QR Code, which allows anyone to download the PDF presentation. Neat, right?

2. Images, videos, and audio to QR Codes

You can easily convert image files—be it JPEGs or PNGs—to QR Codes with Beaconstac. 

Typically, images are difficult to share since they are heavy files. Compressing them can be a hassle and can result in reduced quality. 

Imagine sharing your company logo, a high-resolution profile image, or an ad image with other stakeholders with the ease of QR Codes—without altering image quality.

Similarly, you can convert MP3 and MP4 files to QR Codes safely and quickly via QR Code generators like Beaconstac. 

Converting audio and video files into YouTube QR Codes can be an innovative and simple way to promote your podcast episodes or YouTube channel.

“QR Codes really bridge the gap between offline and online promotion … You can really take advantage of that curiosity, and that drive to kind of know what’s going on with things to make people want to scan your QR Code to check out your podcast.” 

– Roni Gosch, Podbean Podcast Specialist

3. Google Drive file or folder to QR Codes

If you have files in a Google Drive, you can convert that too into a QR Code.  Create a QR Code for a file or folder in your Google Drive and make it even easier to share with internal and external stakeholders.

Skip having to copy the URL each time you want to share a folder or file and instead make it accessible with just a scan.

How to convert files to QR Codes in 4 simple steps

You can easily convert multiple types of files into QR Codes. Follow the easy steps below:

Before you begin…
Ensure you have a Beaconstac account. Sign-up for a 14-day trial with Beaconstac to convert multiple types of files into secure and dynamic QR Codes—for 14 days. No credit cards needed.

Step 1: Log-in to the Beaconstac dashboard and click “+CREATE”

Once you have signed up, log-in and click “CREATE” on the top right corner of the dashboard.

Step 2: From the list of dynamic QR Codes, choose “PDF”

In this instance, we’re using PDF as an example. You can choose any other file type from the list based on your use case.

Note:
Ensure your file size(s) is within the limits: 50 MB max for MP3 and PDF; 5 MB max for images.

Step 3: Upload your PDF file on the dashboard

Click on the “browse” text in the middle of the upload box to access your PDF file locally stored in your system. You can add the link to your PDF if the file is online.

Step 4: Customize QR Code design

Choose from various templates and designs or customize the QR Code per your brand’s colors. You can even add your logo to the QR Code.

Adding a clear CTA related to the file type (e.g., “Scan for PDF”) in your QR Code frame adds credibility and prompts more scans.

Step 5: Download your QR Code

That’s it! You can save, name the file and download the QR Code in the format of your choice.

What are the advantages of converting files to QR Codes?

There are several advantages of converting your files to QR Codes. In this section, we will list out four key aspects you should consider:

1. Easily distribute files

QR Codes can be a marketer’s best friend. They help you to easily distribute and promote your work. Whether it is your latest podcast episode, a PDF, or your resume that you want to share with potential employers, you can convert them all to QR Codes and share them with ease.

2. Secure and private file-sharing

Security is critical when creating and sharing files via QR Codes. And security begins to matter right from your choice of QR Code generator until you share it with the world.

Your QR Code generator of choice, therefore, must have data and privacy protection systems in place to protect users’ data who scan your QR Codes. The generator must also have security arrangements in place for your organizational security.

3. Offer interactive user experience

QR Codes are a great way to create an impression. For instance, as a B2B product marketer, you could share a QR Code of your product playbook at your company booth. 

Your QR Codes can have links to video demos and calendars to enable users to schedule a call.

4. Track the effectiveness of your file-sharing campaigns 

Simply sharing files via emails, drives, and messaging platforms does not produce engagement data. If you’re sharing files as part of your marketing campaign or you need to ascertain engagement with the files—data analytics is crucial. 

Add an element of trackability to file sharing with QR Codes and monitor the number of scans, usage statistics, and even the geographic location where the file has been accessed.

5. Password protect your files

There are instances where you may be sharing sensitive data at meetings, within your organization or workplace. In such cases, QR Codes also offer the ability to password protect your content. 
This enables safer, restricted sharing to selected audience.

With password protected QR Codes, you get the option to set a password, and edit it anytime. The audience that scan the QR Code can only access the content post entering the password.

🔥If you’re using Beaconstac
You can get all the information related to QR Code scan events—from the number of scans and unique users to the scan location, time of day, and more on a single dashboard.

Beaconstac allows you to integrate your QR Code analytics with Google Analytics for deeper and more varied insights.

Who can benefit from converting files to QR Codes?

You can use QR Codes across diverse industries. Here are some interesting uses of files converted to QR Codes:

1. Schools and educational institutions

1. Teachers can use QR Codes in classrooms to share study material, assignments, and even educational videos with students. 
2. Instead of conventional student ID cards, which can be easily duplicated and misused, a QR Code-based identity card is more secture, and easily verifiable by the school authorities. 

2. Hospitals and clinics

• QR Codes in healthcare can help hospitals and clinics store patient information easily by converting physical documents, PDFs, and text files to QR Codes. 
• They can even attach a QR Code to physical files to share information with patients or create a health ID for easier patient identification.

3. Corporate offices

Consider this: Samantha has to share her revenue numbers with her CEO every week. Instead of sharing the link to her Excel spreadsheet each time, she creates an Excel QR Code—simple, smart, and impressive. 

Similarly, professionals can convert their Google Slides presentation to QR Codes for internal use at quarterly review meets. Sales team doesn’t need to share a boring Calendly link after each demo, a QR Code can easily do the job, just better.

Start converting files to QR Codes with Beaconstac

If you’re looking for a safe, efficient, and easy solution to convert your files into QR Codes, Beaconstac is the answer. 

From PDFs to heavy multimedia files, Beaconstac’s QR Code solution is safe, secure and trusted by over 50,000 businesses worldwide, including Pepsi, Nestle, Amazon, and Deloitte, to name a few. 

Beaconstac is also rated #1 QR Code generator on G2. 

It’s time to up your file-sharing game with Beaconstac.

Frequently asked questions

1. How do you convert a file to QR Code?

You can convert several file types like PDFs, JPEGs, PNGs, MP3s, and MP4 files into QR Codes. It’s really easy to do so with Beaconstac, one of the world’s leading QR Code generators.

1. Log in to the Beaconstac dashboard, click “+Create,”  and select “ QR Codes.” 
2. Select the QR Code campaign type, upload your file, or paste the file URL. 
3. Customize QR Code per your branding guidelines. Click “Next”’. 
4. Your QR Code for a file is ready. Download in the format of your choice. 

2. Can an image be converted to QR Code?

Yes, you can convert images of different formats like JPEGs and PNGs into QR Codes using a QR Code generator like Beaconstac by simply pasting the image’s URL in the Beaconstac dashboard after logging in and clicking “+Create”.

• Author Details

Author Details

Natasha Puri

Natasha is a content marketer who intertwines product with high quality content. Presently, she writes about dynamic QR Codes and their features, as a tool that drives businesses revenue. When she’s not tracking QR Codes and how they can help businesses market their products, she’s busy tracking her two little boys.

[email protected]