To make a QR code for a Google Form for free, publish the form, open the responder link in Google Chrome, then choose More, Cast, save, and share, Create QR code and download it. Google Forms has no QR button of its own, but Chrome turns any page into a QR code, so you don't need an add-on or a paid generator.
The step most people miss comes before the QR code. Google's own help page says that if a form is unpublished, responders with the link can't open it. So a QR code made from the wrong link, or from a form you haven't published yet, scans perfectly and then shows people a dead end. Here's the full method, including the checks that stop that happening.
The quick method in Chrome on a computer
- Open your form in Google Forms and click Publish at the top right. Once it's live, the top right shows Published.
- Get the responder link. Google lists three ways: click Preview, then Copy responder link; click Published, then Copy responder link; or click Share, then Copy responder link.
- Tick the box next to Shorten URL before you copy. Google only offers the short link once the form is published, and a shorter link makes a simpler code that's easier to scan from a distance.
- Paste the link into a new Chrome tab so the live form opens, the way a responder would see it.
- Select More (the three dots), then Cast, save, and share, then Create QR code.
- Choose Download to save the QR code image, or Copy the QR link if you only need the address.
That's it. The image you download points to the responder link, not the editing screen, so anyone who scans it lands on the form ready to fill it in.
On an Android phone
Chrome on Android has the same tool in a different place. Google's steps are: open Chrome, go to the page you want to share, tap More next to the toolbar, tap Share, then select QR Code and follow the on-screen instructions to share or download it. Open your form's responder link first, not the editor, and you'll get the right code.
Which link should the QR code point to?
| Link | Where it comes from | Use it for a QR code? |
|---|---|---|
| Responder link | Preview, Published or Share, then Copy responder link | Yes, this is the one |
| Short responder link | Shorten URL box, after publishing | Yes, best for print |
| Pre-filled link | More, Pre-fill form, Get link | Yes, if you want some answers filled in already |
| Editor address bar | The page you edit the form on | No, responders can't use it |
The pre-filled option is handy for events. Google lets you fill in some answer fields, click Get link and send that version, so a QR code on a table at a workshop could already carry the event name before anyone types a word.
Settings to check before you print it
A QR code gets scanned on phones, often by people in a hurry, so a few form settings matter more than usual:
- Limit to 1 response. Google's help page says that with this on, people must sign in to their Google Account to access and fill out the form. That's fine for staff, but at a public event plenty of people won't want to sign in on their phone.
- Collect email addresses. Google offers a Verified option and a Responder input option. If you only need an email for follow up, Responder input lets people type it rather than sign in.
- Who can respond. Under General access you can open the form to anyone with the link or restrict it. If you restrict it to your organisation, outsiders who scan the code won't get in.
- Confirmation message. You can edit the message people see after they submit, which is a good place to say what happens next.
Test it before it goes on paper
Scan the code with your own phone in a private browser window, where you're not signed in as the owner. If the form opens and lets you submit a test answer, it'll work for everyone else. Then delete your test response.
Free QR code options compared
| Method | Cost | Can you change the link later? | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chrome Create QR code | Free, built in | No, make a new code | Most forms |
| A dynamic QR code service | Varies | Yes, that's the point of dynamic codes | Printed items you'll reuse for months |
| A Google Workspace add-on | Varies by add-on | Depends on the add-on | Branded codes and scan tracking |
A plain Chrome code never expires, because it simply holds your form's address. The catch is that it's static: if you delete the form or make a new one, the printed code goes with it. If you'll reuse the same printed code across several forms, read my guide to dynamic QR codes you can edit later before you print.
If you want the code to sit inside a designed flyer, my walkthrough on making a QR code in Canva covers that route.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
Common problems and fixes
| What people see | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| A message that the form can't be opened | The form isn't published | Click Publish and check it shows Published |
| A sign in screen | Limit to 1 response is on, or access is restricted | Turn the setting off or open General access |
| The form editor or an access request | The code was made from the editor link | Remake it from the responder link |
| The form says it's no longer accepting responses | Responses are switched off | Turn responses back on in the Responses tab |
My advice
Use Chrome's free QR tool for almost every Google Form. It's quick, it doesn't add another app to your account, and it can't stop working because a free trial ran out. Publish first, use the short responder link, switch off anything that forces people to sign in unless you need it, and scan your own code from a logged out phone before you print a single copy. If you're still setting the form up, my guide on sharing a Google Form covers the other ways to get it in front of people.
Frequently asked questions
Does Google Forms have a QR code button?
No. Google Forms gives you a responder link, and Google Chrome turns that link into a QR code with More, Cast, save, and share, Create QR code.
Is it free to make a QR code for a Google Form?
Yes. Chrome's Create QR code option is free and built in, so you don't need an add-on or a paid generator.
Why does my Google Form QR code not work?
The most common reason is that the form isn't published. Google says that if a form is unpublished, responders with the link can't access it.
Will people have to sign in after scanning?
Only if you turn on Limit to 1 response or restrict access. Google says Limit to 1 response makes users sign in to their Google Account to fill out the form.
Does a Google Form QR code expire?
A code made in Chrome doesn't expire, because it simply holds your form's address. It stops working only if the form is deleted, unpublished or closed to responses.
