You know what QR Codes are and what they do. Theyโre advanced level barcodes that can store up to 7,089 characters.
You wouldโve seen them being used for marketing, payments, and even inventory management. And youโre now considering using them for one of your use cases.
And youโre right. QR Codes make print media readily actionable. As a result, end-users simply need to pull put their smartphones to scan the QR Code and see the encoded content. As easy as clicking a picture, right?
But hereโs the thingโanyone with a smartphone can scan a QR Code to access the data encoded in it. While it helps end-users easily decode the QR Code easily, it is also a matter of concern if you want to restrict the access to the encoded data.
And thatโs probably your concern too. You want to use a QR Code but restrict access to it at the same time. And youโre wonderingโis it actually possible to do that?
And the answer isโyes. You can restrict the data in your QR Code to allow only authorized personnel to access it. How? By adding a password to it. We call themโpassword-protected QR Codes.
A. What are password protected QR Codes
Password protected QR Codes allow you to share your private data with only authorized people. When end-users scan it, they are prompted to enter the required password to be able to access the data. That simple!
Here is how a password protected QR Code works:
1. You head on to a QR Code generator that allows you to password protect your QR Code
2. You create the QR Code and add password protection to it
3. Next, you add the QR Code on required documents or print media creatives
4. You share the password with people you want to access the data
5. They scan the QR Code and get a prompt to enter a password
6. They enter the password and see the encoded content
Note that you can only make dynamic QR Codes password protected. Not sure what it means?
Depending on how the data is stored, QR Codes can be divided into two categoriesโstatic and dynamic.
The data is encoded directly into static QR Codes. Hence, they are permanent in nature. That means once created, they cannot be edited. To do that, you will have to create a new QR Code altogether. In addition, you can also not track the scanning activity of static QR Codes.
On the other hand, the target data is not encoded directly into a dynamic QR Code. It stores a short URL (usually provided by QR Code service provider) that redirects to the actual data.
Hence, a dynamic QR Code can be edited anytime you want. Yet it will remain the same. No need to reprint it. In fact, it even helps you monitor its scanning activity. For exampleโhow many people have scanned it, when and where did they scan it, etc.
Thereโs a lot you can share with QR Codes. From sharing a website link, text, and venue location to a customized landing page, a secure QR Code allows you to share almost any sort of content. For example:
1. Confidential Documents
Say you want to share confidential documents with your colleagues, investors, customers, or any other stakeholders. Here a password-protected QR Code can help you out.
When end-users scan the QR Code, theyโll be prompted to enter the required password. Once they do it, theyโll be able to see the encoded documents.
For such use cases, you can create a PDF QR Code, a Text QR Code, or even a Website URL QR Code. And add password protection to it.
2. Download Links of Paid Content
Suppose you offer downloadable content such as music and games. You want to share it only with the people who pay for your content. Here a password protected QR Code will let only your customers access your services.
To do it, you can create an Audio QR Code, a Text QR Code, or a Website URL QR Code.
3. Special Message
Say itโs your partnerโs birthday and you want to send them a special message on a birthday card. You want only your partner to see the message and nobody else. Simply adding a QR Code with a password to the birthday card will help you do this.
Here, you can create an Image QR Code (if the target content os an image). A Website URL QR Code (to show a video or an image gallery). An audio QR Code and much more.
You can actually create more than 25 different types of QR Codes. For exampleโa Website URL QR Code, a Business Card QR Code, a coupon QR Code, and an App Store QR Code. You can go through the list to decide the best one for your use case.
4. Regulate the contest participants
Say you are planning to organize a contest. And you want to share specific content with each participant to ensure fair gameplay.
Here, you can just password- protect the content to be shared with QR Codes. You can then share the required password with specific people.
For example, you can conduct a treasure hunt game using QR codes. These QR codes will show various information such as hints and locations to clues. And you can use a password-protected QR code to restrict nonparticipants from accessing the hints.
You probably know how often QR Codes are being used in inventory management. Thatโs because they are damage-resistant and can hold more information than traditional barcodes.
And for smooth inventory handling, you need to out QR Code-based inventory tags where they can be readily scanned and verified. But this also exposes them to breach since anyone can scan them.
So, ensure that you password-protect the QR Codes if you donโt want unwanted access to them.
6. Pre-release of marketing materials
Having some campaigns being pushed ahead of time is common in print media marketing. But that content is not intended to be accessible for everyone.
And needless to say, to stop unauthorized people from accessing the information, a password-protected QR Code is all you need.
7. Beta access to mobile games
If you are into the gaming industry, youโre already aware of the utility of QR Codes. They can be used to connect in-game players to your website, upcoming releases, leader boards. etc. And if youโre planning on giving the beta access to some lucky players, QR Codes are up for the job!
C. How to create a password-protected QR Code
The first thing you need to create a QR Code isโa QR Code generator. Ad here you will need a QR Code generator that offers password protection. How do you find one?
If you do a quick Google search, you will probably get a list of such search results. And to decide the best one for your use case, you will have to compare all of them one-by-one.
But this will take a lot of time and effort. Donโt worry, you donโt really have to do that. We have compiled a detailed comparison chart of the topmost QR Code generators. You can go through it to decide the best one for your use case.
Once you finalize a QR Code generator, the next step is to create your password protected QR Code.
1. How to add password protection to QR Code
Using Scanova for a demo, hereโs how you can do it:
i. Go to Scanova QR Code Generator
ii. From QR Code categories, select an appropriate content category. For a demo, letโs choose a Website URL QR Code
iii. On the page that loads, enter the link to be encoded in the QR Code and click Continue
iv. Next, you will be prompted you to name the QR Code. In the same pop-up, you will also see two optionsโStatic and Dynamic. Select the Dynamic option. It will make your QR Code dynamic in nature
Next, you will see the option Add Password Protection in the same window. Select it and enter a password
v. Once you specify the details (name, QR Code type, and password), click Create QR Code
vi. On the page that loads, you will see two QR Code design optionsโcustom with logo, and custom with background
You can proceed with either of the design options. Marketers who use QR Codes for promotional use cases, often add designs to them. They do it using their brand colors and logo.
vii. Once your QR Code is ready, say after you design it, click Done Editing and proceed to Download it
viii. To Download your QR Code, you have to create an account. Sign Up for a 14-day free trial to continue downloading your QR Code.
ix. Once you complete the account, click on Download icon. Again, a pop-up will appear prompting you to specify QR Code image size and format. Once you specify the details, click Export
Thatโs it. You have created a password-protected QR Code.
D. How to edit the QR Code
Once your password protected QR Code has been created, you can share the password with the authorized personnel. And ask them to use it to access the encoded data.
Also, you can keep a track on its scanning activity.
But say you notice some suspicious scanning on the QR Code and doubt that the password has been leaked. What would you then do? Create a new QR Code?
Well, you donโt really need to do that. You can simply update the password of the existing QR Code. And your QR Code design will remain the same. No need to reprint it.
In fact, you can even edit the content (such as website link, pdf, or text) encoded in your QR Code.
Hereโs how:
1. Login to your Scanova account and go to My QR Codes.
2. Select the QR Code you want to edit
3. Here you can edit the following things:
Content: You can edit the content you linked to a QR Code
Advance Settings: You can edit your password here.
Design: You can edit the design again the way you want to
4. Click Update QR Code
Thatโs it. Your QR Code will be updated.
You now know everything about password-protected QR Codes. This includesโwhat are they, how do they work, how to create them, and how to edit them.
A password-protected QR Code, just like any other QR Code, provides easy access to the encoded data. And it even helps you limit access to it in a few simple steps.
The next step:
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Still have any queries that we can resolve? Ask them in the comments.
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