How to Create QR Codes for Contact Information
Create digital business cards with vCard QR codes for instant contact sharing
What are Contact QR Codes?
Contact QR codes contain vCard (Virtual Contact File) formatted information that, when scanned, allows users to save your contact details directly to their phone's address book. This eliminates manual data entry and ensures accuracy.
Benefits of Contact QR Codes:
vCard Format Explained
vCard (also known as VCF) is a standard file format for electronic business cards. Most smartphones recognize vCard QR codes and prompt users to save the contact.
Basic vCard Structure:
| Field | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| FN | Full Name (Required) | FN:John Smith |
| ORG | Organization | ORG:Example Corporation |
| TEL | Telephone Number | TEL:5551234567 |
| Email Address | EMAIL:contact@example.com | |
| URL | Website URL | URL:https://example.com |
| ADR | Address | ADR:;;123 Street;City;;12345;Country |
| TITLE | Job Title | TITLE:Marketing Director |
How to Create Contact QR Codes
Select Contact Type
Go to our QR Code Generator and select the "Contact" option from the QR Code Type section.
Enter vCard Information
Enter your contact information in vCard format. Here's a complete example:
Quick Template:
Copy this template and replace the bracketed text with your information
Generate & Share
Customize the appearance and generate your QR code. Use it on:
- Digital and printed business cards
- Email signatures
- Website contact pages
- Conference badges
- Product packaging
- Marketing materials
Advanced vCard Features
Photo/Logo
Include a profile photo or company logo:
PHOTO;ENCODING=b;TYPE=JPEG:[base64 image data]
Social Media
Add social media profiles:
X-SOCIALPROFILE:https://linkedin.com/in/username
X-SOCIALPROFILE:https://twitter.com/username
Multiple Contacts
Create multiple vCards in one QR code:
BEGIN:VCARD...END:VCARD
BEGIN:VCARD...END:VCARD
Event Integration
Include calendar events with contact:
CALURI:https://example.com/calendar.ics
Contact QR Code Best Practices
Start with Required Fields
At minimum, include FN (Full Name) and either TEL or EMAIL.
Keep it Concise
While vCard supports many fields, limit to essential information to keep QR code size manageable.
Test on Multiple Devices
Test your contact QR code on both iOS and Android devices to ensure compatibility.
Include Clear Instructions
Add text like "Scan to save contact" or "Scan for digital business card" near your QR code.
Consider Privacy
Only include information you're comfortable sharing publicly. Consider creating separate QR codes for personal and professional use.
Create Your Digital Business Card
Share your contact information instantly with professional vCard QR codes.
Generate Contact QR CodeFrequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between vCard 2.1 and 3.0?
vCard 3.0 is the current standard with better smartphone compatibility. We recommend using VERSION:3.0 for best results.
Can I include a photo in my contact QR code?
Yes, but it significantly increases the QR code complexity. Keep photos small (under 50KB) for optimal scanning.
Do all phones support vCard QR codes?
Most modern smartphones (iOS 11+, Android 8+) support vCard QR codes through their native camera apps or dedicated QR scanners.
Can I update my contact QR code later?
With static QR codes, you need to create a new one. With carteQR.com's premium service, you can create dynamic QR codes that can be updated without changing the code.