YouTube QR code generator

QR code generator for videos

When we think videos online, we think YouTube. The site is by far the most popular place to share videos, and what better way to do so than with a QR code? Try QRStuff’s widget to create, save, print, and share your very own YouTube QR code.

Prefer to upload a video instead of a Youtube link? Try our video data type!

What is YouTube QR code generator?

QRStuff’s YouTube QR code generator lets you create a QR code – a type of machine-readable barcode – that links directly to the YouTube video of your choice. When someone scans the code on their phone or tablet, they’re taken straight to your video. The generator allows you to customize your code with a range of colors, formats, sizes, and even your own logo or image, making it the perfect tool for any business or individual looking to share video links without sacrificing style. What’s more, the basic features are all totally free to use, while paid subscribers get the added bonus of dynamic (editable) QR codes and analytics data.

Why should I use a YouTube QR code?

YouTube QR codes are the best way to share videos with customers, business partners, family and friends without them needing to copy and paste a link, manually type a long and complicated URL, or search for your video on YouTube and trawl through hundreds of results. QR codes have exploded in popularity over the last couple of years, and with good reason. Here’s why you should consider using one.

Accessible on almost all devices

Smartphones are practically ubiquitous these days, and even the most basic can download apps capable of scanning QR codes. Newer models tend to have built-in QR scanning capabilities, making these codes more accessible than ever before.

A video is worth…how many words?

With the advent of YouTube QR codes, it’s easier than ever to share a video, even from a print-based medium. In many cases – tutorials and product demos spring to mind – there’s no substitute for actually watching and learning.

Dynamic codes for a dynamic world

Unlike a static link to a particular video, dynamic QR codes (available to paid QRStuff subscribers) can be edited at any time to link to a different page: perfect if you need to freshen things up.

What information is stored in a YouTube QR code?

QR codes can store a huge variety of information, including text, phone numbers, email addresses, and even images and PDFs. In this specific case, a YouTube QR code essentially functions as a print-based hypertext link to a particular URL on the YouTube website, which opens when a user scans the code on a mobile device. The QR code can also embed the part of the link that jumps viewers to a specific section of the video (see the FAQs below for more info).

What are the benefits of implementing a YouTube QR code?

The main benefit to using a YouTube QR code is the simplicity. One scan is all it takes to send users to a specific video of your choice, making for an incredibly streamlined and fail-safe process. Where it was once very difficult to link physical and online marketing, YouTube QR codes allow you to take potential customers seamlessly from print media to a promotional video: the stuff dreams are made of for any marketer.

Step by step: how to create your YouTube QR code

Get started

First things first, navigate to www.qrstuff.com, where you’ll find the free QR code generator on the homepage. In section 1 (Data Type), select YouTube, then scroll down to Content.

Link up

Here, you’ll need the video ID or video URL (see below for a short explanation on the difference). This is also where you can choose between a static QR code or a more versatile dynamic code, available to paid subscribers only.

Let your imagination run riot

Here’s where you can unleash your creative side: customize your QR code with your desired colors, rounded or square dots and corners, and even your very own image or logo in the middle.

Video IDs and video URLs: what’s the difference?

Video ID

The video ID is a unique identifier assigned to each video on YouTube. It is part of the full YouTube URL and appears after the “v=” parameter. An example of a YouTube video ID is HmnKbBmYii8.

Video URL

A video URL is the full web address required to navigate to the video on YouTube. For the video ID mentioned above, the full URL would be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmnKbBmYii8. Copying and pasting the full URL is a simple option when creating a YouTube QR code.

Great ways to use a YouTube QR code

Since YouTube is home to videos covering every concept under the sun, a YouTube QR code is an incredibly versatile tool. Let’s take a look at some places where they can be used.

Tutorials and how-tos

Rather than have users read through a lengthy instruction booklet for your product, add a YouTube QR code to the packaging, directing them to a video where they can see for themselves how it all works.

Business cards

If your profession involves videos – perhaps you’re a wedding videographer – then people need to see what you can do before they sign up. Why not stick a YouTube QR code on your business card for instant access to your finest work?

Education and academia

For classroom use, handing out worksheets with a YouTube QR code linking to a relevant tutorial is a great way to give learners a resource that they can watch back later in their own time.

Keep things dynamic

QRStuff’s generator is completely free to use, but paid subscribers get access to a very cool feature: dynamic QR codes that can be edited at any time. This is ideal for YouTube QR codes, allowing you to change which video your code links to whenever you want. Simply log in to your subscriber account, hit the “Edit URL” option, and you redirect to a brand-new video while your QR code remains exactly the same.

Track your code with analytics

Another exciting feature for subscribers is access to analytics data that tells you when and where your QR code is scanned. Subscribers can see a dashboard displaying the date, time, device type, and location for each scan event in real time, allowing you to optimize your QR code marketing to target hotspots or boost engagement in underperforming areas.

YouTube videos and privacy

If you want to upload videos to YouTube but are worried about security concerns, this guide will help you understand the different levels of privacy offered by the video-sharing site. The first and most common setting for videos is public, which is the default. This means your video will be searchable on YouTube and Google and will be visible to everyone. The obvious advantage is great visibility – ideal if you want to raise awareness and get your content out there for marketing purposes. The downside, however, is that this can attract negative attention and trolling. At the other end of the scale, private videos are the most secure type offered by YouTube. They can only be viewed by up to 50 people that you personally invite, and won’t appear in recommendations or search results. This option is ideal if you want to share a video privately with a limited group of family and friends, or if you need somewhere to upload corporate videos without making them visible to competitors.

What is an unlisted video?

An unlisted video is something of a halfway house between public and private. These videos don’t show up in search results or recommendations, so people can’t accidentally stumble across them. However, an unlimited number of people can view them, provided they have the unique URL. This makes them a great option for sharing content with a large group of people such as co-workers, without running the risk of your video being flooded by comments from the general public.

So there you have it: your three options are public, private, and unlisted. You can select your preferred type from the dropdown menu when uploading your video, so have a think about what kind of content you’re publishing and how visible you want it to be. And once your video’s up and running, head to qrstuff.com to create your free YouTube QR code and share it with the world!

Frequently Asked Questions

First, log in to your account at youtube.com. Click the video camera icon in the top right and hit “Upload video”. Next, choose the files to upload or drag and drop them. You can tweak the privacy settings here (see the blog post below) and also edit the title, description, settings and tags to make your video easier to find.

If your YouTube QR code links to a long video but you want to jump straight to the important part, here’s a tip: go on YouTube and spool through to the relevant section of the video, then right-click anywhere within the video frame and choose “Copy video URL at current time”. This will give you a time-stamped URL (e.g. https://youtu.be/HmnKbBmYii8?t=11) that you can use to create your YouTube QR code.

Of course! For large videos that you want users to be able to download, QRStuff has a Dropbox option on its homepage. Another great tool is a Vimeo QR code, ideal for sharing high-definition videos. To create one of these, choose “Website URL” and then copy the Vimeo link into the box below.