YouTube QR code generator

Choose a channel, video, or playlist

1. For a channel, copy its link. In the YouTube app, open the channel, tap More, then Share, then Copy link. On a computer, open the channel page and copy the URL from the browser's address bar.
2. For a video, use its sharing menu. Open the video, select Share below the player, and choose Copy link in the app or Copy on a computer. This links to that video rather than the whole channel.
3. Keep a timestamp when needed. On a computer, the Share panel has Start at. Set the desired time before copying. Paste the entire resulting link, including the time information, and check it. Do not replace it with the shorter channel address.
4. Paste your link and test. Choose Text or link and paste your complete address into Text or URL. Open it while signed out and confirm the channel name or video title. Save the QR image and scan it to check the destination.

Example: a workshop instruction sheet

A repair workshop can put a code beside a printed step to share a demonstration video. Use that video's link so readers do not have to search. Include a timestamp for a later section. Label the code with the title. For a poster about all your work, use the channel.

A playlist link is useful when the order of several videos matters. Open the intended playlist and copy its address, then check it outside your own account. Check access: this generator does not host the playlist.

What happens to a saved code

The code contains the link itself. It does not contain a video file, upload content, or pass viewers through our redirect. Our code never expires. It remains readable if this generator closes. Generation and saving happen in your browser.

The destination can still change. Deleting a video, making it private, removing a playlist, or changing a channel address can stop people reaching the intended content. A title change alone is different from a URL change. Check old prints after editing account details. If a different address is needed, create a replacement image. Printed patterns cannot update.

Viewing limits and YouTube's own QR

Private videos need the viewing permission set by their owner. Other restrictions may require login or prevent access for some viewers. An unlisted link can be passed along by anyone who has it, so do not treat a printed code as a secret invitation. A channel code does not override restrictions on individual videos.

YouTube also has a built-in channel QR: in the app, open the channel, choose More, then Share, then QR Code. It suits channel sharing. This generator suits SVG artwork for print, a link to a specific video or timestamp, or creating a file in a browser without the app. The image is a link, not a promise of automatic playback.

Print and troubleshoot your handout

Print the code at least 2 cm / 0.8 in wide, using dark squares on a light background. Keep the quiet margin clear of captions and borders. SVG scales in a layout; PNG size is a pixel count. Test a finished handout before printing many. Enlarge blurry codes.

If the image is not recognized, check sharp edges, lighting, and the complete blank border. If a link appears but the video is unavailable, open that address directly. Check deletion, privacy, account access, and internet availability. If the wrong video or time appears, recopy the correct sharing link and make a fresh code.