We’ve all scanned a handy QR to get instant access to a restaurant menu or log in to Netflix when we’re away from home, but did you know Excel can generate these babies for you at scale? No need to spend time manually creating them or individually generating them via a QR generator - we can create them all at once using a simple image function and a QR code API.
Check out the above gif for an example. I’ve already copied the QR Code API into my worksheet, and I’ve included it for you below so you can easily copy and paste. You’ll just want to drop it in any cell on your sheet.
To create a QR code using the API, we’ll need to insert the QR’s destination URL at the end of the API URL after the “=” sign, and then use the Image Function to import the QR Code from the API server into the cell.
First, select the cell you’d like the QR code to appear in, enter the Image Function, select the QR Code API as your first source reference cell and lock it in place by pressing F4 - this shortcut key applies absolute referencing, so this reference cell is locked in when we fill our formula down the column. Next, we need to combine the API source with the web address in our destination URL reference cell by entering “&”, selecting the desired site address in B5, and then entering the function.
That’s it! Congrats on so easily creating your first scannable Excel QR code! Now we simply fill our formula down the column to create the remainder of our QRs. Once we’re done, we can whip out our phones, open the camera app, scan a code and instantly be taken to the destination site.
What are you creating QRs for?! There are endless use cases for these handy little guys. Let us know what you create!
QR CODE API: https://api.qrserver.com/v1/create-qr-code/?size=150x150&data=
