Google already made it
A lot of owners pay for a “Google review QR code” or hunt for a free generator, then paste in a link they found somewhere. Google now produces the code itself, inside your Business Profile, on the same screen as your review link. It points straight at your review form.
The one catch is the device. Google’s help page says review QR codes can currently only be generated in a computer browser, not on mobile devices. If you’ve been tapping around the app looking for it, that’s why you couldn’t find it.
Downloading the file
The download is a plain right-click on the image followed by Save image as…. Save it somewhere you’ll find it again, and give it a clear name with the location in it. If you work with a designer or print shop, send them that file rather than a screenshot. Screenshots often come out blurry and cropped too tight.
Where a printed code earns its place
Google’s page suggests printing the code and displaying it in your store. Some spots that tend to get scanned:
- At the till or reception desk, at eye level.
- On the back of the receipt or the packing slip.
- On a table tent or menu insert in a restaurant.
- On the leave-behind sheet a contractor hands over at the end of a job.
- Inside the lid of a delivery box.
Spots that rarely work: the front door (people are arriving, not leaving) and the bottom of a long flyer.
Print it so it scans
QR codes fail for boring physical reasons. A few habits prevent most of them:
- Leave a clear white border around the code. Don’t let design elements touch it.
- Print dark on light. Inverted or low-contrast codes trip up older phone cameras.
- Avoid glossy laminate where overhead lights reflect.
- Test every print run with two different phones before you hand it out.
The words next to the code
The text beside the code matters for the rules, not just for design. Google’s content policy bans discouraging negative reviews or asking only for positive ones, and bans offering anything in return. Write something neutral, such as “How did we do? Scan to review us on Google.” Leave out stars, the number five, and any mention of a prize or discount.
If it doesn't work
- You can't find the QR code on your phone: that's expected. Google only offers it in a computer browser for now.
- The printed code won't scan: print it larger, on matte paper, and keep it away from glare and folds.
- It opens the wrong location: you downloaded it from a different profile. Switch profiles and download again.
Questions owners ask
Is Google's QR code better than one from a free generator?
Google's code points to the review form it built for your profile, so there's no middleman to break, expire or start showing ads. Third-party codes can work too, but if the generator uses its own redirect and that service closes, every printed code dies with it.
What size should I print it?
Google's help page doesn't give a size. Scan your printout from the distance customers will stand at, in the light where it'll hang. If your own phone struggles, theirs will too.
Can I put the QR code on a sign that says 'Leave us 5 stars'?
Avoid it. Google's policy bans discouraging negative reviews or selectively soliciting positive ones. A neutral ask like 'Tell us how we did' keeps the request fair and keeps you within the rules.
Can I use the same QR code for all my locations?
No. Each Business Profile has its own review form, so each location needs its own code. Name the files by location before you send them to the printer.
Sources
- Create a Google link or QR code to request reviews (support.google.com)
- Prohibited & restricted content (Maps user contributed content policy) (support.google.com)
Checked 13 Nov 2026. When the platform changes its process we update this page and log it in What changed.