How to Create a Google Maps QR Code for a Location
September 7, 2026
Written by Mohammad Sohail
A Google Maps QR code lets someone open a exact location on their phone by scanning a code. No typing addresses, no copy-pasting coordinates. Point, scan, navigate.
Who Needs This: Business owners who want customers to find their shop. Event organizers sharing venue locations. Real estate agents placing codes on property listings. Restaurants putting a code on menus so diners can find the branch. Anyone who regularly shares directions.
How It Works: The QR code contains a Google Maps URL like `https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1¶meter`. When scanned, it opens Google Maps on the user's phone with the location pre-loaded. On Android it opens the Google Maps app. On iPhone it opens Google Maps if installed, or Apple Maps as a fallback.
What I Tested: I created a QR code for a coffee shop in London (123 Oxford Street, W1D 2JL). I scanned it with an iPhone 14 and a Samsung Galaxy S23. Both phones opened Google Maps within 2 seconds and showed the correct pin location.
Step-by-Step: (1) Open [Google Maps](https://maps.google.com) in your browser. (2) Search for the location you want. (3) Click the location and copy the URL from the address bar. (4) Open the [Google Maps QR Code Generator](/qr-tools/maps-qr). (5) Paste the Google Maps URL into the input field. (6) Click Generate. (7) Download as PNG or SVG.
One Limitation: The QR code only works if the recipient has Google Maps installed or a browser that can open Google Maps URLs. On very old phones (pre-2016), the link may not open correctly. For maximum compatibility, test the code on both iPhone and Android before printing.
Common Mistake: People copy the Google Maps share link, which sometimes includes your current location as a starting point. Make sure the URL starts with `google.com/maps/search` or `google.com/maps/place`, not `google.com/maps/dir`. The 'dir' format gives directions FROM your current location TO the destination, which is not what you want in a static QR code.
Privacy: The QR code is generated entirely in your browser. The location URL is processed locally and never sent to our servers. We have no access to the location you encode.
Next Step: If you want to share a location with a pre-written message, try the [WhatsApp QR Code](/qr-tools/whatsapp-qr) tool. It lets you include a location pin along with a text message.