Manuals & instructions
QR Codes for Product Manuals and Instructions
Printed manuals are out of date the day a firmware update ships, and customers lose them anyway. A QR code on the product or the box opens the current manual on their phone, and you can update it without touching a single printed unit.
Free plan: 3 dynamic codes, no time limit. Pro types free for 14 days, no card.
Last 30 days · people only, bots filtered
Example data
What the code can do
One printed code, pointing wherever you choose. Change the destination later and every printed copy follows.
The full manual as a PDF
Upload the PDF and the code opens it in the phone's own reader. Replace the file whenever the manual changes.
PDF QR code (Pro)Manual, video and support in one place
A small landing page with the manual, a video, FAQs and a contact button.
Landing page QR code (Pro)Analytics
What the scans tell you
Every scan of a dynamic code is counted, with link previews and bots filtered out, so the numbers are people.
Which products need the most help
One code per model shows which products send people looking for instructions; a sign the design or quick-start needs work.
When people get stuck
Scan spikes after a release or in a season point to a specific problem to fix.
Where your installed base is
States and cities of scans show where products are actually being used.
Device mix
iPhone vs Android tells you which app store or format to prioritize for companion content.
Reported for every code: scans over time, unique vs total, country, US state and city, iPhone vs Android, operating system, hour of day and day of week, with CSV export and a weekly email report.
Printing it so it scans
- Put the code where people look when they need help: on the product itself (a label near the power input works well), not only on the box.
- Use a durable label material for products that live in kitchens, garages or outdoors.
- Add the model number next to the code so support can identify the product from a photo.
- Put one short line next to the code saying what scanning gets you. A bare code is scanned far less than one that says "Scan for setup video".
- Print one proof and scan it with an iPhone and an Android phone before the full run, in the lighting where it will be used.
Is a QR code allowed to replace the printed manual?
That depends on your product category and the market you sell in; some products must still ship with printed safety information. Use the QR code to extend the printed material, and check your category's labeling rules before removing anything.
Set it up
- Step 1
One code per model
So each model's manual can be updated separately and its scans counted on their own.
- Step 2
Upload the manual or link the help page
PDF upload is the quickest; a landing page lets you add video and support contacts.
- Step 3
Print on the product
A small label near where problems happen is scanned far more than a code on the discarded box.
- Step 4
Update when the product changes
Replace the PDF after a firmware update; every unit already sold sees the new version.
Frequently asked questions
Can I update the manual after the products ship?
Yes. With a dynamic code you replace the PDF or change the link, and every printed code opens the new version.
How big can the PDF be?
Uploads are limited to 10 MB per file. For longer manuals, link to a hosted version on your own site instead.
Do customers need an app?
No. The phone camera opens the manual in the browser, and a PDF opens in the phone's own reader.
Can I have the manual in several languages?
Use a landing page with a link per language, or one code per regional version if you print separate packaging per market.
QR codes on products and deliveries