What to do if you can't convert a PDF to a QR code

Users often embed PDFs into QR codes for educational, personal, and business purposes. These interactive codes are convenient because they make it easy to share documents containing text, tables, charts, images, and other visual content.

Indeed, the PDF format is both universal and versatile. To create a QR code for a PDF, simply upload the document via a dedicated button or drag it directly into the browser window using a QR code generator.

However, some users encounter issues during generation when the file size exceeds the maximum limit. With GET-QR, you can convert PDFs to QR codes up to 30 MB in size. What if your document is larger? Here are four simple solutions.

Option #1: Compress the original file

The easiest way is to reduce the document size using specialized online compressors. Upload the PDF file and wait for the process to finish (it usually takes a few minutes, depending on the original size).

Some tools offer advanced settings, such as adjustable compression levels. Keep in mind that compression may reduce the quality of images or other visual elements in your PDF, so it’s best to use automatic options or double-check the file before sharing it.

You can then easily convert the optimized PDF to a QR code. If the file still exceeds 30 MB after compression, proceed with an alternative approach.

Option #2: Split the PDF into multiple files

This method works best when the original PDF is much larger than the limit allowed by our generator. In such cases, the simplest way is to divide it into 2, 3, or more parts — each up to 30 MB.

Just upload your PDF to an online tool and choose how you want to split it. You can divide it by specific pages, user bookmarks, or page ranges, depending on your needs.

Important! When splitting a PDF into several separate files, you’ll need to create a QR code for each one. The GET-QR service supports only one PDF per interactive code. As an alternative, you can use another format — such as a Google Drive QR code or a file QR code.

Option #3. Upload the PDF to cloud storage

Even if your document weighs 100, 200, or more megabytes, you can easily store it in the cloud. Most users prefer Google Drive, OneDrive, Mega, Dropbox, or iCloud for quick and secure access.

So, first, upload your PDF to the selected cloud service using either the mobile app or web version. Then copy the link to the uploaded file, open the GET-QR site, and generate a QR code.

This method also allows you to store multiple PDFs in the cloud and get one code for all of them. Simply create a new folder on your chosen platform, save every required file in it, and then copy and convert the folder link into a QR code.

Option #4. Upload the PDF to GET-QR hosting

Freely store your PDF files on our hosting service. This way, you’ll have continuous access to your documents and easily share them via URLs or QR codes.

To do this, select the 'QR code for file' option on the generator’s main page and upload the required PDFs. They’ll be saved in your personal folder, and the resulting QR code will lead directly to it. This means you won’t need to worry about the size or number of PDFs you want to share.

Our QR code generator lets you convert any PDF into a QR code quickly and for free. So start creating dynamic QR codes effortlessly with our simple, reliable solutions!