How to create a QR code for a Microsoft Word document

The DISPLAYBARCODE field code in Microsoft Word is a powerful built-in feature that lets you generate various 1D and 2D barcodes—including QR codes—directly inside your document without needing any third-party add-ins.

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Basic Syntax

To use DISPLAYBARCODE, you must insert it inside Word field brackets:

1. Press Ctrl + F9 (or Fn + Ctrl + F9 on laptops) to insert curly braces: { } (do not type them manually).
2. Inside the braces, enter the formula in this structure:

$$\text{\{ DISPLAYBARCODE “Data” BarcodeType [Flags] \}}$$

Example for a QR Code:

Plaintext

{ DISPLAYBARCODE "https://onetimeschool.com" QR \q 3 \s 150 }

3. Press Shift + F9 (or right-click and select Toggle Field Codes) to display the generated barcode image.

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Example

Type

Displaybarcode”

Your Text”qr

All Select

Ctrl + F9

Mouse Right button click Toggle Field Codes

Common Field Switches (Flags)

You can customize the appearance and behavior using optional switches at the end of the formula:

Switch	Function	Example / Values
\q [0-3]	Error Correction Level (QR code quality)	\q 0 (7%), \q 1 (15%), \q 2 (25%), \q 3 (30% – best for low-quality prints)
\s [number]	Scaling / Size (percentage scaling factor)	\s 100 (default size), \s 200 (double size)
\b [RRGGBB]	Foreground Color (Hex code)	\b 0000FF (Blue)
\c [RRGGBB]	Background Color (Hex code)	\c FFFF00 (Yellow)
\t	Transparent Background	Simply add \t to remove the background fill
\h [twips]	Height (mainly for 1D barcodes)	\h 1200

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Supported Barcode Types

Besides QR, Microsoft Word supports several other popular barcode formats:

• QR: Quick Response Code (2D)
• CODE128: High-density 1D barcode used widely in logistics
• CODE39: Standard alphanumeric 1D barcode
• UPCA: Universal Product Code (standard retail 12-digit format)
• EAN13: International 13-digit retail barcode
• PDF417: Stacked 2D barcode (commonly used on ID cards and shipping labels)

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Practical Examples

1. High-Quality Web Link QR Code

Plaintext

{ DISPLAYBARCODE "https://github.com" QR \q 3 \s 120 }

2. Custom Colored QR Code

Plaintext

{ DISPLAYBARCODE "Contact Sales: 555-0199" QR \b 0050A0 \s 150 }

3. Retail Product Barcode (UPC-A)

Plaintext

{ DISPLAYBARCODE "012345678905" UPCA \h 1000 }

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Tips & Troubleshooting

• Dynamic Barcodes using Mail Merge: You can combine DISPLAYBARCODE with Mail Merge tags to generate unique QR codes or barcodes automatically for bulk documents:Plaintext{ DISPLAYBARCODE { MERGEFIELD WebsiteURL } QR \q 3 }
• Barcode Not Updating? If you change the text inside the quotes, press F9 while highlighting the field code to refresh the rendered image.
• Cannot See the Result? Ensure you pressed Ctrl + F9 to create the field braces. Typing standard braces { } using keyboard keys will not work.