Turn a Photo into a QR Code with Password Protection

A photo QR code usually opens an image hosted online. It does not contain the full photo or serve as an offline photo archive. In LOCK.PUB, the QR contains the image link; the viewer enters the password after scanning.

This suits a design preview or a photo for selected people. It is different from putting a logo in the middle of a QR code.

From image to QR

1. Open the image creator. Guests can start here. Choose a JPEG, PNG, GIF or WebP within the displayed limit.
2. Set a password and a non-sensitive public label, then create the link.
3. Expand the additional options in the result to display the QR. There is no need to paste the link into another generator.
4. To download a PNG, open that image's QR action in your dashboard and use the download button.
5. Scan with another phone, enter the password and check readability.

Use a regular reusable link for repeated viewing. Testing a one-time link can consume its successful-unlock allowance.

Image quality and limits

Guest/Free images become WebP with quality setting 80 and a maximum width of 1920 pixels. Paid albums preserve originals; storage, transfer and validation limits still apply. Inspect fine print after uploading.

Before printing or sharing

Keep the white border and strong contrast, and test the actual printed size. DENSO WAVE explains how QR capacity varies; hosting the image lets the QR carry a short address.

Send the password separately through iMessage or Messenger instead of printing it beside the QR. Ordinary password-only viewing needs no account.

The QR itself does not encrypt the image. LOCK.PUB image sharing is not end-to-end encryption, and viewers can save or screenshot photos. Expiry or access limits, where available, do not erase those copies.

Read the image-sharing guide, then create an image link and test it before distributing the QR.