QR QR Studio

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QR code to text art (Unicode or ASCII)

Published 7 September 2026

 

Paste into a terminal, a README, a plain-text email or a chat. Use a monospace font and it will scan from the screen.

Runs entirely on your device. Nothing you enter or upload is sent to a server.

Where this is useful

Server setup instructions that show a Wi-Fi code in the console. A README that lets someone open the demo on their phone. A plain-text newsletter. Anywhere images are not allowed but text is.

In practice

Add a blank line above and below, and two spaces of indentation, so the quiet zone survives whatever reflows the text.

Try it yourself

Text art is one of the odder homes for a QR code. See the ones made of people, grain, drones and Lego.

Codes in unusual places

Frequently asked questions

Does it really scan from a terminal?

Yes, if the font is monospace and the line height is tight. Zoom the terminal so each block is a few pixels and hold the phone steady.

Why does it look stretched?

The font is not monospace, or the line height is large. Full-block mode uses two characters per module to counter tall fonts.

Related reading

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