In this guide
Start by separating two problems: does the phone fail to recognise the code, or does it recognise the address but fail to open the menu? In the second case, the print may be fine. The problem may be the destination or the phone’s connection.
Before replacing every sticker or ordering new stands, work through these seven checks in order. Keep a working sample nearby so that you have something to compare against.
1. Open the address without scanning
Type the intended menu address into the phone’s browser. If it fails there too, check the destination and connection. A page that has moved, requires an account login or displays an error cannot be fixed through better printing.
If the address works, compare it carefully with the address shown after scanning. An older QR file may point to a different version of the menu. Check the complete destination, not just whether the business name appears somewhere in it.
2. Try a second phone and connection
Clean the camera lens and try another device. Where available, test the same destination using both Wi-Fi and mobile data. This helps distinguish a local device or network issue from something affecting everyone.
Staff can record four simple details: which stand, which device, which connection and what happened. “The address appears but the page stays blank” provides a much better starting point than “the QR code is broken”.
3. Check the clear space around the code
A standard QR Code needs an unobstructed border. DENSO WAVE specifies a four-module margin on every side. A module is one of the small squares in the symbol, not a fixed measurement in centimetres.
Make sure lettering, borders or the stand’s edges do not cover that space. Keep an instruction such as “Scan for the menu” outside the clear area.
4. Inspect the printed detail
The small squares should remain distinct. If the code has been stretched, blurred or distorted, return to the original file. DENSO WAVE illustrates problems caused by distortion and overlapping graphics.
Avoid repeatedly copying a code from screenshots. Request a file suitable for the final print and test a physical proof before producing a large batch. The version on a design monitor is not a substitute for the version guests will actually use.
5. Test the lighting
Try the same stand at different angles under the venue’s actual lighting. If glare hides part of the symbol, change its position or test a suitable print finish. If you operate in the evening, repeat the check after the light changes.
Do not cover part of the code with your hand while trying to block a reflection. Guests should be able to scan comfortably from their normal seating position.
6. Check the size at the intended distance
A code that works very close to a camera may be awkward from the guest’s seat. No single measurement guarantees identical results for every code, print and phone.
Put the sample where it will be used. Scan it without moving the whole table setting or standing up. Our QR stand placement guide helps you assess this part of the setup.
If a design only works when someone explains how to hold the phone, keep testing before printing the rest. A small change made at the proof stage is easier to manage than a full replacement later.
7. Inspect the object on the table
Wear, residue or an unexpected sticker can change what the camera sees. Compare the displayed destination with the business’s known menu address. If something does not match, remove that sample from use until it has been checked.
After fixing the problem, scan the finished object again. Also keep a short written address and an alternative way to help guests who cannot or do not want to use a phone.
If scanning works but the menu itself is difficult to use, move on to organising your menu for a small screen.
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