Turning a link or a bit of text into a QR code usually sends people to a random generator site that plasters its own logo in the middle of your code or asks for an email before it lets you download the image. Grabio creates the QR code right on your iPhone using a native Apple Shortcuts action, so it’s free, private, and saves straight to your Photos app.

Why generate a QR code on iPhone instead of using a website

A QR code you’ll actually use, on a flyer, a business card, a menu, a Wi-Fi sign, needs to be clean and yours. Apple’s Shortcuts app includes a native action that generates a QR code image from text or a link, and Grabio uses that action directly, so nothing you type gets sent to a third-party generator site or logged anywhere.

How to generate a QR code on iPhone with Grabio

  1. Add Grabio to your iPhone once, it’s a free Apple Shortcut with no App Store download and no sign-up. Add Grabio to your iPhone.
  2. Open Grabio from your Home Screen or the Shortcuts app.
  3. Choose the QR code option from Grabio’s menu.
  4. Type or paste the link or text you want the QR code to point to.
  5. Grabio generates the QR code image on your iPhone and saves it straight to Photos, with a “Saved ✓” confirmation.

Is it private and free on iPhone?

Both. The QR code is generated on your iPhone itself using Apple’s own Shortcuts action, so the link or text you enter never gets sent to an outside server. Grabio is 100% free with no account, no login, and no watermark on the resulting image.

Generate a QR code on iPhone: FAQ

Can I generate a QR code from plain text, not just a link?

Yes. You can enter any link or plain text and Grabio will turn it into a scannable QR code image.

Does the QR code expire?

No. The QR code Grabio generates is just an image encoding whatever text or link you typed in, it doesn’t route through Grabio’s server and has no expiration. If the link itself stops working later, the QR code will still scan, it just won’t lead anywhere useful.

Where does the QR code save on my iPhone?

It saves to your Photos app, in the same Recents album as your other pictures, so you can share it, print it, or drop it into a document right away.

Related on iPhone: scan a QR code image on iPhone without an app, merge PDF files on iPhone, or PDF & Document Tools.

Aditya Sharma

Written by Aditya Sharma

Marketer who codes. Aditya builds Grabio himself, writing the code, running the servers, and testing every feature on his own iPhone before it ships. adityaarsharma.com

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