How to make a QR code for a Google Drive file, folder or album
10 min read
To make a QR code for Google Drive, set the file or folder's general access to “Anyone with the link,” copy the link and paste it into a QR code generator. A Google Photos album works the same way: create a link to the album and turn that link into a code.
In short
- The code only opens a link, so set access to Anyone with the link first, or nobody but you will see the file.
- Viewer is enough for looking; Editor lets people add files to a folder, but only when they're signed in to a Google Account.
- To collect photos from a crowd, a Google Photos shared album works better than a Drive folder.
- A dynamic code can point to a different folder or album later, with no reprint.
- linqr never sees your Drive: it only knows the link your code points to.
Contents
A QR code just opens an address. If the file is shared only with you, everyone else gets a no-access screen instead of your file. So the first step always happens in Drive. According to Google's help center, it goes like this:
- Select the file or folder and click Share.
- Under “General access,” click the down arrow and choose Anyone with the link.
- Pick a role: Viewer, Commenter or Editor.
- Click Copy link, then Done.
| Role | What someone who scans the code can do | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Viewer | open the file or folder, view files and, by default, download them | menus, price lists, photos to browse |
| Commenter | the same, plus leave comments | a draft you want feedback on |
| Editor | in a folder, when signed in to a Google Account: add files, and also edit, move or delete anyone's files | working together with people you trust |
A code posted in public should open a folder with the Viewer role. Editor lets anyone who scans the code and has a Google Account delete your files.
A folder link or a file link
A file link opens one document right away; a folder link shows a list of files. Choose based on what the person holding the phone needs:
- A file link for a single document, like a menu, a price list or a manual. Fewer taps on a small screen. We cover this case on our QR code for a PDF page.
- A folder link when there are many files or more are coming, like trip photos or class handouts. Google says files added to a folder later inherit its permissions, so you don't have to share each one.
Google Docs, Sheets and Slides use the same Share dialog, so a QR code for a Google Doc works exactly the same way.
An album others can add to
To collect photos from lots of people, a Google Photos shared album is easier than a folder. According to Google's help center, anyone with the album link can view it and add their own photos. In the phone app:
- Touch and hold a few photos, tap Create → Album, enter a title and tap Done.
- Tap Share, then Create link.
- If the album should be view-only, turn off Collaborate under “Options.”
Google Photos can also show its own QR code for the album (Share → Show QR Code). That's handy in a pinch, but it always opens that one album. For invitations and table cards, you want a code you can switch to the photographer's gallery after the party, which is how our QR code for wedding photos page sets it up.
You can reset an album link: turn link sharing off and on again, and Google creates a new address while the old one stops working. If your code comes from linqr, paste the new address with Change link, and your printed codes keep working.
Make the QR code for Google Drive in 5 steps
These steps use linqr, which is our product: a free dynamic QR code generator where you can change the link even after the code is printed.
Set access to “Anyone with the link”
In Drive: Share, then “General access.” In Google Photos: Share → Create link.
Copy the link and test it
Open it in a private browser window or on a phone that isn't signed in. If you can see the files, so can everyone.
Paste the link into the creator
Paste it into The link to turn into a QR code. The preview appears right away.
Style it
Use the Style, Colours and Frame tabs to set colors and a label, like “FIELD TRIP PHOTOS.” Scans correctly confirms phones can read it.
Save and download the code
Click Download QR code, sign in with Google or email and choose Save and download. The code is saved to your account, so you can change its link later.
Weddings, trips, classes
- Weddings and birthdays. A code on the tables opens a shared album guests add to. After the party, the same code shows the best shots.
- Field trips and summer camp. Parents scan the code on a handout and see each day's photos in one folder with the Viewer role.
- Classes and workshops. A code on the whiteboard or in the syllabus opens the handouts folder. Next semester, point it to the new folder.
- Business. A code at a trade show booth opens a folder of spec sheets, and a code on a machine opens its service manual.
Permissions and privacy
linqr never sees your files and has no access to your Drive. We store only the address your code points to and count scans, without keeping IP addresses. Who sees your files is decided entirely by your Google sharing settings.
“Anyone with the link” means exactly that: a stranger can scan a code on a poster, and links get forwarded. So:
- don't put documents with personal data in a public folder, like a sign-up sheet with phone numbers;
- share photos of kids through a handout that goes home to parents, not a poster in the school lobby;
- when you're done collecting photos, turn off Collaborate or switch the folder role to Viewer.
You can also Pause a linqr code in My codes at any time. Anyone who scans it then sees a page saying the code is temporarily switched off, and doesn't reach the folder.
Swap the folder later
A QR code for Google Drive often has to outlive its folder: the school year ends, the guest album gives way to the photographer's gallery, your Drive needs a cleanup. A regular QR code, like the one Chrome makes, has the folder address baked in, so moving the files means reprinting.
A dynamic code holds a short link, and you decide where it goes. In My codes, click Change link, paste the new folder's address and save; the change is instant. Our guide on how to change a QR code link after printing covers the details, including codes made elsewhere.
Make a QR code for your folder
Paste a Google Drive or Google Photos link. You'll see the code right away, and you can change the link even after it's printed.
Make your QR codeQuestions
Does Google Drive have a built-in QR code?
Drive's share dialog gives you a link, and Chrome can turn any open page into a QR code: More → Cast, save, and share → Create QR code. Google Photos also shows a QR code for shared albums. The Chrome code has the address baked in, and the album code opens that one album. If the folder might change or you want scan counts, use a dynamic code.
How do I let guests add photos?
The simplest way is a Google Photos shared album: create the album, tap Share, then Create link. According to Google's help center, anyone with the link can add their own photos while Collaborate is on. A Drive folder with the Editor role also works, but only for people signed in to a Google Account, and it lets them delete other people's files.
Can people without a Google account open the folder?
Yes, if general access is set to Anyone with the link. Google says people who aren't signed in show up as anonymous animals in your file, so viewing doesn't require an account. Adding files to a folder does require a Google Account. Before you print, open the link in a private browser window to see what a stranger sees.
Can I change the folder later?
Yes, if the code is dynamic. In linqr, open My codes, click Change link and paste the new folder or album address. The change works right away, and the printed code stays the same. A Chrome QR code has the address built in, and a Google Photos album code opens one album, so with those a new folder means a new code and a reprint.
Can linqr see my files?
No. linqr doesn't connect to your Drive and has no access to your files or photos. We store only the link your code points to and count scans, without keeping IP addresses. Who can see the files depends entirely on your Google sharing settings, so that's where you grant or remove access.
How do I make a QR code for a Google Sheet or a Slides deck?
The same way as for a Drive file. Open the Sheet or deck, click Share, set “General access” to Anyone with the link with the Viewer role, and click Copy link. Paste that link into a QR code generator such as linqr. Scanning opens the file in the phone's browser or in the Google app, if it's installed.
Why does my Google Drive QR code say I need access?
Because the file or folder is still shared only with specific people. The QR code works fine; Google is blocking everyone who isn't on the list. Open Share, change “General access” to Anyone with the link and click Done. You don't need a new code, since the address stays the same. Test the link in a private browser window afterward.
Does a QR code for a Google Drive file expire?
The code itself doesn't, but the link behind it can stop working: if you delete the file, move it to the trash or turn off link sharing, everyone gets an error. A linqr code has no expiry date, on the Free plan too. If the file changes, point the code to the new one with Change link instead of reprinting.
Is it safe to put a Google Drive QR code on a public poster?
Yes, if the folder contains only what anyone may see and the role is Viewer. A poster reaches strangers and photos of it get shared, so leave out personal data, and never use Editor on a public code. If something goes wrong, you can Pause a linqr code in My codes right away, or change the sharing in Drive.
Can I track how many people opened my Drive folder from the QR code?
Yes, with a dynamic code. Drive doesn't count anonymous visitors, but linqr counts every scan of the code before it forwards people to the folder. On the Free plan, Stats shows total and unique scans, a 30-day chart, top 3 countries and devices. It counts scans, not downloads, and never shows who scanned.
Will a video stored in Google Drive play when someone scans the code?
Usually yes. Drive opens a preview player in the phone's browser or in the Drive app, so viewers with the link can watch without downloading. A freshly uploaded long video may need some time to process before it plays. Test the link on a phone that isn't signed in to your Google Account before you print.