by Bradley

YOURLS QR Code Generator Plugin: Branded QR Codes With Logo Upload, Preview, and Download

YOURLS QR Code Generator Plugin: Branded QR Codes With Logo Upload, Preview, and Download

If you run YOURLS (Your Own URL Shortener), you already know the value of clean short links. The next step is making those links instantly usable in the real world—stickers, flyers, business cards, packaging—by generating QR codes that look good and are easy to download.

This plugin adds logo-branded QR codes directly into the YOURLS admin experience, including file upload for your logo, inline previews, a click-to-enlarge popup, a full QR page with size slider, and a one-click download.

What this plugin does

Once installed, you get QR codes for every short link right inside the YOURLS admin UI:

  • Upload a logo file (PNG/JPG/GIF) right in the admin settings (no external image URLs required)

  • Inline mini preview (small QR next to each short URL in the admin list)

  • Click-to-enlarge popup (tap the QR and get a bigger version + download)

  • Dedicated QR page with a size slider (100–500px) and logo toggle

  • Downloads always include the logo (even if the on-screen preview hides it)

It’s designed to be simple: generate a QR fast, download it, and put it on something people can scan.

Requirements

From the repo:

  • YOURLS 1.8+

  • PHP 7.4+

  • Write permissions on YOURLS plugin/logo folders

Installation

High level, the plugin is a standard YOURLS plugin install: place it under user/plugins/ and activate it in the admin panel.

The README’s install section shows the intended flow (download the plugin, move it into the YOURLS plugins directory, then activate in YOURLS Admin → Plugins).

How to use it

1) Upload your logo

In YOURLS admin:

  • Go to Admin → Plugins → QR Code Settings

  • Upload a square PNG for best results (JPG/GIF also supported)

  • Click Upload Logo

2) Generate QR codes from the link list (fastest workflow)

In the main admin URL list:

  • You’ll see a tiny QR icon/preview

  • Click it for a full-size popup

  • Download the QR instantly

3) Use the dedicated QR page (more control)

From the action links:

  • Click “QR”

  • Adjust the size slider (100–500px)

  • Toggle the logo on/off

  • Click Download QR Code

There’s also a clear note in the plugin UX that helps avoid confusion:

The logo appears in the downloaded file, not necessarily in the live preview.

API support (bonus)

The plugin also exposes a simple API-style action endpoint:

GET /yourls-api.php?action=qrcode&shorturl=abc123

And returns a JSON response with a qrcode_url that points to the QR page for that keyword.

Where the logo is stored

The repo documents this folder layout:

user/plugins/qrcode-generator/
├── plugin.php
└── yourls-qr-logo/ ← auto-created: stores uploaded logo
└── logo.png
``` :contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}

So after you upload your logo once, the plugin can reuse it for all QR downloads. :contentReference[oaicite:18]{index=18}

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## Changelog highlights

The README lists a few versions worth calling out:

- **1.6.0**: switched to **file upload** (no more URL-based logo loading)
- **1.6.1 / 1.6.2**: restored popup behavior and clarified that the logo is in the download :contentReference[oaicite:19]{index=19}

---

## Wrap-up

If you’re already using YOURLS, this plugin gives you a clean, “built-in” way to create **good-looking QR codes** for every short link—especially useful when you want to put links into the real world with a bit of branding.

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