Solancr

QR Scan Privacy

This page covers what happens at the moment someone scans a QR code created on Solancr. It is the other half of the privacy picture, alongside the Privacy Policy which covers how this site itself handles data.

Last updated: January 1, 2026

Short Version

Solancr creates static QR codes. The content you entered is encoded directly into the pattern of the code. When someone scans it, their device reads the pattern and acts on the content. Solancr is not involved at any point during that scan. There is no redirect through this site, no analytics call, and no way for us to know that a code was scanned.

Static vs Dynamic Codes

Understanding the difference is the key to understanding scan privacy.

A static QR code contains the final destination inside the pattern itself. If the code points to example.com/menu, then that exact address is what the scanner reads. The scan resolves directly to that address.

A dynamic QR code, by contrast, points to a short URL owned by the QR provider. When someone scans it, their device first contacts the provider's server, which then redirects to the real destination. This allows the provider to change the destination later and to count every scan. It also means the provider sees the scan happen, along with metadata such as approximate location, device type, and time.

Solancr only produces static codes. That means no scanning analytics, no redirect server, and no third party observing the scan.

What a Scanner Does

When a phone's camera app or a dedicated QR scanner reads a code, it performs a few steps entirely on the device:

  • It locates the finder patterns in the corners of the code.
  • It decodes the black and white modules into a text string.
  • It decides what kind of content that string represents, such as a URL, a phone number, or WiFi credentials.
  • It offers the appropriate action, like opening the browser, dialing a number, or joining a network.

None of this requires a server owned by Solancr. The content is read locally by the scanning device.

What the Destination Site Sees

Once a URL QR code is scanned and the browser opens the destination, the destination website sees the visit just like any other visitor. That site will typically log the IP address, user agent, and timestamp. It may also set its own cookies.

This is true of any link you share, QR code or not. It is worth remembering when you generate a code that points to a site you do not control. Solancr cannot control what the destination site does with its visitors.

Scanning WiFi, vCard, and Phone Codes

Some QR types do not open a website at all. WiFi codes tell the phone to join a network. vCard codes tell the phone to offer to save a contact. Phone codes tell the phone to offer to dial a number.

For these types, scanning is a purely local action. The phone handles the content itself and does not send anything to a server for the code to function. There is no destination site to observe the scan.

Is It Safe to Scan a QR Code From a Stranger?

The QR pattern itself is only a container for content. Scanning is safe in the sense that reading the pattern cannot harm your device. The risk lies in what the content does, which is why most phone camera apps now show a preview of the URL before opening it. Pay attention to that preview.

A few simple habits reduce the risk:

  • Check the domain in the preview before tapping to open. Look for misspellings and unusual extensions.
  • Be cautious with codes placed on stickers that have been added on top of existing signs, which is a known technique used in public spaces.
  • If a code asks you to install something or enter a password, treat it the same as a link from an unknown sender.
  • Use a scanner app that shows the full URL before opening, instead of one that auto-opens.

None of these concerns are specific to Solancr. They apply to every QR code, because a QR code is just printed data.

Do You Track Scans of Codes Made Here?

No. Solancr has no way to track scans of static codes, and no mechanism to try. There is no redirect server, no short domain, and no analytics on the codes themselves. Each downloaded image is a standalone object that works independently of this site.

What This Means for Businesses

If you use Solancr to print a code on packaging or a storefront sign, you will not receive scan counts or a dashboard. In exchange, the code will keep working without any dependency on this website. If you need scan analytics, you would need a dynamic QR service, which comes with the privacy tradeoff described above.

For most users, a static code is the right fit. It is also the only kind that can be described as genuinely permanent.

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