QR code types
App download QR codes: get people to the right store, once
An app QR code points at your App Store or Google Play listing, or at a landing page that detects the phone and sends it to the correct store. Because the destination is editable, the same printed code can be pointed at a pre-launch page and then flipped live on launch day.
The hard part of an app QR code isn't the code, it's the fact that iOS and Android users need different links. A single QR code can only carry one URL, so you either pick one store link and accept it's wrong for half your audience, or you route through something that figures out which platform the visitor is on.
Single store link vs a smart landing page
| Approach | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Single store link | Code points directly at one App Store or Google Play URL | Audiences you know are overwhelmingly on one platform, or an app available on only one store |
| Smart landing page | Code points at a page that detects the visitor's OS (via user-agent) and redirects to the matching store, or shows both buttons | General audiences where you don't know or control the mix of iOS and Android users |
| Manual choice page | A simple page with an 'iPhone' and 'Android' button side by side, no detection needed | Anywhere reliable OS detection isn't worth building, and a two-second manual choice is fine |
Building a smart landing page
You don't need anything elaborate. A single static page that checks the browser's user-agent string for 'iPhone' or 'iPad' versus 'Android' and redirects accordingly covers the vast majority of visitors. If detection fails or the visitor is on a desktop browser, show both store buttons rather than guessing.
This page needs to be hosted somewhere; 123QR points a dynamic code at it but doesn't build the page for you. A simple redirect script on your own site, or several no-code landing page tools, can do this in a few minutes.
Re-pointing at launch day
- 01
Print the code before launch
Point it at a coming-soon page, waitlist signup, or teaser video while the app isn't live yet.
- 02
Get both store listings approved
Confirm the App Store and Google Play listings are live and the URLs are final before flipping the switch.
- 03
Update the code's destination
Point the same code at your smart landing page or store link the moment the app goes live. No new code or reprint needed.
- 04
Recheck on both platforms
Scan the printed code from an iPhone and an Android phone the same day to confirm each lands in the right store.
Where these codes get placed
- Packaging inserts for physical products that pair with a companion app.
- In-store posters and till receipts at launch events, pointing people to download before they leave.
- Print and outdoor ads running a launch campaign, where the code is the only call to action that doesn't require typing a URL.
- Event booths and conference signage promoting a new release.
Measuring install campaigns honestly
123QR records scans of the printed code: when, roughly where, and on what device. It cannot tell you whether a scan turned into an actual install, since that visibility sits inside the App Store, Google Play or a dedicated app-attribution SDK, not in a redirect service.
What scan data is good for is comparing placements: if a poster at one venue produces far more scans than another, or a print ad drives noticeably more traffic than a flyer, that's a real, usable signal for where to spend the next print budget, even without a full install funnel.
When a QR code isn't the right tool
- If your audience is entirely reached through digital channels already (email, in-app), a QR code adds no value over a direct link.
- If your app has no public listing yet and no coming-soon page either, there's nothing useful to point the code at — wait until at least a landing page exists.
Common questions
- Can one QR code work for both iPhone and Android?
- Yes, if it points at a landing page that detects the phone's operating system and redirects to the matching store, or shows both download buttons. A code pointing directly at a single store URL only works well for that platform.
- Can I change the code's destination before the app launches?
- Yes. Point the code at a coming-soon or waitlist page before launch, then update the destination to the live store link or smart landing page once the app is available.
- Does scan tracking show me how many installs happened?
- No. It shows scans of the printed code, with time, rough location and device type. Install counts live inside the App Store and Google Play, or a dedicated attribution tool, not in the redirect data.
- Do I need to build the smart landing page myself?
- Yes. 123QR points a dynamic code at whatever URL you give it, but the OS-detection landing page itself needs to be hosted on your own site or a landing-page tool.
Keep reading
- Marketing campaignsAttribute offline campaigns with one code per placement.
- QR code analyticsSee when, where and on what device your printed material gets scanned.
- Dynamic QR codesHow editable QR codes work and why they beat static codes in print.
- Flyers and postersMeasure which print drop actually produced scans.
Print once. Change the destination anytime.
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