A rick roll QR code is a QR code that secretly opens Rick Astley's “Never Gonna Give You Up” — the internet's longest-running prank, now in square form. Here's a ready-made one to download, how to make your own in about ten seconds, how to draw one by hand, and how to make it convincing without crossing the line.
How to make a rick roll QR code
- Copy the link:
https://youtu.be/dQw4w9WgXcQ— the official music video. The short youtu.be link makes a simpler code than the full YouTube address. - Paste it into the URL QR code generator.
- Disguise it. Pick colors, add a logo, and add a label people will believe — the less it looks like a prank, the better the reveal.
- Download and print as SVG or PNG. Scan it once yourself to make sure the video opens.
The double rick roll: use a dynamic QR code
A regular QR code shows youtu.be/… in the scan preview, which gives the joke away to anyone who reads it. A dynamic QR code shows a short capyqr.com link instead — and because you can change where it points, you can send people to a real page first and switch it to the rick roll later (or the other way round). You'll even see how many people scanned. Dynamic codes are free with a Capy QR account.
Build yours in the editor → capyqr.com
How to draw a rick roll QR code by hand
It's doable. With the short link and the lowest error-correction level (L), the code is a 25 × 25 grid — the full youtube.com link at the default level needs 33 × 33. To draw it:
- Generate the code with error correction set to L and print it as a reference.
- Use graph paper with large squares; fill each dark square completely.
- Get the three big corner squares exactly right — scanners use them to find the code.
- Leave at least four empty squares of margin all the way around.
Hand-drawn codes are fragile: one wrong square in the wrong place can break them, though error correction forgives small mistakes. Test as you go.
Rick roll ideas (that stay friendly)
- A “Scan for the Wi-Fi password” card at your own party.
- A mystery QR code on a birthday card or a gift tag.
- The last slide of a presentation to a team that will laugh.
- A sticker on your own laptop, water bottle or guitar case.
- A treasure-hunt clue that sends people the wrong way once.
Keep it among people who're in on the joke. Never cover a real QR code in a public place — on a parking meter, a restaurant table, or a payment sign. That's exactly how QR code scams work, and people can't tell the difference.
Want more? See funny and weird QR codes.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I make a rick roll QR code?
- Copy the YouTube link to Rick Astley's “Never Gonna Give You Up” (youtu.be/dQw4w9WgXcQ), paste it into a QR code generator as a URL, and download the code. Or just download the ready-made one on this page.
- What is the rick roll QR code link?
- youtu.be/dQw4w9WgXcQ — the short link to the official music video. The full version is youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ; both open the same video, but the short one makes a simpler code.
- Can I draw a rick roll QR code by hand?
- Yes, with patience. Use the short link and the lowest error-correction level and the code is 25 × 25 squares, which fits on graph paper. Copy it square by square from a printed code, keep the corners crisp, and leave a blank margin around it.
- How do I make the rick roll less obvious?
- Give the code a believable label (“Scan for the menu”, “Free Wi-Fi”) and style it with colors or a logo so it doesn't look like a plain black square. A dynamic QR code also hides the YouTube address behind a short link — and lets you switch the destination later.
- Is it OK to rick roll people with a QR code?
- Among friends, at a party, or in your own posters, sure. Don't put fake codes over real ones in public — parking meters, menus, payment signs — or pretend to be a business. That's the same trick scammers use, and it can cause real harm.
Bottom line: copy youtu.be/dQw4w9WgXcQ, turn it into a QR code, and disguise it — or download the one above. Make your own in the free QR code generator.