Rickroll QR code: how to make one, and how to prank politely
A Rickroll QR code opens the official video of Rick Astley's 'Never Gonna Give You Up'. It's the internet's longest-running harmless prank, and as a QR code it's surprisingly effective, because people scan out of curiosity.
Make one
Open the Rickroll generator. Tick 'Skip straight to the chorus' if you want instant results, choose a design that looks official, and add a tempting caption. Every design is test-scanned, so the joke won't fall flat because of a bad print.
Captions that get scans
- 'Secret menu' on a staff party table.
- 'Bonus content' on the last slide of a talk.
- 'Answers to the quiz' on a classroom sheet.
- 'Wedding playlist' on a groomsman's speech card.
Prank etiquette
- Know your audience. Friends, colleagues and classmates who'll laugh, not strangers in a hurry.
- Never cover real codes. No stickers over parking meters, payment signs, menus or posters. People rely on those, and covering them is how real scams work.
- Not on anything official. Keep it off safety notices, tickets, medical forms and work documents.
- Mind the volume. The video plays with sound. A library or a funeral is the wrong place.
- Own up. The fun is the reveal. Tell people it was you.
Use it to teach link safety
A Rickroll is a gentle way to show why it's worth checking where a code goes before opening it. Most phone cameras show the web address before you tap it; point that out after the laugh. Our QR code safety guide has more.
- Open the Rickroll generator. Tick 'Skip straight to the chorus' if you like.
- Make it look official. A clean design and a believable caption.
- Download and print. Test-scan it yourself first, with the sound down.
- Prank kindly. Right audience, no covering real codes, and own up afterwards.