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Mongi Gazelle
Mongi Gazelle

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How to create QR codes from Claude and ChatGPT with MCP

#mcp #tutorial #ai #claude

QR codes are a good fit for an AI assistant: the task is small, the input is a URL, and the output is an image. This tutorial connects Claude (or ChatGPT) to qrlia, a QR code platform with a remote MCP server, and walks through creating, updating and tracking a code.

Disclosure: I built qrlia.

What you need

No API key is needed. The server uses OAuth 2.1: you sign in in the browser and approve access.

The server

  • URL: https://mcp.qrlia.com/mcp
  • Transport: Streamable HTTP
  • Auth: OAuth 2.1 (scopes qrlia.read, qrlia.write, and an opt-in qrlia.admin for workspace admins)

Option 1: Claude (web, desktop, mobile)

qrlia is in the Claude connector directory: https://claude.ai/directory/connectors/qrlia

  1. Open the link above, or Settings → Connectors and search "qrlia".
  2. Click Connect.
  3. Choose your workspace, sign in, approve the scopes.

Option 2: ChatGPT

In ChatGPT, open Settings → Apps, turn on developer mode under Advanced, and create an app with the URL https://mcp.qrlia.com/mcp. ChatGPT opens the qrlia sign-in; approve access. Your ChatGPT plan needs to support custom apps.

Option 3: Claude Code 

claude mcp add --transport http qrlia https://mcp.qrlia.com/mcp
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Then, inside Claude Code:

/mcp
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Select qrlia and sign in in the browser window that opens. Add --scope user to the add command if you want it in every project.

Option 4: Cursor and other MCP clients

Add the server to your client's MCP config. For Cursor (~/.cursor/mcp.json):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "qrlia": {
      "url": "https://mcp.qrlia.com/mcp"
    }
  }
}
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Cursor will prompt you to sign in. Configs for other clients are in https://github.com/mgazelle/qrlia-mcp.

Step 1: Create a code 

Create a QR code for https://example.com called Spring flyer and show
me the image.
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Claude calls a create tool, then fetches the image (PNG or SVG) and shows it. The code is dynamic: it encodes a short link, and the short link redirects to your URL.

Step 2: Change where it points

You printed 500 flyers and the page moved:

Change the Spring flyer code to point to https://example.com/summer.
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The printed code stays the same. Only the redirect changes.

Step 3: Check scans 

Show scan analytics for the last 30 days: which codes were scanned
most, and from which countries?
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On the free plan you get scan totals. Pro adds breakdowns by day, country, city, device, OS and referrer.

Step 4: Use your brand

On a paid plan you can describe your brand and let the assistant save it as a design:

Save a design called Brand: dark red #7C220D modules, blue #00AEEF
corner markers, rounded dots, our logo from
https://example.com/logo.png in the centre, and a banner frame that
says "Scan to save my contact". Then apply it to the Spring flyer code.
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Every code that uses the design follows it, and editing the design updates them all. Without your own logo, codes show the qrlia mark; you can also ask for no logo at all.

Other things to try

  • "Create a Wi-Fi QR code for network CafeGuest." (static: no short link, no scan stats)
  • "Make a vCard QR code for Jane Doe, sales, jane@example.com."
  • "Create QR codes for these 20 URLs and put them in a folder called Spring." (bulk create handles up to 200 per call; folders are Pro)
  • "Render the Spring flyer code as SVG using my saved design."

Safety notes

  • Each tool is marked read-only or destructive. Claude asks before running a destructive one, like deleting a code.
  • Admin tools (members, domains, webhooks, API key revoke) only appear if a workspace admin opts in to the admin scope.
  • Revoke access any time under Settings → Connected apps in qrlia. A password change also revokes it.

Prefer HTTP?

The same operations are in a REST API with OpenAPI docs at https://docs.qrlia.com (Pro plan). MCP and REST share one service layer, so they behave the same.

Wrap-up

That's the whole setup: one URL, one sign-in. If you try it, tell me which prompts work badly; that's what I'm tuning next.

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