Fundamentals

Location QR Codes: geo URIs vs Map Links for Directions

Codexengr, QR Systems Engineer

Published 2026-07-28 (Updated 2026-10-05)

5 min read

Peer Reviewed & Fact Checked

1. The geo URI

`geo:24.8607,67.0011` follows RFC 5870. Android opens it in a maps app. iOS support is less consistent.

2. Web Map Links

`https://maps.google.com/?q=24.8607,67.0011` works on both platforms through the browser or map app. For a named business, link its map listing so the visitor sees reviews and opening hours.

3. Recommendation

For mixed audiences, encode a web map link. Use geo: only when targeting Android in a controlled environment. Verify coordinates by pasting them into a map before printing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my geo QR code fail on iPhone?

iOS does not reliably handle geo: URIs from the camera. Use a web map link.

How precise should coordinates be?

Four to five decimal places (about 1 to 10 meters) is enough.

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