---
title: Generate QR Login Code
description: "Generate a QR code for mobile device login to the PocketPaw dashboard. Scan the QR code with your phone to authenticate without manually entering credentials or tokens."
api: GET /api/qr
baseUrl: http://localhost:8000
layout: '@/layouts/APIEndpointLayout.astro'
auth: bearer
section: API Reference
ogType: article
keywords: ["qr code login", "mobile auth", "qr authentication"]
tags: ["api", "authentication"]
---

## Overview

Generates a QR code PNG image that encodes the dashboard URL with an embedded access token. Scanning this QR code on a mobile device automatically authenticates the user.

This endpoint **requires authentication**. The caller must already have a valid session (via Bearer token, session cookie, or localhost bypass). The QR code embeds a short-lived (60-second) pairing token so that a leaked QR image cannot grant long-lived access.

## Response

Returns a PNG image (`image/png` content type) as a streaming response.

<RequestExample>
<Tabs items={["cURL", "JavaScript", "Python"]}>
  <Tab title="cURL">
    ```bash
    curl -X GET "http://localhost:8000/api/qr" \
      -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN" -o login-qr.png
    ```
  </Tab>
  <Tab title="JavaScript">
    ```javascript
    const response = await fetch("http://localhost:8000/api/qr", {
      headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${token}` },
    });
    const blob = await response.blob();
    const url = URL.createObjectURL(blob);
    // Use url in an <img> tag or download link
    console.log("QR code blob URL:", url);
    ```
  </Tab>
  <Tab title="Python">
    ```python
    import requests

    response = requests.get(
        "http://localhost:8000/api/qr",
        headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {token}"},
    )
    with open("login-qr.png", "wb") as f:
        f.write(response.content)
    print("QR code saved to login-qr.png")
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>
</RequestExample>

<ResponseExample>
<Tabs items={["200"]}>
  <Tab title="200">
    ```
    Binary PNG image (content-type: image/png)
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>
</ResponseExample>