A QR code on the TV turns a passive screen into an interactive tool. Guests scan it with any smartphone – no app required – and land on whatever you want them to find: your house rules guide, local restaurant recommendations, a direct booking page, your Airbnb review link, or any URL. This guide explains how to get a QR code displaying on your vacation rental TV in under 10 minutes.
Two methods below: the built-in Hello Guest Screen QR code, or a static USB screensaver if you are not using a welcome screen app.
What Should Your QR Code Link To?
Before setting up the QR code, decide what you want guests to access. The most effective QR code destinations for vacation rental hosts are:
- House rules and appliance guide – a Google Doc or Notion page covering checkout checklist, appliance instructions, parking rules, noise ordinances, and any property-specific information guests need during the stay
- Local guide – your curated list of the best restaurants, coffee shops, hiking trails, and activities within 15 minutes of the property
- Direct booking page – encourage repeat guests to book directly, saving the Airbnb commission on future stays
- Review link – a direct link to your Airbnb review page, shown when guests are at their most satisfied – on arrival, before anything has gone wrong
- Digital guidebook – if you use Hostfully, Touch Stay, or another guidebook platform, link directly to your property’s guidebook
How to Add a QR Code to Your TV Using Hello Guest Screen
Hello Guest Screen includes a built-in QR code feature on every welcome screen display. Here is how to set it up:
- Log in to your Hello Guest Screen dashboard at helloguestscreen.com.
- Navigate to your property settings.
- Find the QR Code section and paste the URL you want the QR code to link to.
- Customize the QR code label – the text that appears beneath the QR code on the TV screen. Examples: Scan for House Rules, Your Local Guide, Book Your Next Stay Direct.
- Save your settings. The QR code appears on the TV welcome screen immediately.
The QR code updates instantly across all your screens when you change the destination URL. You can update it seasonally – summer local guide in July, ski resort guide in December – from the dashboard without visiting the property. See the full feature list for everything else the display can show.
How to Add a QR Code to a TV Without Hello Guest Screen
If you want to display a QR code on the TV without a welcome screen app, the most practical option is the custom screensaver method:
- Generate a QR code for free at qr.io, qrcode-monkey.com, or any free QR code generator. Paste your destination URL and download the QR code as a PNG image.
- Open Canva or a similar free design tool and create an image at 1920 x 1080 pixels.
- Add the QR code image to the design along with a label (Scan for house rules) and your property name.
- Download the image and save it to a USB drive.
- Plug the USB drive into your TV’s USB port and set the image as the screensaver.
The limitation of this method is that the QR code never updates automatically. If you change the destination URL, you need to create a new image and update the TV at the property. It also shows a static screen with no guest name, no WiFi password, and no checkout time.
What Guests Experience When They Scan
Guests scan the QR code on the TV with their phone’s camera app – no QR code app needed on any modern smartphone. The phone opens the destination URL in the browser instantly. For a house rules guide on Google Docs, the guest sees the document immediately. For a local guide on Notion or a personal website, they see the page without any login or app download required.
Make your QR code destination mobile-friendly
Guests scan the QR code on a phone, so the destination page should display well on a mobile screen. Google Docs, Notion, and most website builders display well on mobile by default. If you use a custom page or PDF, test it on your phone before setting it as the QR code destination to confirm it is readable without zooming.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do guests need to download an app to scan the QR code?
No. Any modern smartphone camera app can scan a QR code without any additional app. On iPhone, open the Camera app and point it at the QR code – a link preview appears at the top of the screen. On Android, most camera apps also scan QR codes natively. Guests can access the linked page with one tap.
Can I change what the QR code links to without changing anything at the property?
Yes, with Hello Guest Screen. Update the QR code destination URL in your dashboard from any device and it changes on the TV display immediately – no visit to the property required. With the USB screensaver method, you would need to create a new image and update the TV at the property.
What is the best URL to link to from a vacation rental TV QR code?
The highest-value QR code destination depends on your goal. If you want to reduce guest questions during the stay, link to a house rules and appliance guide. If you want to grow direct bookings, link to your direct booking page. If you want more reviews, link to your Airbnb review page. If you want guests to use local information, link to your curated local guide. You can change the destination any time, so you can test which destination gets the most engagement.
Add a QR Code to Your Vacation Rental TV Today
Built-in QR code, WiFi display, and guest name from $14.99/mo. See plans.
helloguestscreen.com
