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Key takeaways
- Static QR codes never expire by themselves; they break only if the destination or the print does.
- Dynamic QR codes depend on the provider: some deactivate them when a trial or subscription ends.
- Before printing, check what the code points to, and how long the provider keeps dynamic codes active.
- An expired dynamic code can only be revived by its own provider.
The short answer
A QR code itself never expires: it is just a printed pattern. What can stop working is what the code points to. For a static code, that is your own content. For a dynamic code, it is the provider’s short link, and that link only works while the provider keeps it active.
Why static codes keep working
A static code contains its content directly: a web address, Wi-Fi details, a contact card or text. Nothing sits in between, so no company can switch it off. A static Wi-Fi or contact code made ten years ago still works today.
The catch is that a static code is only as permanent as its content. If it links to a web page and that page is deleted or the domain lapses, the code still scans, but opens a dead page. See static vs dynamic QR codes for when each makes sense.
Why dynamic codes stop working
A dynamic code contains a short link on the provider’s domain. Every scan goes through their server, which forwards it to your destination. If the provider stops forwarding, the code stops working, however good the print is.
Trials that end
Some providers let you create dynamic codes during a free trial, then deactivate them when the trial ends. For example, QR Code Generator PRO’s help centre says dynamic codes created during its 14-day trial are deactivated when the trial ends, and scans then reach a service page instead of your link. People often find out after the code is printed on menus or flyers. Our QR Code Generator PRO comparison has the details and sources.
Subscriptions that lapse
Other providers keep codes active only while you pay. A missed renewal can switch off every code in the account.
Scan or code limits
Some free plans cap scans per code. Check what happens when a code reaches the cap before relying on it.
Codes that keep working on QR-10
Every reason a QR code stops working
| Cause | Affects | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Provider trial or subscription ended | Dynamic | Reactivate with that provider, or replace the code |
| Code paused or deleted in the account | Dynamic | Resume it, or create a new code |
| Destination page removed or moved | Both | Dynamic: change the link. Static: redirect the old page |
| Website domain expired | Both | Renew the domain |
| Free link shortener inside a static code shut down | Static | Replace the code |
| Faded, scratched or wet print | Both | Reprint; laminate codes outdoors |
| Printed too small or low contrast | Both | Reprint larger, dark on light |
The last two have nothing to do with expiry, but they are the most common reason a code “stops working”. Our QR code size guide covers sizes and print.
Check a code before you print
- 1Scan it and look at the link preview: your own content means static; a provider’s short link means dynamic.
- 2For a dynamic code, read the provider’s terms: what happens when a trial ends, when you stop paying, and at scan limits.
- 3Make sure the destination is a page you control and plan to keep.
- 4Print a test copy at the final size and scan it with an iPhone and an Android phone.
Your code stopped working: what now?
- Find out what it contains with the online QR code scanner.
- If it’s a provider’s short link, log in to that provider. Reactivating there is the only way to revive the printed code.
- If it’s your own web address, restore the page or redirect it on your website.
- Otherwise, create a new code and replace the printed one, ideally with a dynamic code you can change after printing next time.
Avoid “free” codes with strings attached