QR codes don't expire on their own. A QR code is a printed pattern that holds some data, and nothing in the pattern counts down. What can stop working is the address behind it. A static code that holds your website address keeps working as long as that website does. A dynamic code points to a redirect run by the company that made it, so it keeps working only as long as that company keeps the redirect switched on.
This is one reason QR codes sometimes stop working. Some QR generators make dynamic codes on a free trial and then send scans to their own page, or switch them off, unless you subscribe. Below is how to tell which kind of code you have, how to check a generator before you print, and how dynamic QR codes work on Digily Link.
Static and dynamic QR codes in plain terms
| Static QR code | Dynamic QR code | |
|---|---|---|
| What's inside the code | Your data itself, such as a web address, WiFi details or contact card | A short link, usually on the generator's domain |
| Can it expire? | No, though the website it points to can disappear | Not by itself, but it stops working if the short link is switched off or deleted |
| Change the destination after printing | Not in the code itself, though you can redirect the address if it's on your own website | Yes, by editing the short link |
| Scan and visit tracking | No built-in scan tracking, but your website analytics can still measure visits | Visits counted through the short link |
| What it depends on | The destination, if the code holds a web address | The redirect service and the destination |
How can I tell if my QR code will expire?
Scan it with your phone camera, or use a QR code reader such as our free QR code reader, and look at what the code contains before you open it. The address is a strong clue, though not proof, because some dynamic QR services let you use your own domain.
- If it shows your own website, such as rosiesbakery.co.uk/menu, it's most likely static. It will work for as long as that page exists, and you can redirect the page if it moves.
- If it shows a short address on a QR company's domain, it's most likely a dynamic code. Its future depends on your account with that company.
- If it shows WiFi details, a phone number or a contact card, it's static. The data is in the code itself, and no server is involved.
A code that works today won't necessarily work next year, so pair this technical check with a look at the provider's terms, especially what happens after a trial or when you cancel.
Why do some QR codes stop working?
When a QR code that used to work suddenly fails, it's usually one of these reasons.
- A trial or subscription ended, and the generator stopped redirecting your dynamic code or now shows its own page.
- The short link behind the code was deleted, or its name was changed after printing.
- The destination page moved or was taken down, such as an old menu PDF or a closed online shop.
- The print is the problem. Fading, glare from a laminated sheet, a cut-off corner or a missing white border can make a code unreadable. The QR standard calls for a clear margin of four modules, the small squares, around the code.
How to check a QR generator before you print
A few questions are worth answering before you put a dynamic code on 5,000 flyers or a shopfront.
- Is the dynamic code part of an ongoing free plan or only a trial? Check whether it stays active without payment and whether there are scan limits.
- What happens to existing codes if you cancel or downgrade? The pricing page or terms should say.
- Can you change the destination yourself, without paying extra?
- Can you get a static code if you don't need tracking? For WiFi details or a fixed web address, a static code avoids depending on a redirect service.
- Can you leave? If your printed codes use a provider's redirect, moving to another service later may mean reprinting, so check before you print thousands of copies.
If a generator doesn't answer these clearly, make a static code for anything you can't easily reprint.
How do dynamic QR codes work on Digily Link?
When you create a QR code of the URL type on Digily Link, you can tick Dynamic QR code. Digily Link then creates a short link for the address you entered and puts the short link in the code. You can also skip the tick and choose a short link you already have with Select from existing links.
The screen also shows an important warning. Don't change the short link's name, the part after the slash, once the code is printed. The code holds that exact address, so a new name means the printed code no longer reaches your link. Changing where the short link goes is fine.
On the free plan you can create 20 QR codes and 50 short links in total, with statistics kept for 30 days. The 30 days is how long click history is kept, not how long the code works. Links on the free plan have no automatic expiry date. Setting an expiry date on purpose is a paid feature, for things like a limited offer.
Static codes are on the free plan too. For WiFi, a phone number or a contact card, Digily Link stores the details in the code itself, so a phone can read them without an internet connection. Codes that open a website need a connection to load the page.
Frequently asked questions
Do free QR codes expire?
Static free codes don't. Free dynamic codes depend on the generator. Check whether they're part of a free plan or a trial before you print.
How long does a QR code last?
A static code lasts as long as the print stays readable and the destination exists. A dynamic code lasts as long as its short link and destination stay active.
Can I fix a printed QR code that has stopped working?
If it's a dynamic code and you can still reach the account that made it, point the short link at a working page. If the account is gone, or the code is static and the page has moved, you'll need to reprint, or set up a redirect from the old address if it's on your own website.
What happens to my QR code if I cancel my subscription?
Static codes keep working. For dynamic codes it depends on the provider, so check its terms before you cancel. Some send scans to their own page or switch the code off.
Do QR codes have a scan limit?
Static codes don't, because no server is involved. Some dynamic QR services set scan limits on certain plans, so check the plan details.
Do QR codes for WiFi expire?
No, but they stop working when you change the WiFi name or password, because those details are inside the code.
Are dynamic QR codes safe to scan?
They aren't unsafe in themselves, but their destination can change and a short link hides the final address. Preview the link, check the website is genuine, and avoid entering payment or login details on an unfamiliar page. Be especially careful with QR stickers in public places, such as on posters or parking meters, which can be stuck over a genuine code.
Need a QR code you can update after printing? See how the Digily Link QR code generator works.
