QR codes themselves don’t expire. A static QR code, which stores your link or details directly in the pattern, keeps working for as long as it can be scanned. Codes “expire” for other reasons: a dynamic code made on a subscription service can stop working when the trial or plan ends, the website it points to can go offline, the Wi-Fi password inside it can change, or the printed code can wear out.
Knowing which of those applies to your code tells you how to fix it, and how to make one that won’t break.
Why static QR codes never expire #
A static code is just information arranged as black and white squares. A link code contains the web address itself; a Wi-Fi code contains the network name and password. There’s no account, no server and no date inside it. Generators that make static codes say as much: QR Code Monkey, for example, says its codes are static and “do not expire and will work forever”.
What can stop a static code working is what’s on the other end, covered below.
Why dynamic QR codes can stop working #
A dynamic code contains a short link on a QR service’s domain. The service forwards anyone who scans it to your real destination, which lets you edit the destination and count scans. But the forwarding only happens while the service keeps your code active.
Many services offer dynamic codes on a free trial. QR Code Generator (qr-code-generator.com), for instance, advertises a 14-day free trial of its paid plans. If a trial or subscription ends, depending on the provider’s terms, the short link may be deactivated, show an error, or redirect to the provider’s own page. That’s the most common reason people find their printed codes suddenly “expired,” often on menus and flyers made with a free trial without realizing it.
For the full comparison, see static vs dynamic QR codes.
Other reasons a QR code stops working #
| Cause | Code type | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription or trial ended | Dynamic | Renew, or replace with a static code |
| Website moved or shut down | Link | Restore the page or redirect the old address |
| Domain name expired | Link | Renew the domain |
| Wi-Fi name or password changed | Wi-Fi | Make and print a new code |
| Contact details changed | vCard | Make a new code |
| Faded, scratched or torn print | Any | Reprint, with higher error correction outdoors |
| One-time code by design | Tickets, logins, payments | Get a fresh code from the app or service |
One-time codes are meant to expire #
Some codes are designed to be short-lived: event tickets, boarding passes, payment codes, sign-in codes for a messaging app on a computer, and setup codes for two-factor authentication. The app that shows them generates a new code or marks the old one as used. That’s the service at work, not the QR code failing.
How to tell whether your code will expire #
Scan it with a scanner that shows the full contents, and look at what’s inside.
- It’s your own web address, like
https://yourbusiness.com/menu: static. It works as long as that page does. - It’s a short link on a QR service’s domain: almost certainly dynamic. It depends on that service.
- It’s Wi-Fi details or a contact card: static. It works until the network or details change.
QR Handler makes this easy to check because it never opens a code by itself. The result screen shows the full link, and for known shortener domains, including several used by QR code services, it notes that the destination is hidden and offers a Reveal destination button that follows the link when you tap it.
How to make a QR code that won’t expire #
- Use a static code. Make sure the generator isn’t quietly producing a dynamic short link.
- Point it at an address you control. Your own domain, not a third party’s short link.
- Keep that page and domain alive. Renew the domain, and if you redesign the site, redirect old addresses instead of deleting them.
- Want flexibility later? Use your own short path. Point the code at
yoursite.com/qrand make that page forward wherever you like. You can change the destination without reprinting and without a QR subscription. - Print for durability. Outdoors or on handled items, use a higher error correction level, laminate, and keep strong contrast.
QR Handler only makes static codes: links, text, Wi-Fi, contact cards, email, phone and SMS, all built on your phone with the content inside the code. It has no subscription and no server in the middle, so nothing on our side can switch your codes off. The catch is that you can’t edit a code after printing; for that, use the “your own short path” approach above. Other free static options are in best free QR code generator.
What to do if your printed code has stopped working #
- Scan it and see what’s inside.
- If it’s a dynamic link, log in to the provider. Reactivating may be cheaper than reprinting, at least short term. For the long term, replace it with a static code pointing at your own site.
- If it’s your own link, check whether the page, domain or hosting has lapsed, and restore or redirect it.
- If it’s a Wi-Fi code, make a new one with the current network details. Our guide to making a Wi-Fi QR code has the steps.
- If it’s damage, reprint.
Frequently asked questions #
Do free QR codes expire? #
Free static codes don’t. Codes from a free trial of a dynamic QR service can stop working when the trial ends, depending on the provider. Check which kind you made before printing.
How long does a QR code last? #
A static QR code lasts as long as the print does and what it points to stays online. There’s no built-in time limit.
Why did my QR code stop working? #
The usual causes are a lapsed dynamic-code subscription, a website or domain that went offline, changed Wi-Fi details, or physical damage. Scan it and read the contents to see which.
Can I make a QR code that never expires? #
Yes. Make a static code that points to an address you control, and keep that address online. A static Wi-Fi or contact code also never expires, though it needs replacing if the details change.