Do QR Codes Expire? Static vs Dynamic Codes

Static vs dynamic QR codes

• Static: the data, such as your website address, Wi-Fi details or text, is encoded directly in the black-and-white pattern. No server is involved, so there is nothing to expire or switch off.
• Dynamic: the code contains a short link to the provider's server, which forwards people to your real address. That lets you change the destination later and count scans, but it only works while the provider keeps the redirect running.

Why QR codes stop working

When a printed QR code suddenly fails, it is usually a dynamic code whose free trial or paid plan has ended, so the provider's redirect no longer forwards to your page. The code on your menus, flyers or packaging is still readable; it just leads nowhere useful.

A static code can only stop working if the thing it points to changes, for example if the web page is deleted or the Wi-Fi password is changed.

Make a QR code that never expires

1. Open the QR Code Generator and choose the type: link, text, Wi-Fi, email or phone.
2. Enter the details and adjust the colours, margin and error correction if you like.
3. Download it as PNG for documents or SVG for print, and scan it with your phone to test before printing.

How to keep the option to change it later

If you may need to change the destination after printing, point the static code at a page you control, such as a page on your own website, and update that page instead. You get the flexibility of a dynamic code without depending on a QR provider.

For products and stock labels rather than links, a barcode may be the better fit.