The short answer: a QR code itself never expires. It's just a pattern of squares, and a phone can read it forever. But a QR code can stop working, and whether that can happen depends on which kind of code you have.
Static QR codes
A static QR code stores your content, such as a web address, Wi-Fi login or contact card, directly in the pattern. When someone scans it, their phone reads the information straight from the image.
- It never expires.
- It doesn't depend on any company or server.
- It's free to create and use, forever.
- It can't be changed after it's printed. A new link means a new code.
The only way a static code stops working is if the destination stops working, for example if the web page it points to is deleted.
Dynamic QR codes
A dynamic QR code stores a short redirect link owned by the company that made the code. When someone scans it, they visit that company's server first and are then forwarded to your real destination.
- You can change where it points without reprinting.
- You can see scan statistics.
- It stops working if the company switches it off: when a free trial ends, a subscription lapses or the company shuts down.
That last point catches many small businesses. Some "free" QR code generators actually create dynamic codes with a trial period. The printed menus, flyers and business cards keep circulating, but after the trial the codes lead to a "please upgrade" page instead of the business.
How to tell which kind you have
Scan the code with your phone's camera and look at the link preview before opening it:
- If it shows your own web address, it's a static code (or a redirect you control).
- If it shows a different, short web address belonging to the QR code company, it's dynamic.
Static vs dynamic at a glance
| Static | Dynamic | |
|---|---|---|
| Expires | Never | When the service stops |
| Cost | Free | Usually a subscription |
| Change the link after printing | No | Yes |
| Scan statistics | No | Yes |
| Depends on a third party | No | Yes |
The best of both worlds
If you want to be able to change the destination later, point a static QR code at a page on your own website, such as yoursite.com/menu. You control that page, so you can update it or redirect it anytime, with no subscription and no risk of the code being switched off by someone else. For scan counts, use your website's analytics or add UTM tags to the link with the UTM Builder.
Tips for printing QR codes
- Contrast: use a dark code on a light background. Inverted or pale codes fail on many phones.
- Size: make the code at least about 2 cm (0.8 in) wide for close-up scanning, and bigger for posters read from a distance.
- Quiet zone: leave a blank margin around the code.
- Keep links short. Less data means a simpler pattern that scans more easily.
- Test before you print on a couple of different phones, iPhone and Android.
- Wi-Fi codes store the password itself, so change the network password and you'll need a new code.
Make a QR code that never expires
The QR Code Generator creates static QR codes for links, Wi-Fi, contact cards and more, with your colors and logo, and downloads them as PNG or SVG. There's no sign-up, no trial and no expiry. To check what an existing code contains, use the QR Code Scanner.
Frequently asked questions
Can a QR code stop working?
Can I change the link in a static QR code?
Are QR codes free to use?
Tools mentioned in this guide
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