Do QR codes expire?
By Prabhneet Singh Narula, founder of RelyQr · Updated
Short answer
No, a QR code itself never expires. A static QR code holds its content directly and works for as long as that content does. A dynamic QR code depends on the service behind its short link, and some providers deactivate codes when a trial or plan ends. RelyQr's dynamic codes keep working on every plan, even if you stop paying.
Static QR codes never expire
A static QR code stores its content, a web address, Wi-Fi details, a contact card or plain text, in the pattern of squares itself. When a phone scans it, the phone reads that content straight from the image. No server sits in between, so there is nothing that can be switched off, and no company can make it stop.
A static code keeps scanning for as long as phones read QR codes, which they have done since the format was published in 1994. What can change is the thing it points to: if the website goes offline or the Wi-Fi password changes, the code still scans but leads somewhere that no longer works.
Why some dynamic QR codes stop working
A dynamic QR code stores a short link instead of your content. The short link belongs to the company that made the code, and its server forwards each scan to your destination. That is what lets you change the destination after printing and count scans, but it also means the code works only for as long as that company keeps forwarding it.
The most common reasons a dynamic code stops working:
- A free trial ended, and the provider deactivated its dynamic codes until you pay.
- A subscription was cancelled or a payment failed.
- The free plan has a scan limit, and the code passed it.
- The code was deleted or paused in the account.
- The provider closed or changed its terms.
It's common for providers to deactivate dynamic codes when a trial or plan ends. Check what happens to your codes if you stop paying before you print thousands of them.
Static vs dynamic: will it stop working?
| Static QR code | Dynamic QR code | |
|---|---|---|
| Where the content lives | In the printed pattern | On the provider's server, behind a short link |
| Can it stop working? | Only if the destination does | Yes, if the provider stops forwarding it |
| Can you change it after printing? | No | Yes |
| Scan analytics | No | Yes |
| Needs the internet to scan | No (except to open a link) | Yes |
How to make sure your QR code keeps working
- Use a static code for anything permanent, like your home page or Wi-Fi network.
- Before choosing a dynamic QR code provider, read what happens to codes when a trial ends or you cancel.
- Check for scan limits on the free plan.
- Prefer a provider that lets you put codes on your own domain, so you're never tied to theirs.
- Scan the printed code with your own phone after printing, and again from time to time.
Do RelyQr QR codes expire?
No. Static RelyQr codes are free, unlimited and work forever. Dynamic RelyQr codes keep working on every plan, including the free one. From the RelyQr Terms:
Your dynamic codes keep working whatever happens to your subscription: if a trial ends, a payment fails, you downgrade or you cancel, every code you printed keeps sending people to its destination.
A lapsed plan can limit editing, never redirects. If RelyQr ever shuts down, RelyQr will publish an export of the redirect table and an open-source resolver so codes on your own domain can keep working. The only codes that stop are ones you pause or delete, ones blocked for abuse, and those of accounts that are deleted. See the Terms in full.
A free account includes 3 dynamic codes you can edit after printing. Make one free or compare plans.
Questions people also ask
Do free QR codes expire?
Free static QR codes never expire, because the content is in the code. Free dynamic codes depend on the provider: some deactivate them when a trial ends. RelyQr's free dynamic codes keep working with no time limit.
Does a QR code expire after a number of scans?
A static QR code has no scan limit. Some providers cap scans on free dynamic codes; RelyQr doesn't limit scans on any plan, unless you set a limit on a code yourself.
Can an expired QR code be reactivated?
If a provider deactivated a dynamic code, it usually comes back when you renew the plan, because the short link is still theirs. If the provider closed, the printed codes have to be replaced.
How long does a printed QR code last?
As long as the print stays readable. Fading, scratches and glare are what usually stop printed codes, so laminate codes that go outdoors and use a matte finish.
Do Wi-Fi QR codes expire?
No. A Wi-Fi QR code holds the network name and password itself, so it works until you change the password or the network name.
Make a QR code that lasts forever
Free static codes with your logo and no watermark. Dynamic codes you can change after printing keep working on every plan.