Do QR Codes Expire? What Actually Stops Them Working
QR codes do not expire on their own. Learn the difference between static and dynamic QR codes and what can cause a printed QR code to stop working.Written by Qraffe · Updated September 23, 2026 · 6 min readA QR code does not expire on its own. A static QR code keeps carrying the same information for as long as the image can be read. What can stop working is the information behind it, such as a website that has been removed or a provider-managed redirect that is no longer active.
That distinction matters before you put a code on a menu, product label, business card or sign.
The short answer
If a QR code contains a website address directly, the code itself has no expiry date. It will keep opening that address as long as the printed or saved image is readable and the website still exists.
If a QR code uses a service that sends scans through its own short link first, the service is part of the journey. The code may stop working if that service is turned off, its plan changes or the redirect is removed.
Static and dynamic QR codes are not the same thing
| Static QR code | Dynamic QR code | |
|---|---|---|
| What it contains | The final destination or information | A redirect controlled by a provider |
| Can you change the destination later? | No | Usually yes |
| Does it depend on a QR service after download? | No | Yes |
| Can the provider track scans? | No provider layer to track through | Often yes |
| Best for | Stable links, Wi-Fi, contact cards and permanent print | Campaigns where the destination genuinely needs to change |
Neither format makes a deleted website come back. A static code avoids an extra service in the middle. A dynamic code trades that independence for the ability to edit a destination later.
What actually stops a QR code working?
The destination changed or disappeared
This is the most common reason a code appears to have expired. The pattern scans correctly but the website returns an error, a file is gone or a social profile has been renamed. The QR code did its job. The destination did not stay available.
For a printed code, choose a URL you control and plan to keep. If you need to change a page later, keep the same URL and update the page behind it rather than replacing the QR code.
A redirect service is no longer active
Some QR tools create a short URL that points to the real destination. This can be useful when you need scan analytics or want to swap the destination after printing. It also means every scan depends on that provider and its plan remaining active.
Read the provider’s terms before you print a code. Look for limits on scan counts, subscription status and how long redirects are kept after a plan ends.
The printed code is too hard to scan
An expired-looking QR code is sometimes a print problem. Low contrast, a tiny size, glare, a cropped quiet zone or an oversized logo can make a perfectly valid code difficult for a phone to read.
Run through a QR code preflight checklist before publishing. Test a printed sample with more than one phone in the conditions where people will actually scan it.
The information inside is no longer current
Not every QR code opens a website. A Wi-Fi QR code contains the network details. A vCard contains contact information. A plain-text QR code contains exactly the text you added.
Those codes still scan but their content may become outdated. If the Wi-Fi password changes or a phone number changes, you need a new static QR code with the new information.
How to choose before you print
Choose a static QR code when the information is unlikely to change. That usually includes a permanent web page, a guest Wi-Fi network, a contact card or a link to a stable menu page.
Choose a dynamic QR code only when the ability to change the destination later is essential and you are comfortable relying on the provider that runs the redirect. For example, a short campaign with a changing landing page may justify that tradeoff.
Qraffe creates static QR codes. The information is placed directly in the code in your browser, so there is no Qraffe redirect layer to keep alive after you download it.
A practical check before a code goes live
- Use the final destination, not a temporary preview link.
- Open the destination on a phone before generating the code.
- Scan the finished code from the file and from a printed sample.
- Keep strong contrast and a clear quiet zone around the pattern.
- Save the original export so you can reprint it without recreating the design.
For more detail, see why QR codes fail to scan and our guide to making a Wi-Fi QR code for guests.
The bottom line
QR codes do not have a built-in expiry date. A static QR code lasts as long as the image remains readable and its content remains useful. Before printing at scale, check whether you are relying on a stable destination, a redirect provider or both.
Create a static QR code with Qraffe