Do QR Codes Expire?

Do QR codes expire?

A QR pattern has no built-in expiry date. If the QR code on a card suddenly stops opening the right page, check the destination, the provider account and the condition of the print. A moved page, an expired trial or damaged artwork can require different fixes.

The provider policies below explain subscription-related expiry. The troubleshooting steps help you work out whether that is the problem with your QR code.

Why did my QR code stop working?

Check two things, in this order.

First, the destination. Open the page address directly. If it also fails there, restore the page or update the destination of a dynamic QR code. With a static QR code, you may still be able to fix the old address if you control its website or domain.

Second, the provider. If scanning lands you on the provider’s own upgrade or service page instead of anywhere you chose, they turned your QR code off. QR Code Generator, the Bitly product, describes its own behavior this way: dynamic QR codes from an expired trial “are deactivated and point to a service page rather than the original destination.” Check the account’s trial and subscription status.

Do static QR codes expire?

A static QR code has no timed expiry. It encodes the destination directly, without requiring an account at the generator. The printed pattern still needs to remain readable and the destination available.

The encoded address cannot be edited after printing. You can update content on that same page, or redirect the old address if you control it. A dynamic QR code adds destination editing through your dashboard. See static versus dynamic.

What do the providers’ own policies say?

In their own words, verified August 2026:

QR Tiger, from their FAQ: “If your plan expires, it will stop working.” The free tier is three dynamic QR codes with a 500 scan limit each, and after expiry they hold your data for a maximum of one year. (Scan limits are their own subject; the vendor-by-vendor cap map covers who meters what.)

QR Code Generator (QRCG by Bitly), from their support docs: trial dynamic QR codes “are deactivated and point to a service page rather than the original destination.” The plan that turns them back on is $19.99 a month for 2 dynamic QR codes with a 10,000 scan cap, or $119.88 a year. Their Trustpilot rating is 1.4 out of 5 across more than 9,200 reviews, and Trustpilot’s own summary of recent ones describes QR codes that were “unexpectedly deactivated after a short period.”

Scanova, from their helpdesk: “Once the free trial or paid subscription ends, all Dynamic QR Codes are automatically deactivated.” Data is retained 26 months from deactivation, and if you have not renewed by then, “all data including Dynamic QR Codes is permanently deleted.”

These policies differ by provider and plan. Check the QR code you actually created before deciding whether you need to renew, restore a page or make replacement artwork.

Can I get a dynamic QR code that never expires?

A purchased Graklink dynamic QR code costs $7.99 once, with no billing expiry or scan limit.

Destination editing and basic scan counts remain included.

What happens if the QR company shuts down?

Every dynamic QR code, ours included, depends on its provider’s domain resolving. So this is the right question to ask any vendor before you print: what happens to my QR codes if you close? Expect a written answer, not reassurance.

Our Terms commit to at least 12 months’ notice and a migration path for active QR codes if we wind down the service. That commitment does not guarantee against an unexpected outage.