Do QR codes expire? Short answer: truly free ones don't
It is one of the most googled QR questions, and for good reason: some businesses printed hundreds of codes that suddenly stopped working. The explanation lies in the difference between static and dynamic QR codes.
Static QR codes: they never expire
A static QR code carries the information inside the image itself: the URL, text or WiFi password is literally "drawn" into the squares. It depends on no server and no company, so it works for as long as the image exists. The codes created by our generator are this type.
The only thing that can "break" a static code is the content it points to disappearing: if you encoded a link and that website shuts down, the code will still scan — it will just lead to a 404 error.
Dynamic QR codes: they expire when payment stops
A dynamic QR code does not encode your link. It encodes an intermediate link owned by the provider (like qr-company.com/abc123) that redirects to your destination. That enables editing and scan counting, but with one consequence: if you stop paying or the provider shuts down, the redirect dies and your printed QR becomes useless.
That is where the horror stories come from: many "free" generators actually create dynamic codes on a trial. After 14 days, the code stops redirecting and you are asked to subscribe to reactivate it… after you have already printed it.
How to tell if a QR code is static or dynamic
- Scan it and look at the URL it points to before opening it.
- If it is directly your link, it is static.
- If it is the provider's domain with a short code, it is dynamic and depends on that service.
When is a dynamic QR worth it?
- Large marketing campaigns where you need scan statistics by location and date.
- Mass print runs whose destination will definitely change (annual catalogs, packaging).
For everything else — restaurant menus, WiFi, business cards, events — a free static QR code is more robust: nobody can switch it off.
💡 Try it yourself: use our QR code generator — free, no sign-up, no watermarks.
Frequently asked questions
Do the QR codes from this generator expire?
No. They are static codes: the information lives inside the image and depends on no server, so they work forever.
My printed QR code stopped working — why?
Almost certainly it was a dynamic code from a provider whose free trial expired, or the destination link went offline. Scan it and check the URL: if it is an unfamiliar intermediate domain, it was dynamic.
Do QR codes wear out over time?
The digital image never degrades. On paper, the code works as long as it is legible: QR codes include error correction that can recover up to 30% damage depending on the level used.
How many scans can a QR code handle?
A static QR code has no scan limit: there is no server in between that could saturate or charge you by volume.