Do QR codes expire?
10 min read
QR codes don't expire by themselves: a code is just stored text, usually a web address, with no expiration date inside. It stops working when the provider switches off a dynamic code (after a free trial, for example), when the destination page disappears, or when the print becomes unreadable.
In short
- Static QR codes have no expiry date and don't depend on any service. They work as long as the destination page exists and the print is readable.
- Dynamic QR codes work as long as the provider keeps redirecting them. A trial ending, a scan cap or a lapsed subscription can switch them off.
- Before you print, check whether the free plan is permanent and what happens to your codes if you cancel.
- linqr codes have no expiration date and no scan limit, and the Free plan has no trial and needs no card.
Contents
Static codes last as long as the link works
A static code stores the destination address right in the pattern. Phones read it without involving any generator, so nobody can switch it off. A code printed years ago, if the print is intact, scans today just like it did on day one.
That doesn't mean it always leads somewhere. Common reasons a static code stops working:
- the page was deleted or moved to a new address,
- the domain lapsed because nobody renewed it,
- the cloud file was deleted or its sharing was turned off,
- the social media profile changed its username, and with it the URL.
In each case the code still scans fine, but the phone shows an error or an empty page. You can't point a static code at a new address, so you need a new code, or a redirect if the old address is on your own domain.
Dynamic codes depend on the provider
A dynamic code holds the generator's short link, which redirects to your address. That's what lets you change the destination after printing, but it also means the code works only as long as the provider keeps that redirect running. Whether a code “expires” depends on the provider's terms, not on the code. For the full comparison, see static vs dynamic QR codes.
Why free codes die: trials, scan caps, plan limits
- Free trials. The code works for free for a set time, such as 14 or 30 days, then stops redirecting until you subscribe.
- Scan caps. The free plan covers a set number of scans. Once you pass it, the code stops, and that happens exactly when a campaign is doing well.
- Plan limits and lapsed subscriptions. When you cancel, downgrade or a payment fails, the provider may deactivate your codes or send scanners to its own page.
A trial isn't a problem in itself. The trouble starts when a code goes to print before anyone reads the terms. Before you download a code, check:
- whether the free plan has an end date or a day counter in the dashboard,
- whether it asks for a credit card, and when the first charge happens,
- whether there's a scan limit and what happens when you hit it,
- what the terms say happens to codes when you cancel: whether they stay active or get deactivated,
- whether scanners see an ad or an interstitial page before the redirect.
If the pricing page and terms don't answer these, ask the provider in writing before you print. We put the full list of questions in how to choose a free dynamic QR code generator.
Your code stopped working after a free trial: what now
The postcards are mailed, the stickers are on the windows, and now the code opens a page asking for payment. You have three options:
- Pay the original provider. The fastest fix when there's a lot in print. Ask whether the code comes back right away and what happens if you cancel later.
- Redirect on your own domain. This works only if the code contains an address on your domain, not the generator's short link. In that case, set up a redirect on your server to the right page.
- A new code on a sticker. Make a new code, ideally a dynamic one with no trial and no expiry date, and stick it over the old one. Cover the old code completely so the camera can't pick it up.
You can't move the old code to another generator. The short link in the pattern belongs to the provider, so only that provider can bring the redirect back.
How linqr handles it
linqr codes have no expiration date. The Free plan isn't a trial, has no scan limit and doesn't need a credit card. You can pause or delete a code yourself at any time in My codes.
The terms of service, linked in the footer, set out what happens to codes when Pro ends. What the Free plan includes is on our free QR codes with no expiry date page.
Our home page is a free QR code generator: paste a link, style the code and download it once you've created a free account.
Pre-print checklist
Whatever generator you use, these steps protect you from a code that dies after printing:
Read the free plan's terms
Look for the word “trial”, scan limits and what the terms say about codes when a plan ends. No end date on the free plan is a good sign, but read the terms of service too.
Open the destination on your phone, signed out
That's what customers will see. A file or album has to be viewable by anyone with the link.
Check that the code scans
In linqr, the creator shows Scans correctly or a warning with a one-click fix. With other generators, scan the preview with two different phones.
Print a proof at the final size
Scan it from the distance and in the light your customers will have.
Write down where the code lives
The generator, the login and the code's name should be on file at your business, not just in the head of whoever designed the flyer.
If the code scans poorly or not at all, our guide to a QR code not working covers the causes and fixes.
A QR code with no expiration date
The Free plan gives you 3 active dynamic codes with no trial and no scan limit, and you can change their links as often as you like.
Get a free QR codeQuestions
How long does a QR code last?
A static code lasts as long as its destination page exists and the print is readable. A dynamic code lasts as long as the provider keeps redirecting it, which depends on the plan: a trial, a scan cap or a subscription. linqr codes have no expiration date, and you can pause or delete them yourself at any time.
Can a Canva QR code have an expiration date?
Not by default, according to Canva's help center. Canva says a QR code doesn't expire unless someone sets an expiration date, an option it offers for dynamic codes on its Business, Enterprise and Nonprofit plans. If a Canva code stopped working, check the destination link first, then whether an expiration date was set on the code.
Can a QR code run out of scans?
The code itself can't: a printed pattern can be scanned any number of times. A dynamic code can stop redirecting if the provider's plan caps scans and you go over. linqr has no scan limit on any plan, including Free, and no per-scan fees. Bots and link previews aren't counted in your stats either.
Why did my QR code stop working?
Scan it and see what opens. A page asking for payment or saying the code expired means the provider switched off a dynamic code, for example after a trial. An error page means the destination moved or was deleted. If the phone doesn't react at all, the print is the problem: size, contrast, margin or damage.
Do linqr QR codes expire?
No, linqr codes have no expiration date, and the Free plan isn't a trial, so there's no day counter running out and no scan limit. You can pause or delete a code yourself at any time in My codes. The terms of service, linked in the footer, set out what happens to codes when Pro ends.
Do QR codes on printed business cards expire after a few years?
No. The code on a card has no date inside, so it keeps working as long as its link works and the print is readable. The risks are a dead destination page, a static link to a profile you renamed, or a dynamic code from a provider that switched it off. A linqr code has no expiry date, and if your website changes you update its link instead of reprinting the cards.
How can I tell if my QR code is on a free trial?
Look in the generator's dashboard for a day counter, a trial badge or an upgrade banner, and check your email for trial reminders. Then read the pricing page and terms for the word trial. Scan the code too: if the address belongs to the generator, your code depends on that account. linqr has no trial, and the Free plan needs no card.
What do people see when they scan a paused or deleted linqr code?
A paused linqr code shows a page saying “This code is temporarily disabled”, and Resume brings it back in one click. A deleted code shows “This code is no longer active”, and deleting can't be undone. In both cases the scanner lands on a clear linqr status page, not an error or an ad. A mistyped short link shows “We couldn't find this code”.
Can I set an expiration date on a linqr QR code?
No, linqr doesn't have expiration dates, on Free or on Pro. To end a campaign, change the link to your current offer, or choose Pause so scanners see a page saying the code is temporarily disabled. When you're sure you won't need the code again, delete it: the short link then stops working for good and is never reused.
Does a QR code expire if nobody scans it for a long time?
Not in linqr: there's no inactivity cut-off, so a code that nobody has scanned for a year still redirects on the next scan. Some providers do deactivate unused codes or accounts, so look for that in their terms before you print. A static code never depends on activity at all, only on its destination page still being there.
Will my QR codes stop working if I delete my linqr account?
Yes. Deleting your account deletes your codes too, so every printed code shows “This code is no longer active”, and the short links are never given to anyone else. If you only want to stop paying, cancel Pro instead. The terms of service, linked in the footer, set out what happens to codes when Pro ends.